IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If you expect to take POLI 3010 - Choices, Models, and Morals in 2026, please take the 2026 substitute PHIL 3015 - Choices, Models and Morals: Foundations of Public Policy as a replacement.

Choices, Models, and Morals

Undergraduate | 2026

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Mode
Mode
Your studies will be on-campus, and may include some online delivery
On campus
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Area/Catalogue
POLI 3010
Course ID icon
Course ID
201057
Campus icon
Campus
Adelaide City Campus East
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course owner
Course owner
School of Humanities
Course level icon
Course level
3
Work Integrated Learning course
Work Integrated Learning course
No
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Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
Discipline group A
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes

Course overview

Investigate conceptual issues at the boundaries between Political Philosophy[RB1] , Economics and Politics with the aims of (i) providing a theoretical basis for constructing and evaluating policy solutions to problems of market failure (ii) rectification and prevention of injustices within market economies, intra and international (iii) understanding real world consequences of the application or failure to apply philosophical concepts of justice and welfare [RB1]Is it political philosophy or just philosophy?

  • Market equilibrium, rational choice, and incentives Market failure and the rationale for intervention
  • Welfare, efficiency, equity, and incidence Policy instruments and option comparison Case Study: Exporting Pollution.
  • Social Contract Theory: Just and Legitimate Government. Case study: Agricultural resource depletion.
  • Distributive Justice. Case Study: Basic Income
  • Equality and Exploitation: Thomas Piketty. Case Study: Global supply chains
  • Environmental Pollution and Externality Case Study: Reducing use of single use plastics
  • Health Care Resource Allocation Case study: Specialist Nurse training in Parkinson’s Disease care.
  • Public Policy Influences Case Study: National Disability Insurance Scheme
  • Policy Failure Case Study Robodebt
  • Revision and Synthesis

Course learning outcomes

  • Analyse explain and integrate key conceptual frameworks relevant to the evaluation of public policy, drawing from philosophy, politics and economics.
  • Apply relevant concepts from Economics: Welfare, Equilibrium, Rational Choice, and Market failure in policy contexts
  • Politics: Analyse and apply conceptual frameworks to concrete policy problems. Formulate in principle and practical solutions and evaluate actual and potential outcomes of policy decisions.
  • Philosophy: Justice (Liberty, Equality, and Welfare) Explain relationships between key concepts as a and explain and evaluate constraints on their application
  • Apply interdisciplinary knowledge in real-world case studies.

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A

Assumed knowledge

N/A

Textbook(s)

N/A

Inherent requirements

N/A

Other resources

Hausman, D., McPherson, M., & Satz, D. (2017). Economic analysis, moral philosophy, and public policy. Cambridge university press. , Reiss, Julian. Philosophy of economics: A contemporary introduction. Routledge, 2013. , Weimer, D. L., & Vining, A. R. (2017). Policy analysis: Concepts and practice. Routledge. , Althaus, C. et al.  The Australian Policy Handbook : A Practical Guide to the Policymaking Process (Routledge, Seventh edition., 2023).

Assessment

  • Discussion – 30%
  • Essay – 10%
  • Essay – 10%
  • Exam – 50%
Degree list
The following degrees include this course
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice majoring in Social Research and Policy Analysis
Bachelor of Laws (Honours), Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts majoring in Social Research and Policy Analysis
Bachelor of Philosophy, Politics and Economics