Reference no: EM132337378

Task

In groups of 3 or 4 you must analyse a cartel of your choice using the following headings as guidelines:

Describe a cartel of your choice using the following headings as guidelines:
• Reasons for the cartel
• Overt or covert collusion
• Economic consequences of the cartel
• Competition for the cartel
• Government regulation of the cartel

*Assignments on DeBeers Diamonds, OPEC or Drug Cartels are not permitted

Theoretical aspects of the course must be used as a framework for analysis.

You should structure the assignment with an introduction, analysis, and conclusion. You should also apply the relevant theory and include relevant tables and graphs.

• Introduction (this introduces the assignment and details the points you are going to talk about in the paper).
• Discussion and analysis of the main points.
• Conclusion (this concludes what you have talked about).

Learning journal

Students must keep a learning journal (maximum, 600 words) to track the development of their group skills. For example, after each task or key stage of a project, they must reflect in the journal on the things their group is doing well or not so well, and consider what they could do to improve in later stages of the task/project.

Students must detail:
• What they liked most and least about the group;
• The most and least effective things about the way the groups worked;
• Their contribution to the group at all stages;
• Their sources of information and analyses;
• The contribution of the other students in the group, including their strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement.

- Do all of the members of the group contribute equally and appropriately?
- How do current levels of contribution help the group reach its goals?
- How do current levels of contribution make it difficult for the group to reach its goals?
• How they would manage themselves and the group differently next time.
(Adapted from: G. Gibbs (1994), Learning in Teams: A Student Manual, Oxford, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford Centre for Staff, p. 24., p.60)

The journals will be submitted on the same date as the assignment through Moodle. Please look for the 'Journal' submission link.

You must reference your work throughout the paper and give details in the bibliography. Marks will be deducted for inadequate referencing.

Learning outcomes

1. Describe the micro economical business environment and evaluate the business environment through the use of market structure models (Linked to PLO 4 & 5: Know How and Skill Selectivity, Competence Context);

2. Utilise the analytical frameworks of microeconomics to further develop their knowledge of the operation and performance of organisations in the public and private sector (Linked to PLO 4 & 5: Know How and Skill Selectivity, Competence Context).

Reading Lists and other learning materials McConnell, C.R., Brue, S.L. & Flynn, S.M., Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies, 20th edition, McGraw-Hill Inc., 2014.

Turley, G., Maloney, M. & O'Toole, F., Principles of Economics, an Irish Text, 4th ed., Gill & Macmillan, Dublin, 2011.