Economics Research report

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Research essay requirements
• This assessment has a MAXIMUM WORD limit of 1400 words (excluding your reference list – but inclusive
of in-text citations).
• Zero tolerance for plagiarised content.
• The essay will be reviewed against the published Criteria for this assessment (provided at the end of the
Assessment Documentation).
Scope of research essay
Poor dental health imposes economic and social costs at both the level of the individual and society (Duckett,
Cowgill and Swerissen, 2019). The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW, 2018) reported that
Australians have an average of 12.8 decayed, missing or filled teeth and estimated that between 2006 – 2017
approximately 70,200 hospitalisations for dental conditions may have been prevented with earlier treatment.
One in ten of these hospital admissions is due to preventable dental conditions, such as untreated tooth decay
(Harris, Millar and Calder, 2018).
Public health programmes that either extend or promote the use of fluoride are considered one of the main
contributors to the decline in dental cavities and improvements in dental health in most Westernized countries
(Petersen and Ogawa 2016).
Despite peer review research demonstrating that access to fluoridated drinking water reduces tooth decay
(NHMRC 2017), community water fluoridation programs are not without controversy amongst the public. In
Australia, fluoridation of water supply began as early as 1960 (Department of Health, 2017). Queensland was
the last state to introduce fluoridation of water in 2008. In 2012, the decision to fluoridate water supplies passed
from state to local governments. This resulted in a decrease of water fluoridation across the state. In 2017,
89% of the Australian population had access to fluoridated drinking water compared with 75% in Queensland
(AIHW, 2018).
Less controversial alternatives to community water fluoride programs, are public health care programs that aim
to improve oral health through the promotion of self-care practices that encourage the regular brushing of teeth
with a fluoride toothpaste. However, in contrast to community water fluoride programs, the effectiveness of
such programs is often confounded by unequal distribution of dental health disease risks, and variations across
social and economic groups in the adoption of preventive behaviours (Rugg-Gunn et al. 2016).
You have been approached by the Australian Medical Association to examine the economics of a strategic
response on oral health promotion to increase the use of fluoride for the purposes of improving Queensland
oral health (Australian Medical Association, 2019;OHMG, 2017).
They asked that you provide:
1. an overview of
a. dental and oral health in Australia and Queensland; and
b. the economic and social costs of poor dental health borne by both individuals and the society.
2. a description of the relevant economic theory to explain the effects of inadequate fluoride use on economic
efficiency
3. a critical economics analysis of increasing the use of fluoride through:
a. community water fluoridation program
b. public education program
You are required to support your economic analysis with appropriate data and economic models (partial
equilibrium analysis) which you use to examine how the policy achieves the desired objective – to improve the
nation’s oral health through increasing the use of fluoride. A brief summary of the potential economic effects
(costs and benefits) of each of the above policies is required. However, it is appreciated that a full analysis of
the dynamic effects of these policy solutions is beyond the scope of this work.
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Recommended reading
The readings presented below are not an exhaustive list of references. You are encouraged to also search for
appropriate sources to support your critical analysis (refer to the CRA).
AIHW (2018). Oral health and dental care in Australia. Retrieved from
https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/dental-oral-health/oral-health-and-dental-careinaustralia/contents/introduction
Australian Medical Association, (2019). Doctors call on MPs to sink their teeth into fluoride fight. Retrieved
from
https://ama.com.au/sites/default/files/AMAQueensland_MEDIA%20RELEASE_Doctors_call_on_MPs%20
_to_sink_their_teeth_into_fluoride_fight.pdf
Department of Health, (2017). Fluoridation of drinking water. Retrieved from
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/dentalfluoridation
Duckett, S., Cowgill, M., and Swerissen, H. (2019). Filling the gap: A universal dental scheme for Australia.
Grattan Institute. Retrieved from https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/915-Filling-the-gapAuniversal-dental-scheme-for-Australia.pdf
Harris, B., Millar, L. and Calder, R. (2018). Dental report card fail: half of adults and one-third of kids don’t
brush twice a day. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/dental-report-cardfailhalf-of-adults-and-one-third-of-kids-dont-brush-twice-a-day-93288
NHMRC. (2017). Water Fluoridation and Human Health in Australia. Retrieved from
https://nhmrc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/reports/fluoridation-public-statement.pdf
OHMG. (2017). Healthy Mouths Healthy Lives: Australia’s National Oral Health Plan 2015 – 2024. Retrieved
from http://www.coaghealthcouncil.gov.au/Portals/0/PerfMonitoringReport_Baseline_Final.pdf
Petersen, P.E., and Ogawa, H. (2016). Prevention of dental caries through the use of fluoride – the WHO
approach. Community Dental Health, 3:66-68. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/oral_health/publications/2016_prevention_dental_caries_through_use_fluoride.pdf?u
a=1
Rugg-Gunn, A. J., Spencer, A. J., Whelton, H. P., Jones, C., Beal, J. F., Castle, P., Zusman, S. P. (2016).
Critique of the review of Water fluoridation for the prevention of dental caries published by the Cochrane
Collaboration in 2015. British Dentistry Journal, 220-335. doi: 10.1038/sj.bdj.2016.257. Retrieved from
https://www.nature.com/articles/sj.bdj.2016.257
General guidance notes
You are required to present your response to the Australian Dental Association in essay format.
It is recommended that you approach the problem set by the Australian Dental Association as follows:
The context (Task 1)
In economics we generally start by framing the problem. We also refer to this as setting the context. In this part
of your essay (Task 1), you need to articulate what the issue is. You need to present an informed context which
is supported by peer reviewed published research. In setting the context, you should also include details of the
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economic and social costs associated with the problem. Data should be from reputable sources. The case that
you make in this section provides the basis for economic policy solutions you will present in part 3.
Economic theory (Task 2)
You will need to present the correct theoretical economic model and explain it using appropriate economic
terminology (Task 2). The theory needs to relate to the economic cause of the problem. In this case, you are
required to present a model that explains the economics behind the issue of preventable tooth decay which,
in this task, is a result of under consumption of fluoride. That is, you need to explain the effects of inadequate
fluoride use on economic efficiency. It is no secret that this is about the theory of externalities. You will need
to present a robust diagrammatic exposition of the correct economic theory of externalities, identifying the
theoretical market and efficient equilibrium and deadweight loss aligned to the problem you have identified in
part 1. (the x axis should be labelled quantity of fluoride, thereby reflecting that the objective is to increase total
fluoride use across the state).
The critical analysis (Task 3)
In Task 3, potential policy solutions are critically analysed from an economic perspective. Your analysis should
be framed with reference to the economic theory presented in Task 2. That is, how does each policy shift the
market to the efficient equilibrium? The key to this part of the essay is to keep it simple. Give an overview of
each policy, detail how it will work to address the issue under consideration (yes this does mean potentially
more diagrams) and give a brief summary of the potential strengths and limitations of that policy approach
based on what you find from the research literature. In a policy context, the benefits should be greater than
the costs (note this refers to economic cost not financial costs). Note, you are not required to say that one
policy is better than another.
It is important to take care in this part. Both fluoridation of community water and education can correct the
externality, but they come at the same problem from different directions (SPOILER ALERT: one affects a shift
in the supply curve the other the demand curve).
A key feature of economic analysis is that it is objective. Whilst this work has been commissioned by a particular
stakeholder, it should be an unbiased and informed critical economic analysis and not a political document.
No particular policy solution should be given a greater or lesser weight because you think this may have more
sway with the audience you are writing for.
In summary:
• clearly frame the “problem” by setting the context
• use an appropriate economic theory to show how economists view this problem
• write an unbiased and informed critical economic analysis and not a political document. Do not get drawn
into reporting emotive arguments (interesting as they are).
• be academically rigorous, ensuring that your analysis is underpinned by references to peer reviewed
academic literature
Researching for your research essay
Your research (or reading) of this literature informs your analysis, arguments, critique, conclusions etc.
Therefore, the quality of your research will directly influence the quality of your work. In academia “appropriate
literature” means that you should be principally researching scholarly sources. To begin your research, start
with the recommended reading provided in this document. This is not an exhaustive list of references. You are
also expected to research the literature yourself (refer to the Criterion Reference Assessment (CRA) table at
the end of this document).
All sources cited in your essay must be referenced using APA style.
If in doubt about how to cite and reference a source, please seek help from the subject librarian.
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Examples of scholarly sources include:
• Academic journals
• University working papers/publications
• Government and related departments/organisations reports (e.g. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS))
• International economic organisation’s articles and reports (e.g. OECD, United Nations and World Bank)
• Central Bank articles and reports (e.g. Reserve Bank of Australia)
Examples of high-quality sources of relevant data would include ABS, OECD, World Bank, Government reports
etc.
A common theme of all of the above published literature is that it is peer reviewed. Peer review is a process
that is used to ensure that published work represents the best scholarship currently available (and is also
technically correct, not misleading etc.). In contrast, non-peer reviewed literature represents the opinion of the
authors with only their guarantee that it is the best work possible.
Reliance on non-scholarly sources as part of your research is to be avoided. Examples of non-scholarly
sources include:
• newspaper reports
• magazines articles
• non-peer reviewed articles and reports (be careful of private consultation reports, political papers etc.)
• subject-based dictionaries and/or glossaries (including Wikipedia)
• personal blogs/websites
Non-scholarly sources do have a role. As a matter of course you should be informing yourself about
contemporary issues by reading a range of non-scholarly sources (e.g. by reading the newspaper). Within
nonscholarly sources there is a hierarchy of more acceptable publications that you should engage with. These
include good quality newspapers (e.g. The Australian and The Financial Review) and specialist magazines
(e.g. The Economist)).
Similarly, Wikipedia is a great starting point for looking up definitions or getting an overview of a subject.
However, using Wikipedia as a key source in your work simply demonstrates that you have failed to engage
in the challenging, but rewarding, academic exercise of researching high-quality scholarly resources.
Maximum word length
Your research essay has a MAXIMUM WORD limit of 1400 words (excluding your reference list – but inclusive
of in-text citations).
Your word count for each section will be specific to your individual essay (informed by the weighting in the
criteria reference assessment table at the end of this document). Note that your essay should include both an
introduction and conclusion (but do not overdo the introduction or conclusion as that means fewer words for
the important bits).
Presentation
You are advised of the following stylistic requirements:
• use font type Arial, font size 10 (minimum)
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• line spacing should be single or no greater than1.25
• margins should be set at 2.3cm
• all diagrams should be reproduced either by hand or imbedded in your document using a draw tool. For
example, Paint or the draw tool in Word,1 or Excel. Cutting and pasting of diagrams from other documents
is not acceptable and will be marked as copying (refer to CRA).
• all pages should be numbered (bottom footer right hand side) and include your student number (top
header, right hand side)
Helpful advice on writing your research essay
Your writing style needs to be clear and efficient (after all you only have 1400 words). Some key advice would
be:
• remember structure in writing – introduce, discuss and conclude.
• use short sentences – long sentences lose the reader.
• one argument/idea per paragraph.
This assessment is a formal academic piece of writing. The words and language style you use will convey this.
Language used should be appropriate. Things to avoid include informal language, shorthand or colloquialisms.
A short check list of advice would include:
• use “do not” instead “don’t”
• use “cannot” instead of “can’t”
• write in the third person – avoid using personal pronouns. For example: “Research shows that ….”
rather than “I think that …”.
Descriptions should be quantified and/or relative to a comparable benchmark. For example:
• instead of saying “there was a massive increase in China’s economic growth” you would phrase it as
“China’s economic growth, as measured by GDP, increased by X% over the period (include citation of
where your evidence came from)”.
• instead of saying “GDP in China was better than everyone else’s” you would phrase it “GDP in China
increased by X%. In comparison it fell by X% in USA and X% in the UK (include citation of where your
evidence came from).”
Tables and figures in themselves do nothing to enhance an argument unless they are clear AND explained
AND interpreted by you for the reader.
When inserting a table or figure into your work it is good practice to give each a number (e.g. Figure 1, Table
1) and title it (the title should describe what the table or figure is presenting) and refer to the table or figure
number explicitly in the text.
Place the table or figure as near to the paragraph that you are going to discuss it in (either directly above or
below). An example is given below in Figure 1.
If you have hand drawn your tables and figures attach them to the end of your document.
Vessel ownership was also a significant factor affecting efficiency. In general, vessels belonging to
larger companies were more efficient than those belonging to smaller companies, which in turn
were more efficient than owner-operators. This may reflect the greater level of information sharing
that can occur within a larger company fleet, but may also reflect fleet management skills, with the
larger companies having better fleet managers. Alternatively, the larger companies may be able to
attract and keep the better skippers and crew.
40%
35% 1995-2000
2007
30%
25%
1 See http://office.microsoft.com/en-au/word-help/draw-a-curve-or-circle-shape-HA010208316.aspx?CTT=3#BM14. There are also a lot
of good instructions on the internet (including Youtube) on how to construct diagrams using the Draw tool in Word.
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20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
<0.6 0.60-0.65 0.65-0.70 0.70-0.75 0.75-0.80 0.80-0.85 0.85-0.90
Technical efficiency
Figure 1. Among-vessel distribution of technical efficiency scores
Although the decline in boat numbers between 1995 and 2007 may have had a negative impact on
technical efficiency, the removal of older vessels through buyback and consolidation, and
replacement of some older vessels by newer vessels resulted in a net increase in average technical
efficiency in the fishery. The mean technical efficiency in 2007 was 0.793, compared to a mean
technical efficiency score of 0.736 over the period 1995-2000. Although the mean efficiency scores
appear to differ only marginally, the distribution of scores shifted to the right (Figure 1), with a
higher proportion of vessels having high technical efficiency scores (i.e. ≥ 0.8).
Source
Pascoe, S., Punt, A., Coglan, L. and Dichmont, C. (forthcoming 2012). Impacts of vessel capacity
reduction programs on efficiency in fisheries: The case of Australia’s multispecies northern
prawn fishery. Journal of Agriculture Economics. Figure 1. How to
present diagrams and tables
In your reading, you will come across tables and figures that may be useful in explaining or supporting a point
that you want to make in your own work. Try to avoid cutting and pasting from articles and the text book.
Relevant tables and figures should be adapted to support your work and referenced. Figures (especially those
relating to theory) can be redrawn in Paint or Word (using the draw tool). Similarly, tables of data can be
created in Excel and imported into Word (or created in Word using the table tool) to reflect the information that
is relevant to your analysis.
Criterion Reference Assessment OR CRA
Criteria
Weight
Guideline
Set the context with
reference to appropriate
data sources and policy.
Data has been
appropriately presented and
explained.
15% A clear and complete account is given which is well-informed by supporting data and policy. Data are appropriately presented (e.g. in tables
or graphs) and their relevance and meaning have been clearly and concisely explained.
Presented and described
the appropriate
economic theory, model
and/or framework.
25% There is a clear, concise and accurate description of the relevant economic theories and/or models.
Presented an analysis
of the potential
economic issues.
40% An excellent critical analysis of a range of economic issues which is underpinned by economic theory and/or appropriate supporting evidence
Used a range of
relevant scholarly
sources to support
content and arguments.
10% Incorporated relevant recommended readings to support content and arguments AND a selection of additional relevant scholarly sources that
substantially supports the critical content of the discussion.
Presented an appropriately
written academic document
which consistently adhered
to APA style conventions for
references.
(PC 3.1)
10% An excellent standard of academic writing is achieved. The writing style is clear, concise and objective. The structure of the essay is logical.
All sources are consistently and accurately reference
(both in-text citation and in the reference list)
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