Course Title: Frontiers of the Digital Economy

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Frontiers of the Digital Economy

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code	Campus	Career	School	Learning Mode	Teaching Period(s)
ECON1349	City Campus	Undergraduate	625H Economics, Finance and Marketing	Face-to-Face	Sem 1 2019, Sem 1 2020, Sem 1 2022, Sem 1 2023, Sem 2 2023, Sem 1 2024, Sem 2 2024, Sem 1 2025, Sem 2 2025
ECON1558	RMIT University Vietnam	Undergraduate	625H Economics, Finance and Marketing	Face-to-Face	Viet2 2021, Viet1 2022, Viet2 2023, Viet1 2024, Viet3 2024, Viet2 2025, Viet3 2025
ECON1559	RMIT Vietnam Hanoi Campus	Undergraduate	625H Economics, Finance and Marketing	Face-to-Face	Viet3 2021, Viet2 2022
ECON1574	Singapore Inst of Management	Undergraduate	625H Economics, Finance and Marketing	Face-to-Face	Offsh1 24, Offsh3 24, Offsh1 25, Offsh3 25, Offsh1 26

Course Coordinator: Dr Sarah Sinclair

Course Coordinator Phone: +61399251329

Course Coordinator Email: sarah.sinclair@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Melbourne Campus Building 80

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment via email

Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None.

Course Description

This course explores how frontier technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, tokenised assets, digital identity, and satellites are transforming the way economies and societies work. You’ll learn to apply economic thinking to understand how these tools create value, reshape organisations, and act as new infrastructure for markets and communities. Through real-world case studies, you’ll examine how digital technologies are used to tackle complex challenges across business, government, and society. The course also develops your critical thinking and ethical awareness, asking you to consider the risks and dilemmas created by widespread technology adoption. By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped to connect theory with practice and propose responsible strategies for engaging with the opportunities of the digital economy.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

-

On successful completion of this course you should be able to:

CLO1: Discuss key frontier digital technologies and explain how they connect to wider economic, social, and political contexts. CLO2: Assess economic frameworks to analyse how digital technologies generate value and act as new forms of institutional infrastructure CLO3: Critically evaluate how frontier technologies reshape economic coordination, organisational performance, and governance. CLO4: Analyse real world applications of frontier technologies as they resolve economic, social and political problems CLO5: Develop and propose responses to the ethical and social challenges generated by widespread technology adoption

Overview of Learning Activities

The course is delivered by mixed mode of face-to-face teaching and online learning. There will be a three-hour class per week. You are expected to be an active participant both in class and online. Your learning will be supported through in-class and online activities. These may include quizzes; assignments; prescribed readings; researching and analysing specific information; solving problems; and producing written work.

Overview of Learning Resources

Various learning resources are available online through MyRMIT Studies\Canvas. The lecture notes and workshop notes are posted on Canvas.

Resources are also available online through RMIT Library databases and other facilities. Visit the RMIT library website for further details. Assistance is available online via our chat and email services, face to face at our campus libraries or via the telephone on (03) 9925 2020.

Additional resources and/or sources to assist your learning will be identified by your course coordinator and will be made available to you as required during the teaching period.

Overview of Assessment

The assessment tasks, their weighting and the course learning outcomes to which they are aligned are as follows.

Assessment Task 1: 20%
Linked CLOs: 1, 2

Assessment Task 2: 30%
Linked CLOs: 2, 3, 4, 5

Assessment Task 3: 50%
Linked CLOs: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or in online forums through individual and group feedback on practical exercises and by individual consultation.