Economics has been taught at The University of Melbourne since 1885. The Department of Economics is one of the largest departments in The University of Melbourne and is one of four departments in the Faculty of Economics and Commerce. The Department is home to the Centre for Actuarial Studies, the Economic Theory Centre, the Asian Economics Centre, the Centre for Microeconometrics, the Centre for Macroeconomics and the Household Research Unit.

Professor Peter Bardsley (Chair in Economics)
Professor Jeff Borland (Professor in Economics)
Professor John Creedy (Truby Williams Chair in Economics)
Professor David Dickson (Professorial Chair in Actuarial Studies)
Professor Robert Dixon (Professor in Economics)
Professor Daniel Dufresne (Chair in Actuarial Studies)
Professor John Freebairn (Chair in Economics)
Professor Bill Griffiths (Professor of Econometrics)
Professor Ian King (Chair in Economics)
Professor Vance Martin (Chair in Econometrics)
Professor Ian McDonald (Chair in Economics)
Professor Nilss Olekalns (Professor in Economics)
Professor Harry J. Paarsch (Chair in Economics)

Professor Nilss Olekalns is the Head of Department as of 2007. The Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Commerce is Professor Margaret Abernethy.

The Department of Economics teaches in the areas of economics, econometrics and actuarial studies. See HERE for a current list of subjects offered by the Department.  Undergraduate students may elect to take the Bachelor of Commerce degree at the ordinary level (3 years) or at the honours level (4 years) http://www.bcom.unimelb.edu.au/. The honours class is the largest in economics in the country and was ranked best in the country in a survey of Australian Professors of Economics. The Faculty offers the Graduate Diploma in Economics, the Postgraduate Diploma in Economics and a Master of Commerce (Economics) along with the Graduate Diploma in Actuarial Studies as part of the Graduate coursework programs. See a comprehensive list at: http://www.melbournegsm.unimelb.edu.au/future/programs/coursework.html

For research and research-oriented programs, including the PhD and masters degrees see:

http://www.melbournegsm.unimelb.edu.au/future/programs/research.html

Research in such a large Department spans most branches of economics, econometrics and actuarial studies. See HERE to obtain a full listing of research areas. The Department is strong in economic theory, applied economics, econometrics and actuarial studies. A significant amount of the research done in the department is policy oriented. The Department has a significant track record in obtaining external research funding. The Department is currently located on three floors of the Economics and Commerce complex and staff work in an advanced information technology environment. Staff in the Department have access to the latest computer technology available. Faculty provides computer laboratories for undergraduate and postgradutate student use. The Giblin Research Library is located in the Economics and Commerce building. Working papers from the world's leading economics departments are held here.

Strong links with business are maintained, particularly the banking and finance sector. The Centre for Actuarial Studies has close links with the Institute of Actuaries of Australia. Household Research Unit has links through the Household Research Database Facility to the University of New South Wales, The University of Newcastle and the Victorian University of Technology. Asian Economics Centre is well supported by international financial agencies, Australian government sectors and by joint partnerships with individual countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The Economics Theory Centre has close links with some government agencies, as well as with overseas scholars.  A number of Department's academic staff are engaged as consultants to various government departments and agencies.