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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EC 201-7"
COURSE NAME: "Principles of Microeconomics"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2018
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Yasmina Rim Limam
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 11:30-12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: MA 100 or MA 101; Recommended: EN 105
OFFICE HOURS:
before or after class or by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces the students to the basic principles of microeconomics and the study of the behavior of individual agents, such as consumers and producers. The first part of the course reviews the determinants of supply and demand, the characteristics of market equilibrium, the concept of social welfare, and the consequences of price controls, taxation, and externalities on social welfare. The second part of the course deals with market theory, with a review of cost concepts and market structures: competition, monopoly, oligopoly, and imperfect competition.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course starts with an introduction to main economic concepts such as opportunity cost, scarcity, equilibrium and marginal analysis. These concepts represent the basic foundation for economic reasoning and the departure point for all subsequent economic analysis. Supply and demand, a central tool for microeconomic analysis, are explored with applications to a variety of issues, including price controls, taxation and environmental policy. The various causes of market failure are assessed with consideration to public policies. The course presents a detailed analysis of consumer and producer theory and the notion of surplus. The costs of production are analyzed and related to decision making concepts such as profit, the supply curve and the shut down point. The last part of the course discusses different market structures and their effect on efficiency.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Interpret graphs, charts and tables and use them to illustrate basic economic concepts.
- Understand interactions between economic variables.
- Explain how competitive markets organize the allocation of scarce resources and the distribution of goods and services.
- Explain the consequences of price controls.
- Distinguish between various forms of market failure and explain how governments might need to intervene.
- Distinguish between different types of market structures and compare their efficiency.
- Understand costs of productions.
- Communicate their knowledge and provide a logic and coherent explanation of an economic phenomena.
- Relate basic economic theory to current issues.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Microeconomics 3rd edition, 2014 | Gregory N. Mankiw and Mark Taylor | Cengage Learning | 978-1473725393 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| First midterm exam | The first midterm exam is a mixture of multiple choice and open-ended questions and covers material up to the week prior to the exam.
All questions will be analytical requiring a well thought-out answer. | 20 |
| Second midterm exam | The second midterm exam is a mixture of multiple choice and open-ended questions and covers material from where the first midterm ends up to the week prior to the second midterm. | 20 |
| Class participation | Includes in class discussions and interaction. | 15 |
| Final exam | The final exam is cumulative. It is a mixture of multiple choice and open-ended questions and covers material up to the last week of classes. | 45 |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
If you miss no more than four lectures, your lowest midterm grade will be dropped and only one midterm will count for 40% of your final grade. Attendance also counts indirectly through class participation.
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Date
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- Topic
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Book Chapter
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Tue- Sept. 4th
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Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost
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1 and 2
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Thu- Sept 6th
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Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost
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1 and 2
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Tue- Sept. 11th
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The market forces for supply and demand
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3
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Thu- Sept 13th
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The market forces for supply and demand
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3
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Tue- Sept. 18th
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Elasticity
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4
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Thu- Sept. 20th
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Consumer choice and the concept of utility
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5
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Fri- Sept. 21st (make up for Thu Nov. 1st)
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Consumer choice and the concept of utility
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5
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Tue- Sept. 25th
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Consumer choice and review
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5
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Thu- Sept. 27nd
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Producer theory, cost curves and firms in perfect competition
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6
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Tue- Oct. 2nd
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Midterm 1
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1, 2, 3, 4
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Thu- Oct. 4th
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Producer theory, cost curves and firms in perfect competition
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6
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Tue- Oct 9th
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Markets and efficiency
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7
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Thu-Oct 11th
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Markets and efficiency
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7
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Tue- Oct 16th
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Government policies
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8
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Thu- Oct 18th
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The economics of the public sector
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9
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Tue. Oct. 23rd
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Public goods
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10
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Thu- Oct 25th
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Market failure and externalities
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11
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Tue- Oct. 30th
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Market failure and externalities and review
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11
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Thu- Nov. 1st
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No classes
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Tue- Nov. 6th
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Information and behavioural economics
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12
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Thu- Nov. 8th
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Production decisions
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13
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Fri- Nov. 9th (make up for Thu- Nov. 22nd)
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Monopoly and review
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14
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Tue- Nov 13th
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Midterm 2
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6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
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Thu- Nov 15th
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Monopoly
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14
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Tue- Nov 20th
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Monopolistic competition
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15
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Thu- Nov 22nd
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No classes
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Tue- Nov. 27th
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Oligopoly
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16
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Thu- Nov. 29th
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Factor markets
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17
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Tue- Dec. 4th
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Gains from trade
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19
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Thu- Dec. 6th
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Review
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