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Regular version of the site

Introduction to Microeconomics

2019/2020
Academic Year
ENG
Instruction in English
7
ECTS credits
Course type:
Compulsory course
When:
1 year, 1, 2 module

Instructors

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The Introduction to Microeconomics is a one semester course designed to teach students the main concepts of economics. The course is taught in English, but the main ideas and concepts can be explained in Russian as well during class work. Pre-requisites: good understanding of high school mathematics, including basic calculus.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • At the conclusion of the course, students should be able to:  Explain how microeconomic models can be used to understand economic decisions of consumers and firms.
  •  Able to identify the scientific nature of the problems in the professional field.
  •  Able to critically evaluate and rethink the accumulated experience (own and others'), to reflect on professional and social activities.
  •  Able to analyze socially significant problems and processes occurring in society, and predict their possible development in the future.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Explain the role of scarcity, specialization, opportunity cost and cost/benefit analysis in economic decision-making. Ability to use theoretical concepts of Scarcity, trade-offs, find Opportunity cost, and apply Marginal analysis
  • Identify the benefits of free trade using the concept of comparative advantage. Ability to use theoretical notions, concepts of Absolute and Comparative advantage and interpret results.
  • Identify the determinants of supply and demand; demonstrate the impact of shifts in both market supply and demand curves on equilibrium price and output, define equilibrium, solve equations.
  • Calculate supply and demand elasticities, identify the determinants of price elasticity of demand and supply, and demonstrate the relationship between elasticity and total revenue. Ability to find and interpret price Elasticity of Demand, define Determinants of Elasticity, Total Revenue, Income Elasticity, Cross-Price Elasticity of Demand, Elasticity of Supply.
  • Summarize the law of diminishing marginal utility; describe the process of utility maximization. Construct Budget Constraint and Utility, Total and Marginal Utility, define Unconstrained Choice, Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility, Constrained Choice, Utility Maximizing Rule.
  • Describe the production function and the Law of Diminishing Marginal Productivity; calculate and graph short-run and long-run costs of production, Accounting and Economic Profit, define Explicit and Implicit Costs. Calculate and graph short-run and long-run costs of production.
  • Identify the four market structures by characteristics; calculate and graph the profit maximizing price and quantity in the output markets by use of marginal analysis. Ability to define structural characteristics of Perfect competition, Demand, Profit Maximization, Short-Run Profits, Decision to Shut Down, Long-Run Adjustment.
  • Determine structural characteristics of Monopoly and Monopolistic competition, Monopoly Demand, Profit Maximization, Efficiency Analysis, solve problems on Price Discrimination.
  • Determine structural characteristics of Oligopoly, Industry Concentration, Prisoners’ Dilemma, Collusion.
  • Determine the profit maximizing price and quantity of resources in factor markets under perfect and imperfect competition by use of marginal analysis. Define structural characteristics of competitive markets, Marginal Revenue Product, Profit Maximizing Employment, Derived Demand, Determinants of Resource Demand.
  • Describe governmental efforts to address market failure such as monopoly power, externalities, and public goods. Ability to define Private and Public Goods, Spillover Benefits and Positive Externalities.
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Introduction to Economics
    Definition of Economics. Economic goods. Scarcity and choice. Opportunity costs and sunk costs. Economic Models. Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Positive and normative economics
  • Comparative Advantage and Exchange Comparative advantage
    Production possibility frontier. Factors shifting the production possibility frontier. Specialization and exchange of goods. Comparative advantage and international trade. Economic systems: market economy, command economy, mixed economy.
  • Supply and Demand
    Market. Demand curve and its determinants. Supply curve and its determinants. Equilibrium. Producer surplus and consumer surplus. Deficit and surplus. Free market and price control.
  • Elasticity
    Price elasticity of demand. Point and arch elasticity. Elasticity of Demand and Total Revenue of the firm. Cross-Price Elasticity. Price and Income. Elasticity of Demand. Application of elasticity theory. Taxation.
  • Consumer Choice
    Preferences. Indifference curves. Marginal rate of substitution. Budget constraint. Consumer choice. Total and marginal utility. Adjustment to price and income changes: income effect and substitution effect. Normal and inferior goods. Substitutes and complements. In-kind and money subsidies
  • Producer Theory: Revenues and Costs
    The firm’s production decisions. Revenues, costs and profits. Total, average and marginal revenues. Short run and long run. Fixed and variable costs. Total, average and marginal costs. Profit maximization
  • Short-Run and Long-Run. Perfect competition
    Costs in short run and in long run. Firm’s short run and long run output decisions. Economies and diseconomies of scale. Firm’s supply and industry supply. Perfect competition. Its advantages and disadvantages
  • Monopoly and Monopolistic Competition
    Types of market structures. Features of monopoly. Profit maximization under monopoly. Comparison with perfect competition: output and price. Social cost of a monopoly. Dead-weight loss. Regulation of monopoly. Natural Monopoly. Regulation of natural monopoly. Price discrimination. Industrial policy. Features of monopolistic competition. Comparison with perfect competition: output and price. Advertising.
  • Oligopoly
    Features of oligopoly. Price wars and collusion. Game theory and interdependence. Prisoner’s dilemma. Cartels. Barriers to entry. Other forms of imperfect competition.
  • Factor Markets: Labor Market
    Factors (inputs) of production. Derived demand for factors. Demand and supply of labor. Equilibrium in labor market. Trade unions. Minimum wages and unemployment. Differences in wages, economic rent. Human capital. Investments in human capital: costs and revenues. Signaling. Discrimination in the labor market.
  • Market Failures. Externalities and Public Goods
    Income distribution. Market failure. Externalities. Public goods. Free-rider problem. Scope for government intervention. Government failure.
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking final exam
  • non-blocking midterm test
  • non-blocking homework assignments
  • non-blocking class performance
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (2 module)
    0.51 * final exam + 0.1 * class performance + 0.1 * homework assignments + 0.29 * midterm test
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Principles of economics, Case, K. E., 2016

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Principles of microeconomics, Frank, R. H., 2009