Principles of Microeconomics Central College ECON 2302 - Introduction to the Principles of Microeconomics CRN 20776 SS Fall 2012 Central College - Distance Education 4 hour lecture course / 48 hours per semester/ 12 weeks Instructor: Charles Fredrickson Instructor Contact Information: Email: charles.fredrickson@hccs.edu Cell Phone: 713-501-5924. Office location and hours Please feel free to contact me concerning any problems that you are experiencing in this course. You do not need to wait until you have received a poor grade before asking for my assistance. Your performance in my class is very important to me. I am available to hear your concerns and to discuss course topics. Feel free to call me at the cell phone number above for a conference call or to arrange a time to visit. Course Description Microeconomics examines the fundamentals of the American economy as it relates to business and individual welfare. Emphasis is on basic concepts and theories as they affect domestic and international markets. Microeconomics includes cost and production decisions and discusses the role of competition, monopolies and oligopolies. This is a Core Curriculum Course. Prerequisites Must be placed into college-level reading and be placed into MATH 0308 (or higher) and be placed into ENGL 0310/0349 (or higher) in writing.
ECON 2302 page 2 Course Goals To achieve a fundamental understanding of microeconomic theory, concepts and terminology. Discuss and measure economic variables To be able to interpret and analyze economic data. Develop an independent ability to apply economic tools in critical thinking about "real world" issues. Develop an understanding of social interactions, implications and responsibility. Describe an economic way of thinking Student Learning Outcomes The student will be able to: Define the concept of Scarcity. Define Opportunity Costs, demonstrate how they affect economic decisions, and identify these costs in a given economic decision. Explain and apply the concepts of Marginal Benefits and Marginal Costs to determine optimal economic decisions for both consumers and firms. Describe the Benefit-Cost Principle (e.g., take an action as long as the marginal benefits are greater than the marginal costs), and should be able to apply the principle in a given economic decision. Accurately explain the way in which economists use the following adjectives and the relationships among them: marginal, average, total, fixed, variable, and sunk. Should also be able to determine in a given economic decision which costs and benefits are relevant (e.g., marginal) and which are not (e.g., sunk). Recognize and interpret a Demand Curve and a Supply Curve, and should be able to identify the underlying determinants of each. Describe the concepts of Excess Demand, Excess Supply and Equilibrium Quantities and Prices, and should be able to predict changes in each as a result of changes in the underlying determinants of market demand and supply or government intervention. Differentiate between a Change in Demand (Supply) and a Change in the Quantity Demanded (Supplied). Define the general concept of Elasticity for different variables in the demand or supply function (e.g. own, cross, income, etc.), and should be able to describe the effect of a given elasticity on economic outcomes (e.g., revenues, tax burden, policy choices, etc.). Identify the differences between a perfectly competitive market and an imperfectly competitive market and the implications of each for economic outcomes.
ECON 2302 page 3 Learning objectives Students will: Identify and explain economic concepts and theories related to the behavior of economic agents, markets, industry and firm structures, legal institutions, social norms, and government policies. Integrate theoretical knowledge with quantitative and qualitative evidence in order to explain past economic events and to formulate predictions on future ones. Evaluate the consequences of economic activities and institutions for individual and social welfare. Identify the basic features of alternative representations of human behavior in economics. Course Objectives and Sequencing PART I ECONOMICS THE SCIENCE OF SCARCITY. 1 What Economics Is About. Appendix A: Working with Diagrams. Appendix B: Should You Major in Economics? 2 Production Possibilities Frontier. 3 Supply and Demand: Theory. 4 Prices: Free, Controlled, and Relative. 5 Supply, Demand, and Price: Applications. PART VIII MICROECONOMIC FUNDAMENTALS. 20 Elasticity. 21 Consumer Choice and Behavioral Economics. Appendix D: Budget Constraint and Indifference Curve Analysis. Part IX Product Markets and Policies. 22 Production and Costs 23 Perfect Competition. 24 Monopoly. 25 Monopolistic Competition, Oligopoly, and Game Theory. 26 Government and Product Markets: Antitrust and Regulation. PART X FACTOR MARKETS AND RELATED ISSUES. 27 Factor Markets: With Emphasis on the Labor Market. 28 Wages, Unions, and Labor.
ECON 2302 page 4 PART XI MARKET FAILURE, PUBLIC CHOICE, AND SPECIAL-INTEREST-GROUP POLITICS. 31 Market Failure: Externalities, Public Goods, and Asymmetric Information. PART XIV: FINANCIAL MATTERS. 37 Stocks, Bonds, Futures, and Options. Keep in mind that these chapter numbers refers to the sequencing in the single-volume Economics by Roger A. Arnold. If you decide to purchase the volume for Microeconomics only then you will see a different chapter numbering sequence. Also take note of the fact that there is a leap in the chapter sequencing from chapter 5 to chapter 20. This is because the chapters in between are macroeconomics chapters which are not covered in this course but rather will be covered in ECON 2301. With that in mind you should know that the chapter titles ought to be your primary guide in determining what is covered in the course and how it corresponds to the book that you purchased. Snapshot of a Typical Chapter Unit in Moodle Supply and Demand - Theory - Chapter 3 * One of the most famous and widely used theories in economics is the theory of supply and demand. This chapter examines supply and demand and the factors that affect supply and demand. It discusses disequilibrium and movements to market equilibrium, and how changes in factors affect the market equilibrium. * Key Concepts
ECON 2302 page 5 1. Markets have two sides. One side of a market is the demand side and the othe the supply side. 2. Movements along a demand curve are called changes in quantity demanded, while shifts to new demand curves are called changes in demand. 3. Movements along a supply curve are called changes in quantity supplied, while shifts to new supply curves are called changes in supply. 4. Market adjustment will eliminate shortages and surpluses. 5. A change in a factor of demand or a factor of supply (or both) will change the point of market equilibrium in a predictable way. * Outline Resource * Activity - Dirty Jobs Go to the website below for Slate to read Daniel Gross, Dirty Work: What are the jobs Americans won t do?, Slate, 1/12/2007. Use this article as a springboard for discussing shortages and policy issues for dealing with shortages. * Slate - Dirty Jobs file * Lecture Videos Below are a set of mini lecture videos. The longer ones are typically professionally rendered, studio quality video presented in a journalistic style while the shorter ones are produced using Flash and are meant to focus on one particular objective. * Demand and Quantity Demanded (Duration - 2:15) f * Equilibrium Price Graph (Duration - 1:39) * Supply and Quantity Supplied (Duration - 1:37) * A Tug-of-War (Duration - 1:04) * Equilibrium Price and Output (Duration - 8:02) * Price Controls (Duration - 7:29) * The Demand Curve (Duration - 4:48) * The Supply Curve (Duration - 4:21) * Two Market Forces (Duration - 2:10) * Discussion Forum - Supply, Demand and Incentives Color Photographs Versus Black and White The Price of Potatoes Consumption, not Production Rental Cars and Tuxedos * Expensive Cell phone Batteries * Free Software Too?
ECON 2302 page 6 * Free Peanuts * Chapter Quiz Chapter 03 Supply and Demand Theory Instructional Methods As an instructor, I want my students to be successful. I believe that it is my responsibility to provide you with knowledge concerning the field of macroeconomics that allows you to connect the information that you learn in this course to the real world. In short the purpose of this course is not necessarily to turn you into an economist but rather to train you to become economically literate and a more responsible citizen. As a student wanting to learn about economics it is your responsibility to read the textbook, submit assignments on the due dates, study for the exams, participate in the discussion forums, view the lecture videos and enjoy yourself while experiencing the real world of economics. Student Assignments Assignments have been developed that will enhance your learning. To better understand a topic, you will be given assignments on key information that you will need to know in order to become economically literate. Students will be required to successfully complete the following: Midterm Exams These will be conducted online through Moodle (i.e. Eagle Online). There will be three midterm exams covering anywhere between four and five chapters each on average. Most of the questions on the midterms will be in a multiple-choice format. The exam length will vary between 40 and 50 questions. All midterm examinations are timed at 90 minutes and requires the use of Respondus Lockdown Browser in order to open them and take them. In order to help you learn the material and earn a better grade I allow all students a second opportunity to take each midterm exam. However, I take the average of the two attempts. This is designed to insure that students will take the first attempt seriously. Keep in mind that the second attempt will provide the students with a completely different set of questions although covering the same genre of questions and objectives. Discussion Forums There are a large number of discussion forums. While it is important that you read through them all and view your classmates responses you do not have to participate in every one of them. You will however be responsible for making ten (no more and no less) original contributions. What that means is that you must compose a response to ten different discussion forums. Each original response that you compose will allow you to earn up to a maximum of five points on each and a total for the semester of 50 points.
ECON 2302 page 7 So if at the end of the semester you earn 40 points that means that you earned an 80% (40/50 x 100%). That will count towards 10% of your final grade as indicated below under the assessments section. Final Exam This exam evaluates students on material for all the chapters and objectives covered in the course. It contains 50 multiple-choice style questions. Questions involve graphs or tables, performing calculations, applying a theory to a real-world problem, recognizing important economic facts and principles, and still others which require the student to think critically about an economic problem. Instructional Materials TEXT: Economics by Roger A. Arnold. 10 th edition, Cengage Learning. Instructor Requirements As your Instructor, it is my responsibility to: Provide the grading scale and detailed grading formula explaining how student grades are to be derived Facilitate an effective learning environment through class activities, discussions, and lectures Description of any special projects or assignments Inform students of policies such as attendance, withdrawal, tardiness and make up Provide the course outline and class calendar which will include a description of any special projects or assignments Arrange to meet with individual students, be available for a call by phone, or visit in the Moodle chat room. To be successful in this class, it is the student s responsibility to: Log into the Moodle learning manage system and participate in online discussions and activities Read and comprehend the textbook Complete the required assignments and exams: Discussion Forums, Lecture videos, Journalistic-Style videos, video assignments, midterm exams and the final examination. Ask for help when there is a question or problem Complete the field study with a 70% passing score Grading Your instructor will conduct quizzes, exams, and assessments that you can use to determine how successful you are at achieving the course learning outcomes (mastery of course content and skills) outlined in the syllabus. If you find you are not mastering the material and skills, you are encouraged to reflect on how you study and prepare for each class. Your instructor welcomes a dialogue on what you discover and may be able to assist you in finding resources on campus that will improve your performance.
Grading Scale 90-100 = A 80-89 = B 70-79 = C 60-69 = D Below 60 = F ECON 2302 page 8 Grading Percentages Discussion Forums Chapter Quizzes Midterm Examinations (3) Aplia Assignments Final Exam 10% of your final grade 10% of your final grade 50% of your final grade 10% of your final grade 20% of your final grade HCC Policy Statements Access Student Services Policies on their Web site: http://hccs.edu/student- rights Access DE Policies on their Web site: All students are responsible for reading and understanding the DE Student Handbook, which contains policies, information about conduct, and other important information. For the DE Student Handbook click on the link below or go to the DE page on the HCC website. The Distance Education Student Handbook contains policies and procedures unique to the DE student. Students should have reviewed the handbook as part of the mandatory orientation. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the handbook's contents. The handbook contains valuable information, answers, and resources, such as DE contacts, policies and procedures (how to drop, attendance requirements, etc.), student services (ADA, financial aid, degree planning, etc.), course information, testing procedures, technical support, and academic calendars. Refer to the DE Student Handbook by visiting this link: http://de.hccs.edu/de/de-student-handbook Access CE Policies on their Web site: http://hccs.edu/ce-student-guidelines