ECON 101- X50 Introduction to Microeconomics University of Alberta/ Department of Economics Instructor: Fedja Lazarevic Winter 2016 Office: Tory 8-26 Class Time: Tuesdays 18:30-21:30 Email: fedja.lazarevic@ualberta.ca Classroom: Tory 1 103 Office Hours: Tuesdays 17:30-18:20 and Fridays 17:00-18:30 (with additional hours prior to exams) Course Description and Prerequisites How markets and governments determine which products are produced and how income is distributed in the Canadian economy. Not open to students with credit in ECON 204. (University of Alberta Calendar 2012-2013, section 231.100) Course is restricted to English as a Second Language students in the Bridging Program Phase Three. Course Objective Microeconomics is the study of how consumers and firms make decisions and how they interact in markets. This is a core economic theory course, the purpose of which is to introduce students to the mechanics of supply and demand, the workings of competitive and non-competitive markets, and the impact of government policies. The goal is promotion of general economic knowledge not preparation for further courses in economics. As such, the course will focus on facts, issues, and questions in microeconomics rather than developing formal economic tools and models. The high-level objective is to introduce students to the economist s way of thinking. Required Course Materials The required textbook for this course is Mankiw, Gregory N, Ronald D Kneebone, and Kenneth J McKenzie. Principles of Microeconomics (6 th Canadian Edition). Nelson (2014). This course covers an extensive amount of material, in relatively few lecture hours. Given the short time allocated for lectures, it is very useful to read the textbook in advance in order to be exposed to the details of the analysis. It is suggested that you review sections of the textbook assigned in the course reading list prior to each lecture. The required e-learning system for this course is Aplia. Marks are awarded for assignments completed in Aplia. Aplia will also serve as the course website. Purchasing Options for Required Materials: Option 1: Purchase a hardcopy of the textbook bundled with Aplia access code, which includes an electronic copy of the textbook (expires after 6 months), from the Bookstore. Instructions for registering in the course are provided below. 1
Option 2: Purchase an Aplia access code only, which includes an electronic copy of the textbook (expires after 6 months), either online from the NelsonBrain website or from the Bookstore s Special Service Desk. Instructions for registering in the course are provided below. Option 3: There is also a very basic Aplia version available that will allow you to only access and complete assignments in the Cameron Library. This is a no-cost version available for students as an alternative than purchasing the full version of Aplia from their personal computers. This version does not come with an electronic version of the textbook, nor can it be used to download course materials. Instructions for registering in the course are provided below. Access to Course Materials All materials for the course will be available on Aplia. There students will be able to obtain the course outline; all course announcements; an e-version of the textbook; publisher produced PowerPoint presentation for each chapter covered; course reading list; access to weakly assignments; representative evaluation material, such as review questions and/or sample exam questions; copies of exams with solutions (after they have been administered); exam and assignment grades, and other supplementary class materials. Class notes will not be posted. The student is responsible for acquiring class notes in the event that they miss a lecture. Attendance is not a class requirement; however, exam questions will closely relate to the material covered in class. Audio or video recording of lecture, labs, seminars, or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as part of an approved accommodation plan. Recorded material is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author. Instructions for Aplia Registration for pay/full version: 1. Connect to http://login.nelsonbrain.com/course/7yhj-j7m4-y6uf 2. Follow the prompts to register for your Aplia course. 3. Payment: after registering for your course, you will need to pay for access using one of the options below: a. Online: You can pay online using a credit or debit card, or PayPal. b. Bookstore: You may be able to purchase access to Aplia at your bookstore. Check with the bookstore to find out what they offer for your course. c. Free Trial: You can access Aplia until 11:59 PM on 01/24/2016 during your free trial. After the free trial ends you will be required to pay for access.please note: At the end of the free trial period, your course access will be suspended until your payment has been made. All your scores and course activity will be saved and will be available to you after you pay for access. d. If you already registered an access code or bought Aplia online, the course key to register for this course is: 7YHJ-J7M4-Y6UF Instructions for Aplia Registration: no-cost/restricted version: 1. Connect to http://login.nelsonbrain.com/course/s29s-5m8d-ctqy 2. Follow the prompts to register for your Aplia course. 2
Access to the Instructor Students may see the instructor either during the office hours stated above or by appointment. The instructor can be contacted by email to make an appointment or for a question that requires a short answer. In any email sent to the instructor, students should state ECON 101 in the subject line and identify themselves. Evaluation Course Work Weight Date, Location, Duration Assignments 20% Weekly, Online Midterm Exam 30% Tuesday, February 23 rd, in class, 2 hours Final Exam 50% Tuesday, April 5 th, in class, 2 hours (Cumulative) Assignments: Assignments are done on-line in Aplia and are automatically graded at precisely 11:45pm (23:45) on the designated due date. Late assignments are therefore not accepted. There will be a total of 11 weekly assignments, some of which may contain more than one graded problem set. At the end of the term, the lowest assignment will be dropped and your top 10 assignments will be used to calculate your assignment grade. Therefore, each of your top 10 assignments will constitute 2% of your total grade. All assignments are due by 11:45pm (23:45) on the following due dates: Assignment Due Date Assignment Due Date 1 Sunday, January 17 th 7 Sunday, March 6 th 2 Sunday, January 24 th 8 Sunday, March 13 th 3 Sunday, January 31 st 9 Sunday, March 20 th 4 Sunday, February 7 th 10 Sunday, March 27 th 5 Sunday, February 21 st 11 Sunday, April 3 rd 6 Sunday, February 28 th Exams: Exam questions will be multiple choice and will closely relate to the material covered in class. Final Exam is cumulative. All exams are designated as closed book- no notes, books, scrap paper, programmable calculators, electronic devices of any kind, etc. are allowed. The only authorized materials are writing materials and non-programmable calculators. Students must present their Student ID at every exam. There will be no makeup midterm exam. If a midterm exam is missed for a legitimate medical reason, its weight will be transferred to the final exam. However, in order to obtain a weight transfer, the student is to present a Medical Declaration Form for Students to the instructor within 5 business days following the missed exam. The Medical Declaration Form for Students can be found in the Faculty of Arts Undergraduate Student Services forms cabinet. Upon receipt of the appropriate documentation, the weight for the missed midterm exam will be transferred to the final exam and you will get an Excused Absence for the midterm exam. 3
Deferred Final Exam The deferred final exam for this course will take place on Friday, April 15 th, 2016, from 1pm to 3pm. You must get permission from your faculty to write a deferred exam. After receiving permission from your faculty, email your instructor to confirm the details. Tutor Centre The Tutor Centre is located in Tory Building 8-28. It will begin operation in the third week of classes and close on the last day of classes. Once set, hours of operations will be posted on Aplia. The tutors are third and fourth-year honours economics students. You are encouraged to visit the tutor centre with content questions. The tutors will help you with questions about class/text/assignment material. They will do their best to assist you in your learning; go prepared. Take your work with you so that the tutor can see what you have been doing and help you identify problem areas. You must be able to demonstrate that you have been working on the problem in order for the tutor to help you. The tutors are not meant to be instructors. They will help you with something that you are having difficulty understanding. Tutors will NOT provide answers to assignments before they are due. Access to individual assignments is not available in the tutor centre. The tutors will help you to understand the concept so you can do your own assignment later. You are also encouraged to visit the tutor centre if you would simply like to talk with an economics student about the department and its course and program offerings. Tutors will be happy to provide you with some personal insight. Program and course information as well as a schedule of economics undergraduate advisors can be picked up in the tutor centre. If you have any questions about, or encounter any problems with the tutor centre, please let me know immediately. The Economics Department is committed to a tutor centre that offers the assistance that students need. We need your help to ensure that this happens. You are invited to fill out an evaluation form when you visit the tutor centre. Tell us what you liked and what can be improved. Determination of Letter Grades Grades will be collected and aggregated in percentage form at the conclusion of the course. Letter grades will be assigned based on both absolute and relative standards deemed appropriate by the instructor. Improved performance, class participation, and assignment completion may be considered in borderline cases. Academic Integrity The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University. (GFC 29 SEP 2003) Course Outlines 4
Policy about course outlines can be found in 23.4(2) of the University Calendar. (GFC 29 SEP 2003) Course Topics Topic Chapter in Textbook Title Introduction 1 Ten Principles of Economics 2, Appendix Thinking Like an Economist / Graphing 3 Interdependence and the Gains from Trade Supply and Demand; How Markets Work 4 Supply and Demand 5 Elasticity 6 Supply, Demand and Government Intervention Markets and Welfare 7 Market Efficiency 8 Costs of Taxation Firm Behaviour and Industrial Organization 13 Costs of Production 14 Firms in Competitive Markets 15, 16 Monopoly and Oligopoly 17 Monopolistic Competition Market Failures and the 10, 11 Externalities and Public Goods Role of Government Labour Markets 18 Markets for the Factors of Production 5