Economics 2023: Principles of Microeconomics Summer A 2017 (CRN: 50229) Professor Chris Westley How to Reach Me Office: Lutgert Hall 3316 Office Telephone: (239) 590-7090 Departmental Office: (239) 745-4250 E-mail: cwestley@fgcu.edu This class meets in Marieb Hall 200 from 11:30am to 2:55pm, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday from 3:00pm to 4:15pm, and by appointment Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes: The primary objectives of this course are: To introduce you to economics and to learn to think analytically, critically, and logically. The economic way of thinking is conveyed through the following concepts that you will learn about during the semester: scarcity, opportunity costs, comparative advantage, markets, marginal analysis, incentives, elasticities, and interventionism. In other words, when you are familiar with these concepts, the chances are that you are beginning to grasp the economic way of thinking. To acquaint you with the behavior of some important economic "players" in our society, including business firms, households, governments, and special-interest groups To acquaint you with our system of markets and prices and their significance to the social order To be able to apply theoretical models and to think graphically to solve problems and be capable of independent thought To be aware of ethical issues
LCOB Learning Goals (EPCK) Learning Objective (Measurable Outcomes) Course Learning Outcomes Method of Assessment Students will: Understand the business environment. Be effective problem solvers. Students will: Demonstrate knowledge of ethical issues. Demonstrate knowledge of global factors influencing business. Explain the importance of environmental responsibility. Solve business problems using analytical tools. 1. Identify the basic economic problem. Describe such concepts as scarcity, opportunity cost, and choice. Writing components & exams. 2. Examine markets and price determination. Explain the determinants of supply and demand; describe and calculate comparative advantage, utility, and elasticity; and discuss price ceilings and floors. 3. Develop theories of the firm. Explain and calculate revenues and costs. Discuss marginal analysis and market structures. 4. Analyze factor markets. Utilize factor markets to examine wages, rents, interest, profits, and income distribution. Be effective communicators. Have interdisciplinary business knowledge. Deliver effective oral presentations. Prepare effective written reports. Understand main concepts and definitions in accounting, economics, finance, information systems, management, marketing, and operations management. Integrate knowledge across business disciplines. 5. Evaluate the role of government in a market economy. Discuss the role of government in public goods, maintaining competition, externalities, taxation, and income distribution.
Why Study Microeconomics? The best reason for most of us to study microeconomics is that it can help us to think better and more clearly. Microeconomics provides a "logical framework" for making financial, as well as entirely non-financial, personal decisions. It also can help us be more aware of the full costs of government policies. Microeconomics provides fundamental knowledge of the market system of voluntary trade, consumer behavior, market competition, as well as decision-making principles for maximizing profits. By learning the "economic way of thinking," students learn a way to look at the world that employers find valuable and that are very helpful to success in MBA programs and law schools. Economics can be a rewarding subject for any student, but for some it is not an easy subject (it was not easy for many economics professors when they were students either). This is not a subject that students can pass simply by memorizing details. Your grade will reflect your ability to apply the concepts presented here; in other words, it will reflect the extent to which you have mastered the economic way of thinking. Text and Readings The required text for this course is Microeconomics: Principles for a Changing World, by Chiang (4th edition, ISBN: 978-1-319-12139-6). Chapters 5 and 6 of the Gwartney text are also assigned (see schedule below). These can be downloaded from the Modules section of Canvas. Additional readings will be announced in class and posted to the Module section of Canvas. Due to the size of this semester s sections, all tests will be mechanically graded.
Course Requirements and Grading Policy Grading will be based on the following: quizzes and in-class assignments, two midterm examinations, 100 points each, and 1 final examination (comprehensive), 155 points, and homeworks worth 90. These point totals correspond to the following percentages: Midterm 1 22.5% Midterm 2 22.5% Final Exam 35% Quizzes and assignments 20% Due to the size of this class, the tests will be conducted using three Scantron answer sheets: Pearson NCS Test Sheets 100/100 Form No. 95679. It is the student s responsibility to provide a fresh, unwrinkled Scantron sheet. Points will be deducted if students provide a Scantron that is wrinkled, torn, or otherwise unreadable by the grading machine. Note well: The course instructor will not provide Scantrons. If you do not bring one on test day, you will not be allowed to take that day s test. Our two regular semester tests will be given during the last hour of class on May 25 and June 8. The comprehensive final exam will be on June 20, the last day of class. Three quizzes will be given via Launchpad on May 19, June 2, and June 16. There will be a required practice quiz made available in Launchpad on May 12. Every student is required to take this quiz to verify his or her understanding of the quiz-taking process. There will be a REQUIRED practice quiz made available to you on Launchpad on Friday, May 12th. The purpose is to ensure that you are properly registered in Launchpad and can complete the quizzes.
Your final grade will be based on a total of 445 points. The following grading scale will apply to all items: 93-100%, A 90-92%, A- 87-89%, B+ 83-86%, B 80-82%, B- 77-79%, C+ 70 76%, C 70-72%, C- 67 69%, D+ 63 66%, D 60 62%, D- less than 60%, F Attendance Attendance is strongly encouraged, as the material is cumulative in nature. This means that if a student misses some lectures, she or he will not make sense out of subsequent lectures. Attendance will be taken on most days. Test questions will be drawn from class notes, text, and readings, so no one should rely entirely upon a single source. If you miss class, it is your responsibility to get the notes from another student; I do not give out my notes. Academic Behavior Standards and Academic Dishonesty All students are expected to demonstrate honesty in their academic pursuits. The university policies regarding issues of honesty can be found in the FGCU Student Guidebook under the Student Code of Conduct and Policies and Procedures sections. All students are expected to study this document which outlines their responsibilities and consequences for violations of the policy. The FGCU Student Guidebook is available online at http://studentservices.fgcu.edu/judicialaffairs/new.html Each student agrees to the following statements of student behavior: 1. I agree that I, and only I, will be the one completing and submitting class materials (homework, exercises, exams, written projects, etc.) in my name. 2. I agree that I will not directly copy or plagiarize material from articles, books, publications, the Internet, other students work, or any other source. I am familiar with, and I agree not to violate, copyright laws. If small amounts of material from other sources are used as part of any class assignment, I agree to clearly indicate such and properly cite the source.
3. I agree that I will not share answers to homework assignments, quizzes, exams, or any other course material with fellow classmates. 4. I acknowledge that failure to comply with any of the above statements may result in failure of an assignment, removal from the course, failure in the course, and discipline action deemed appropriate by the instructor in his sole discretion and/or policies and procedures set forth by the FGCU s Student Code of Conduct. Disability Accommodations Services Florida Gulf Coast University is committed to equal opportunity and access for persons with disabilities. FGCU will comply with all provisions of state and federal laws in this regard. If you need to request an accommodation in this class due to a disability, or you suspect that your academic performance is affected by a disability, please contact the Office of Adaptive Services. The Office of Adaptive Services is located in Howard Hall 137. The phone number is 239-590-7956 or TTY 239-590-7930. Student Observance of Religious Holidays Students, upon prior notification to their instructors, shall be excused from class or other scheduled academic activity to observe a religious holy day of their faith. Students shall be permitted a reasonable amount of time to make up the material or activities covered in their absence. Students shall not be penalized due to absence from class or other scheduled academic activity because of religious observances. Where practicable, major examinations, major assignments, and University ceremonies will not be scheduled on a major religious holy day. A student who is to be excused from class for a religious observance is not required to provide a second party certification of the reason for the absence. Order of Topics Introduction: The Economic Approach, Chiang 1 The Economic Way of Thinking, Chiang 1 Positive and Normative, Chiang 1 Economic Tools and Property Rights, Chiang 2 Division of Labor, Specialization, and Trade, Chiang 2 Consumer Choice and the Law of Demand, Chiang 3 Producer Choice and the Law of Supply, Chiang 3 Supply and Demand Fundamentals, Chiang 3 Supply and Demand applications, Chiang 4 Resource and Output Markets, Chiang 4
Price Controls Chiang 4 Tax Incidence and Social Welfare Chiang 4 Exam 1, May 25 Economics and the Government, Gwartney 5 Competition in the Public Sector Gwartney 5 Consumption-Payment Links Gwartney 5 Protective and productive Functions of Government Gwartney 5 Antitrust, Externalities, Public Goods, and Asymmetric Information Gwartney 5 Public Interest, Interest Group, and Public Choice Gwartney 6 Rational Ignorance and the Economics of Voting Gwartney 6 Political Bundles, Logrolling, and the Special Interest Effect Gwartney 6 Rent Seeking and the Minimum Wage Gwartney 6 Shortsightedness Effect Gwartney 6 Elasticities Chiang 5 Budget Line Chiang 6 Marginal Analysis and Thinking in Consumer Theory, Chiang 6 Marginal Benefit, Marginal Utility, and Diminishing Marginal Utility, Chiang 6 Substitution and Income Effects, Chiang 6 Intro to Producer Theory and Time in Neoclassical Economics, Chiang 7 Short Run and Long Run Costs, Chiang 7 Diminishing Marginal Returns and Product Curves, Chiang Economies of Scale and the Soda Pop Shop, Chiang 7 Returns to Scale, Chiang 7 Exam 2, June 8 Intro to Perfect Competition Chiang 8 Perfect Competition: Short-Run Decisions Chiang 8 Profit and Loss, Chiang 8 Perfect Competition: Long-Run Decisions Chiang 8 Monopoly Markets, Chiang 9 Comparing Monopoly and Competition Chiang 9 Common Market Barriers, Chiang 9 Price Discrimination, Chiang 9 Monopolistic Competition Chiang 10 Pure Monopoly, Oligopoly, Cartels, and Game Theory Chiang 10 Final Exam, June 20, Comprehensive Note: This is a minimum number of chapters that we will cover and the schedule above should be considered a basic outline. Some topics not explicitly addressed in the text will also be addressed. If time allows, we will cover up to three additional chapters that appear later in the text.
Announcement regarding coverage beyond Chapter 10 will be made in class. However, the above exam dates are final. Important Dates May 11, Thursday May 15, Monday First day for this class Late registration ends May 25, Thursday First test (Chiang, chapters 1-4) June 2, Friday June 8, Thursday June 20, Tuesday Last day to drop without academic penalty Second test (Gwartney Chapters 5-6, and Chiang 5-6) Last day of the Summer A Semester (for this class) June 20, Tuesday Final Exam (Comprehensive, including new material from Chiang 7-10) Any student who receives failing grades during this course is urged to discuss this with the professor. Any changes in class policy will be at the discretion of the instructor.