SYLLABUS OF MICROECONOMICS
Instructor: Wang, Qi
Email: peggywq@hotmail.com
REQUIRED TEXT
1. PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS, N.Gregory Mankiw, THOMSON-
SOUTH-WESTERN
2. ECONOMICS，Paul A. Samuelson & William D. Nordhaus，McGRAW-HILL, ISN
3. WEST-ECONOMICS, Hongye Gao, China Renmin University Press
DESCRIPTION
This course presents the fundamental models, basic concepts and theories of study that comprise the field ofmicroeconomics. It has been designed to allow the students to get an ability of how to use economics concepts and theories as the tools to understand the economic issues in recent world and solve the real-life economic problems independently. Another intention is to allow the students to involve themselves in both thetheoretical research and the practical work for their further academic studying.
OBJECTIVES
In order to attract more attention of the students and to stimulate their interests of economics, students will be taught by diversified instructional modes with the use of multimedia. To enhance the understanding of basic microeconomic theories and concepts, the contents of course will be closely related to the economic situations world wide. Research and investigation of real-life cases are required for students as the practices.
Upon satisfactory completion of the course, students should:
Be able to understand the fundamental tools of supply and demand
Be able to understand the role of government in market allocations
Be able to understand the theory of consumer choice
Be able to understand the firm behavior and the organization of industry
Be able to analyze the externalities and their effect of market failure
COURSE ASSESSMENT
Class Attendance: 10%. Responsible attendance is expected of each individual enrolled in this course. Roll-call is required for each lecturer. Students will forfeit the percentagepoint for every unexcused absence beyond three. If you miss a lecture you are responsible for obtaining anymissed notes and/or handouts on your own unless you are officially excused.
You may be officially excused from a class meeting for one of four reasons: (1) You have an illness that prevents you from attending class and a doctor's note to that effect; (2) You have a personal emergency like a death in the family and are either excused before class or can document the emergency afterwards; (3) You have a university sponsored obligation (participation in a sporting event or student organization sponsored project)and are excused before the examination or case presentation; or, (4) You have the absence officially excused in writing by the Dean of Economics & Management.
Assignment: 15%. The students are required to finish 3 assignments. Five percents for each assignment. The form of assignment contains concept review questions, individual research and investigation of appointed topics, case studies and reading reports.
Group Project/Paper: 25%. This paper will use one of the research techniques covered in this class to investigate akey concept and theory. The paper shouldhave: 1) an introduction that describes the project; 2) a brief introduction to the concept in which you areinterested; 3) some knowledge that currently exists regarding the concept; 4) a description of your researchmethod and process; 5) a description of what you found; and, 6) what it means to you and why you think it isimportant or interesting. It should also include three scholarly references and a reference page.
Final Examination: 50%.The final examination will be hold at the end of the semester.The examination will contain all the topicscovered in the teaching programs.
COURSE CONTENTS
Week | Topic | Lecture Hours |
Week 1 | TOPIC ONE The Introduction of West Microeconomics
| 3 |
Week 2 | TOPIC TWO Thinking Like an Economist
| 3 |
Week 3 | TOPIC THREE Interdependence & the Gains from Trade
| 3 |
Week 4 | TOPIC FOUR The Basic Ideas of Market Demand & Supply
| 3 |
Week 5 | TOPIC FIVE Demand & Supply Elasticity
| 3 |
Week 6 | TOPIC SIX Elasticity and its application
| 3 |
Week 7-8 | TOPICSEVEN The Consumers & Producers’ Behavior
| 4 |
Week 8-9 | TOPIC EIGHT International Trade
| 4 |
Week 9-10 | TOPIC NINE The Economics of The Public Sector
| 4 |
Week 11 | TOPIC TEN Public Goods and Common Resources
| 3 |
Week 12-13 | TOPIC ELEVEN The costof Production
| 4 |
Week 13-14 | TOPIC TWELVE The Competitive Market
| 4 |
Week 14-15 | TOPIC THIRTEEN Monopoly
| 4 |
Week 16 | TOPIC FOURTEEN Oligopolistic Competition
| 3 |
Week 17 | TOPIC FIFTEEN Monopolistic Competition
| 3 |
Week 18 | TOPIC SIXTEEN Market of Production Factors
| 3 |
Total Hours | 54 |