Microeconomics, 3nd edition, by Paul Krugman & Robin Wells (2012). Grading: •
Grading will be done according to a four point scale (4=A, 3=B, 2=C, 1=D, and ...
ECON 102 - Principles of Microeconomics Spring 2013, JTB 100 Sec. 1001, MWF 10:00 - 10:50 AM
Professor Elliott Parker Office: AB 318-D Office Hours: MTW 11:00 - 11:50 AM e-mail:
[email protected]
Short Syllabus The full syllabus for this course is at http://www.business.unr.edu/faculty/parker/econ102 (you can just google “Parker ECON102”). It has explanations, assignments, schedules, suggestions and links. I will also post grades on Webcampus. You will also be subscribed to an e-mail list, and if you have a spam feature you may need to explicitly allow messages from this list. Course Summary: This is an introductory course in microeconomics, which covers the fundamental theories of the consumer, the firm, and markets. It is a required course for any student wishing to major or minor in business or economics, and it is recommended for any student who would like to understand how the U.S. economy works. This course also meets the social science requirements of the core curriculum, since you will be exposed to major questions concerning human and institutional behavior, and you will be encouraged to develop your skills in critical analysis, mathematics, and/or writing clarity. Class discussion is encouraged, inasmuch as the large class size allows. There are different approaches to teaching. Some like to spoon-feed their students bite-sized portions which are easily digestible. I believe in setting goals that you can only reach on tiptoe. I do this because I believe that you will learn more if you are pushed, and because I believe that you should be aware of how much there is to learn. I fully believe that, if you pay attention, what you learn in this class will help you make more sense of business, politics, and world affairs in the future. Readings: •
Microeconomics, 3nd edition, by Paul Krugman & Robin Wells (2012).
Grading: • Grading will be done according to a four point scale (4=A, 3=B, 2=C, 1=D, and 0=F). At the end of the semester, your average grade will be converted back into a letter grade, with +/-. •
There will be two midterm exams and a final exam, each worth 20%. The final will be given at the times listed in the UNR Spring Schedule. There will be no make-ups without prior approval except under extremely unusual circumstances, and missing an exam will result in a grade of -1.0 for that exam.
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Online homework for each chapter will be assigned weekly using the Sapling Learning website, and this will count as 20% of your grade.
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Attendance, participation, and in-class performance will count for 20% of your grade, and will require use of a clicker. The Bookstore sells clickers from Turning Technologies, and you will need to register it in Webcampus.
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There are five equally-weighted parts to your grade: as long as you do not miss an exam, I will drop the lowest fifth of your grade and change the weights on the other four parts to 25%.
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This class requires competency in basic math skills, and I will give a quiz the first week of class. Passing will require 80%! If you do not pass this first quiz, you may have one retry. To encourage you to refreshen your math skills, I will give you bonus points for passing it. If you do not pass either quiz, you must come see me in my office if you want to pass the class.
Schedule: Lectures will generally follow the order of the textbook, and you should prepare for class by reading the relevant textbook chapters. PowerPoint lecture notes, in PDF format, will be posted afterwards for your review on the course website. I.
Introduction to Economics: Definitions, Principles, Methods, and Models; Specialization and Trade; Supply and Demand; Government Intervention and Unintended Consequences; Elasticity; Measuring Gains from Trade; Taxes; International Trade.
o Read Krugman & Wells, chapters 1-8. o The First Midterm Exam is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 1. II. Markets with Perfect and Imperfect Competition: Marginal Analysis and Rational Choice; Consumer Theory; Producer Theory; Perfect Competition; Monopoly, Oligopoly, and Monopolistic Competition.
o Read Krugman & Wells, chapters 9-15. o The Second Midterm Exam is tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 12. III. Microeconomics in an Imperfect World: Efficiency and Equity; Externalities, Public Goods, Taxation, Social Insurance and Public Policy; Capital and Labor Markets; Uncertainty, Risk, Private Information and Technological Progress.
o Read Krugman & Wells, chapters 16-20. o The Final Exam is scheduled for Friday, May 10, 10:15 AM - 12:15 PM. Disability Accommodation: If you have a disability and require assistance, please contact the university’s Disability Resource Center as soon as possible to arrange for appropriate accommodations. Academic Integrity: Students are expected to adhere to the ethical code as described in the UNR Student Handbook. With enrollment in this class, you commit to the principles embodied in the code. Academic dishonesty in any form is unacceptable, and penalties range from failing the assignment to being dismissed from the university. The Department of Economics takes violations of academic integrity very seriously. Audio and Video Recording: Unauthorized video or audio recordings of this class is prohibited by law and by the NSHE Board of Regents. This class may be recorded only with the written permission of the instructor, and only for personal use. In order to accommodate students with disabilities, some students may have been given permission to record class lectures and discussions, and student comments during class may thus be recorded.
