SYLLABUS

ECON 2020 – PRINCIPLES OF MICRO ECONOMICS

3 CREDIT HOURS

SEMESTER 2, 2007-2008

EMMETT DULANEY

 

I.                   GENERAL INFORMATION

 

Class Meetings:           Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: 11:00 – 11:50

                                    Fine Arts, Room 267

Professor:                    Emmett Dulaney

Office Address:          Falls School of Business

                                    Hardacre Hall, Room 231

                                                Anderson University

                                                Anderson, IN  46012-3495

            Phone:                         765.641.4126

            Email:                          eadulaney@anderson.edu

            Office Hours:              Before class, or by appointment

 

II.                CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to give the student exposure to the uniqueness of economic reasoning.  The introduction of the basic tools of economics will prepare the student for a rigorous analytical approach to constrained decision making.

            PREREQUISITE: Sophomore standing

 

III.             COURSE OBJECTIVES (Goals for the course):

Students will be presented with simplified versions of economic models that lead to the analysis of a variety of problems and issues that face consumers, business and government.  We will focus upon objectives that include, but are not limited to:

                        1. Price and output determination in a private market

                        2. Consumer sensitivity to product price

                        3. Production technology and costs

                        4. Market structures and degrees of monopoly power

                        5. Resource market, hiring and wage determination

                        6. Controlling monopoly power, antitrust legislation

                        7. Policy tools and approaches to regulation

                        8. Unionization and its impact upon wages and employment

                      9. International exchange rate determination

                     10. Capital markets for a capitalist system

 

IV.             REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS

 

Economics: Principles and Applications, Fourth Edition. Hall & Lieberman (2008 edition).

 

Freakonomics. Levitt & Dubner (ISBN: 0-06-073132-X)

 

There will also be assigned readings from the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, and other journals. Links to pertinent articles, or handouts, will be assigned on a topic-by-topic basis.

 

 

V.                COURSE REQUIREMENTS, POLICIES, AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES

 

A.    Course Requirements

 

1.      Exams (60%). There will be four tests throughout the semester. Test format will be a combination of short answer, essay, and multiple choice. The tests will cover the material from the class lectures, presentations, related text chapters, and assigned readings. All exams, including the final, are equally weighted.

 

2.      Research/Opinion Papers (20%). Students are required to write two papers of 1,000 words each in Microsoft Word and upload them in Moodle. Each paper should include research (cited) on the assigned topics. The papers are due before the start of class on the day they are assigned. Late papers will not be accepted. The subject of each paper, and the rubric that will be used to grade it, will be discussed in class.

 

3.      Quizzes and Participation (20%). There will be regularly assigned quizzes on the reading material administered in Moodle and pop quizzes given during class. The Moodle quizzes must be completed prior to the start of class on the day assigned, while the pop quizzes will typically not be announced in advance. Regardless of the format of the quiz, you may not make up missed quizzes.

 

You are expected to attend class and contribute to class discussions and activities. While coming to class is important, merely attending and listening to the discussions is not sufficient. If you keep up with the readings, attend the class meetings, and contribute to class discussions, this requirement will not represent a major obstacle to successful completion of the course.

 

 

B.     Attendance Policy

 

Attendance and participation is expected.  Students should attend all class sessions unless prevented from so doing by extenuating circumstances. It is the student’s obligation to personally notify the instructor of any absence: in advance, if possible. The fourth absence, and each subsequent one thereafter, can have a negative impact on your final grade. Unless prior arrangements are made with the instructor, two late arrivals and/or two early departures will equal one absence. Please be mindful of the fact that, regardless of your reason(s) for an absence, you are responsible for the material covered in class during each session.

 

 
C.    Ethical Expectations

 

Students are expected to conduct themselves with the highest ethics.  Individual assignments are to be done only by the student. All submissions handed in under a student’s name are to be limited to that student’s work. Any exception to these guidelines should be reported and discussed with the instructor. There is a ZERO TOLERANCE rule in effect for this area; any violations will result in a zero for the submitted material.

 

 

D.    Instructional Strategies

 

This course will utilize lectures, discussion of assigned readings, and case studies. It will be beneficial if you read the referenced text before each class meeting and are prepared to discuss it.

 

E.     Evaluation Procedures

 

Grades will reflect your ability to perform at the college level.  The components of your final grade are outlined in the course requirements above. Letter grades for the course will be determined using the following criteria:

 


Point Distribution

 

Exam #1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . .  150

Exam #2 . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . .  150

Exam #3 . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . .  150

Final Exam . . . . .  . . . . . . . . .  150

Research/Opinion Papers. . .200

Quizzes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   200

 

TOTAL . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . 1000


Grading Scale

 

A               = 930 – 1000        (93%-100%)

A-              = 900 – 929          (90% - 92%)

B+             = 880 – 899          (88% - 89%)

B               = 830 – 879          (83% - 87%)

B-              = 800 – 829          (80% - 82%)

C+             = 780 – 799          (78% - 79%)

C               = 730 – 779          (73% - 77%)

C-              = 700 – 729          (70% - 72%)

D               = 600 – 699          (60% - 69%)

F                = 0 – 599               (0 – 59%)


 

 

Assignments and examinations should be completed on the announced due dates. Material submitted after the due date, without prior approval, will not be accepted.

 

F.     Policies Related to Students with Special Needs

 

Students having special problems that might affect their performance should notify the instructor during the first week of school.  Possible arrangements can be made to work closely with the Learning Center, a tutor, or special time provided by the instructor.

 

G.    Policies Related to Cell Phones

 

Cell phones should not be used in class.  Phones should not be used for making or receiving calls, or text messaging. Any phones used for this purpose, without prior consent, will become the property of the instructor.


H.    Policies Related to Food/Beverages

 

Food and beverages should not be consumed in the classroom.  In order to prevent distracting others around you, refrain from eating and drinking during the fifty minutes that you are sitting in this classroom.

 

 

VI.             TENATIVE SCHEDULE

 

Date

Topics

Text Reading

Freakonomics

1/16

Introduction/Syllabus Review

 

 

1/18

Ten Principles of Economics

 

 

1/21

Basics of Economics

Chapter 1& 2

 

1/23

Demand

Chapter 3

 

1/25

 

 

Chapter 1

1/28

Supply

Chapter 3

 

1/30

Ceilings, Floors, Elasticity

Chapter 4

 

2/1

 

 

Chapter 2

2/4

Taxes, Fighting Supply and Demand

Chapter 4

 

2/6

EXAM ONE

 

 

2/8

 

 

Chapter 3

2/11

Consumer Choice

Chapter 5

 

2/13

Production and Cost

Chapter 6

 

2/15

 

 

Chapter 4

2/18

Profit Maximization

PAPER #1 DUE

Chapter 7

 

2/20

Perfect Competition

Chapter 8

 

2/22

 

 

Chapter 5

2/25

Perfect Competition and

Discussion of Paper #1

Chapter 8

 

2/27

EXAM TWO

 

 

2/29

 

 

Chapter 6

3/3

Monopoly

Chapter 9

 

3/5

Price Discrimination

Chapter 9

 

3/7

(Current Events)

 

 

3/10

SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS

 

 

3/12

SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS

 

 

3/14

SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS

 

 

3/17

Monopolistic Competition

Chapter 10

 

3/19

 

Chapter 10

 

3/21

GOOD FRIDAY – NO CLASS

 

 

3/24

EASTER TRAVEL DAY – NO CLASS