ECON 2020: PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS
Section 04
Spring II, 2006
Thursday
Intructor: Dr. Allan MacNeill
Office: H. Sam Priest House 210
Phone: (314) 968-7489
Fax: (314) 968-7403
macneiam@webster.edu
http://www.webster.edu/~macneiam
Course Description: This course is an introduction to neoclassical microeconomic theory. The theory provides an explanation for how a market system determines what goods and services a society produces, the methods of production, and the distribution of economic resources. The course will examine cost and market structure, government regulation of business, wage determination, income distribution, poverty and the economics of environmental quality.
Text: Irwin B. Tucker. Economics for Today. 4th edition.
Other short readings may be handed out in class. In addition to completing the assigned readings for each class, it is highly recommended that each student follow current economic events in the Wall Street Journal, The Economist and/or the New York Times.
Students may also find the following websites interesting and helpful.
The textbook publisher's economics page: economics.swcollege.com
The Economist
Resources for Economists on the Internet
The Dismal Scientist
Jerome Levy Economics Institute
Brookings Institution
Economic Policy Institute
Global Economics News
Nouriel
Roubinis Global Macroeconomic & Financial Policy
Site
Latin Focus
Economic Policy Network
Institute for Policy Studies
Citizens for Tax Justice
Corporate Welfare Information
Center
United for a Fair Economy
Federal Reserve Bank
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics--unemployment
statistics
Economic Report of the
President
U.S. Census Bureau
Bureau of Economic Analysis--GDP data
Office of Trade and Economic
Analysis--includes foreign country data
Cato Institute
Exams and Grading: There will be three exams and a
final exam. Students are also expected to participate in class disscussions and occasional in-class projects. The
approximate weights of each requirement are:
3 exams (@20% each.......60%
participation......................10%
final...................................30%
Academic Dishonesty: Any student caught cheating or committing plagiarism will receive a failing grade for the course and may be subject to further disciplinary action.
Course Schedule
March 23 Introduction: Supply & Demand, Elasticity
review chs. 3 & 4, ch. 5
March 30 International Trade; Consumer Choice Theory
ch. 28 (pp. 682-694) ch. 6
April 6 Production Costs and Perfect Competition
chs.
7, 8
EXAM 1 (covers
chs. 3-6, pp. 682-694)
April 13 Monopoly and Imperfect Competition
chs. 9, 10
April 20 Wage Determination, Inequality, Povery and Welfare
chs.
11, 12
EXAM 2 (covers chs. 7-10)
April 27 Anti-Trust and Regulation
ch. 13
May 4 Environmental Economics
ch. 14
EXAM 3 (covers chs. 11-13)
May 11 Current Issues
FINAL EXAM