Principles of Microeconomics ECON 10011/20011 –sections 04
Fall 2016
Eva Dziadula, PhD
447 Flanner Hall
574-631-0424
E-mail: [email protected] (Tips on writing an effective email)
Webpage: http://www3.nd.edu/~edziadul/home.htm
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Teaching tab – syllabus & homework/concept help videos
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prof-Ds-Econ-ND/521479024662670?pnref=story
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Articles relating to class, campus event announcements relating to economics, and I
occasionally post job announcement for research assistants.
Meeting times:
Section 04: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays 8:20 – 9:10am, DeBartolo Hall 138
Professor D’s office hours:
447 Flanner Hall: Wednesdays 1-4 pm, and by appointment (just email me, I’m around almost every day).
Teaching Assistants’ Office Hours: in 117 Haggar Hall
Tuesdays 3:30-5:30pm & 7:30-9:30pm
Wednesdays 5-9pm
Adam Moeller – Tuesdays 7:30-9:30pm, Wednesdays 5-7pm
Connor Murphy – Tuesdays 3:30-5:30pm, Wednesdays 7-9pm
Professor D’s Econ majors advising hours:
Walk in Mondays 2:30-3:30pm, by appointment https://ndecon.youcanbook.me/
Outside of office hours meetings with Professor D:
I will hold several breakfast and lunch gatherings (in 424 Flanner Hall), as well as midmorning or
afternoon Starbucks coffee meetings (LaFortune) during the semester. I provide the food – most likely
Einstein bagels for breakfast and pizza for lunch. These meetings are informal. It is an opportunity for me
to get to know you and for you to get to know each other. There are about 12 spots for each lunch and
breakfast and 5 for coffee. I will send out an email with the times and dates to the class – on the indicated
days and times, there will be scheduling appointment slots titled “Econ 10010 (B/L/S)” on my google
calendar - Sign up for a meeting, If the link doesn’t work:
https://www.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UUlBTXJSaG56dlAtfGRlZmF1bHR8ODQwN2Q0M2U5OT
NhZDRjYmVhM2I2ODA4ZWU0ODAyZjk
If you would like to attend a breakfast (B) or lunch (L) or Starbucks (S) (limit to one event per person per
semester  ), please click on one of the slots and claim your spot. If something comes up and you can’t
make it, cancel the appointment slot you've already booked by deleting the event from your own calendar,
so others can attend. If you are trying to sign up and don't see anything to click on, it means all the
available spots have been taken.
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I reserve the right to resolve any remaining ambiguities, to revise this schedule as needed,
or other relevant requirements or aspects of this course.
Course description:
An introduction to economics, with particular attention to the pricing mechanism, competitive and
monopolistic markets, government regulation of the economy, labor-management relations and programs,
income determination and public policy, trade and the international economy.
Statement of Purpose:
What is Microeconomics? Microeconomics studies how individuals and firms make decisions and how
these decisions interact. How does this affect you? You have to make choices every day! Do you get up
and come to class or sleep in? Is it worth completing the degree or not? Which job do you choose?
Hopefully, the knowledge you will gain in this course will prove to be useful throughout your career.
Goals:
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to interpret scarcity, opportunity cost,
trade-offs and marginal/cost-benefit analysis. Students will be able to apply the supply and demand
model and evaluate the impact of real-life events on markets (producers and consumers). They will be
able to analyze consumer behavior and differentiate firm behavior with respect to production and costs.
They will also be able to recognize different market structures and how they affect behavior of firms.
Students will further be able to evaluate market efficiency, market failures, and the role of government.
Students will be able to illustrate the principles of trade and demonstrate the implications of comparative
advantage for individuals, firms and the global economy.
Text required:
Principles of Microeconomics, 6th edition, by Glenn Hubbard and Anthony O’Brien
Required: Homework system (MyEconLab) with E-book– directly through the publisher
(directions how to register for the homework system with option to purchase are at the end of the
syllabus, they offer a two week free trial period) or you can purchase the access code in the
bookstore.
Also, if you prefer an actual book, you can add a three hole punch book through the publisher and
the bookstore carries them as well.
Course grade:
I will calculate your final grade using the two methods outlined and you will earn the higher of the two
based on the following scale: 92%<A, 90%<A-, 88%<B+, 82%<B, 80%<B-, 78%<C+, 72%<C, 70%<C-,
60%≤D, 60%>F. Grades, including final grades, are calculated to two decimal places and will be rounded
to two decimal places.
Method 1 (default calculation in MyEconLab):
My EconLab - homework & participation (lowest score is dropped*)
6%
My EconLab - online quiz (lowest score is dropped*)
7%
Problem sets (3 total)
7%
Midterm exams (25% each)
Thursdays 9/22 & 11/3 @ 8am 50%
Comprehensive final examination: Wednesday 12/14 @ 1:45pm
30%
Method 2 (will only apply if beneficial to you, calculation not displayed):
My EconLab - homework & participation (lowest score is dropped*)
6%
My EconLab - online quiz (lowest score is dropped*)
7%
Problem sets (3 total)
7%
Midterm exam lower score
5%
Midterm exam higher score
25%
Comprehensive final examination:
50%
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I reserve the right to resolve any remaining ambiguities, to revise this schedule as needed,
or other relevant requirements or aspects of this course.
* I will drop the lowest scores during the final grade calculations outside of myeconlab. Therefore, the
score displayed in MyEconLab is the worst case scenario. After dropping the lowest scores and possibly
using Method 2, if it’s beneficial in your case, your final grade may be higher than what is displayed in
MyEconLab. It will never be lower than your MyEconLab result. If you would like to calculate your
grade using method 2, please use the weights above, you have access to all your grades on MyEconLab
and can calculate the averages for all the categories. Please, do not email me regarding grades unless you
believe there is an error where an exam or problem set score was entered incorrectly. I will not discuss
grades over email and will under no circumstances make individual exceptions when determining final
grades. After the last day of class, there is absolutely nothing that can be done to alter your grade other
than the final exam.
** For exam times and locations see http://registrar.nd.edu/students/exams.php . If you miss an exam due
to reasons other than university excused absences, including oversleeping the exam, you will earn a zero
and most likely your grade will be determined using method 2. There will not be any make-up tests
administered except in the case of reasons supported by the university.
MyEconLab (online quiz/homework/participation/gradebook):
Please, register using your NdID (9 digit 901 number). Course ID is dziadula05707 and is necessary for
registration, detailed instructions are included at the end of the syllabus.
This system will be used for online homework assignments, quizzes and to keep track of attendance via
participation during class (Learning Catalytics). For online quizzes, you must complete the assignment in
one attempt and you will have one hour to do so. For online homeworks, you are allowed unlimited
attempts for practice and there is no time limit. You must complete all assignments by the due date to
receive full credit. Online assignments will always be due on Wednesdays of the following week by
11:59pm (assignments extending to the last week of classes will be due by 11:59 of the last day of
instruction). Late homeworks will earn half the credit, quizzes cannot be submitted after the due date.
Problem sets:
There will be a problem set assigned prior to each test and posted under Document Sharing on
MyEconLab. Written solutions must be handed in at the beginning of the last class meeting prior to the
exam. We will review the solutions to problem set in class that day, so make a copy for yourself to make
corrections and write notes. Solutions will only be discussed in class and will not be posted. No late
assignments will be accepted.
Participation:
We will work on problems in class individually and in groups. I will provide worksheets and they will
not be graded on correctness, only on completion. Your score will be recorded in class via MyEconlab
extension called “learning catalytics” (LC) – you can respond using your phone or computer (if you don’t
have either of those in class, please see me at the end of class, so I can record your response manually).
Free points, as long as you are in class . There will be no make ups. If you know ahead of time you
will need to miss class, please email me and we can arrange for an alternative submission.
Laptop use during class:
Unfortunately, laptops are a distraction to students around the person using it. Therefore, as a response to
students’ requests, this is a no laptop environment by default, with the exception of responding to LC
questions. However, I do understand that some of you prefer to take notes on your laptops. If that is the
case, please come see me in person to arrange for special accommodations.
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I reserve the right to resolve any remaining ambiguities, to revise this schedule as needed,
or other relevant requirements or aspects of this course.
Studying / Preparing for exams:
Solving problems is key – practice, not reading over solved problems. Take advantage of the online
homeworks and quizzes that give you instant feedback and provide the solutions. Instead of guessing the
answer, grab a scratch paper and try to write out your answer first before clicking. That way, if you miss,
you will be able to identify where you made a mistake and learn from it. This is extremely valuable.
Your Pearson MyEconLab is a great practice resource!
Check out the Multimedia tab, it includes access to mini lecture videos, and most importantly each study
guide chapter pdf file ends with practice questions and problems and includes solutions – these are great
practice exams.
The Study Plan tab and the Dynamic Study modules tab include additional practice questions.
Practice solving problems from the textbook. The ebook has additional interactive problems.
Review the homework assignments and quizzes on MyEconLab and the worksheets completed in class.
I will also post practice exams in the Document Sharing on MyEconLab.
Expectations:
- Participate! It will make it a lot more fun (for me, too) and you’ll learn a lot more.
- Ask questions! I want the time you spend in the classroom to be the most productive, so make sure you
understand as we go through the material. Don’t wait.
- Please respect your classmates and me. Everyone has a right to voice an opinion.
- There will be additional material presented in class that is not covered in your text and we will also work
through in-class exercises. Attendance is expected and will be reflected in your participation score.
- The general rule is that for each hour spent in class, there are 2 hours of work outside of class. We will
meet for 2.5 hours each week. Therefore, you should expect to spend about 5 hours a week on assigned
problems and readings.
- Within MyEconLab with Pearson, you can access the syllabus as well as additional documents/readings.
You can monitor your scores under the Results tab. Please follow those closely, so that we can address
any discrepancies right away.
- Feel free to come to my office hours or email me for a more convenient time. Also, take advantage of
the TA office hours. We are here to help!
Honor Code:
Academic integrity is required. We will not tolerate academic dishonesty in any form. The University’s
Honor Code (http://honorcode.nd.edu/) reminds our community of our shared purpose both within the
institute of academia and as members of a broader humanity; the statement also outlines policy violation
procedures. Any questions regarding academic integrity, particularly regarding assignments in this
course, should be directed to the instructor.
The Code of Honor will be strictly applied as described in The Academic Code of Honor
Handbook. Students will not give or receive aid on exams. This includes, but is not limited to, viewing
the exams of others, sharing answers with others, and using books or notes while taking the exam. You
may work collaboratively on the homework.
Disabilities:
Any student who has a documented disability and is registered with Disability Services should speak with
the professor as soon as possible regarding accommodations. Students who are not registered should
contact the Office of Disability Services (http://disabilityservices.nd.edu/)
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I reserve the right to resolve any remaining ambiguities, to revise this schedule as needed,
or other relevant requirements or aspects of this course.
Tentative Course Outline
Topic:
Week 1
Intro to Microeconomics, Models (WF only)
Aug 24
Week 2
Trade-offs, Comparative Advantage and Market System
Aug 29
Supply and Demand
Week 3
Supply and Demand,
Sept 5
Economic Efficiency
Week 4
Elasticity
Sept 12
Week 5
Government Price Setting
Sept 19
Midterm 1 (Thu 9/22 @ 8am in DeBartolo 101) *no class F
Week 6
Review M1, Taxes, Externalities
Sept 26
* no class F
Week 7
Externalities,
Oct 3
Environmental Policy and Public Goods,
Week 8
Consumer Choice and Behavioral Economics
Oct 10
Week ~
Fall Break
Week 9
Oct 24
Week 10
Oct 31
Week 11
Nov 7
Week 12
Nov 14
Week 13
Nov 21
Week 14
Nov 28
Week 15
Dec 5
Technology, Production and Costs
Readings:
Chapter 1+ A
Chapter 2, 3
Chapter 3, 4 A,
4.1, 4.2
Chapter 6, 4.3
Chapter 4.3
Chapter 4.4, 18.2,
18.3, 5
Chapter 5
Chapter 10, 10A
Chapter 11
Perfect Competition
Midterm 2 (Thu Nov 3@8am in DeBartolo 101) make up
class on F for Sept 30th
Perfect Competition
Monopoly and Antitrust Policy
Monopoly and Antitrust Policy, Pricing Strategy
Monopolistic Competition
Monopolistic Competition (M only)
Thanksgiving
Oligopoly
Chapter 12
The Markets for the Factors of Production, Earnings and
Discrimination, Review (MW only)
Chapter 19
Chapter 12, 15
Chapter 15, 16.2,
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Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Comprehensive final examination: Wednesday 12/14 1:45-3:45pm in TBA
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I reserve the right to resolve any remaining ambiguities, to revise this schedule as needed,
or other relevant requirements or aspects of this course.
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I reserve the right to resolve any remaining ambiguities, to revise this schedule as needed,
or other relevant requirements or aspects of this course.