Econ 384-B3 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory II
Winter 2020
Instructor: Jiatong Zhong E-mail: [email protected]
Office Location: Tory Building 7-23
Office Hours: Tuesday 1:30 pm to 3:20 pm or by appointment Course Website: https://eclass.srv.ualberta.ca/
Class time: Tuesday & Thursday 3:30PM - 4:50PM, January 7-April 7, 2020 Classroom: Tory 1-91
Course Description:
This course is a continuation of Intermediate Microeconomic Theory I (ECON 281). We cover topics such as choice under uncertainty, market structure, basic game theory, markets with asymmetric information, and externalities. By the end of this course, you will be able to use the theories we covered in class to better understand a number of policy questions relevant to the economy. This course also prepares you for more advanced field courses such as International Trade, Industrial Organization, and Economics of Information.
Prerequisites and Restrictions:
The prerequisites for this course are ECON 281 and 299 or consent of the Economics Department.
Prerequisites will be enforced. Registration in the course will be canceled if a student has not taken (and passed) the prerequisite (or equivalent.)
Textbook:
• Microeconomics, by Robert S. Pindyck and Daniel L. Rubinfeld, Pearson
Evaluation:
Quizzes and games 10%
Assignments 30%
Midterm Exam 25% (February 13, in-class) Final Exam 35% (April 15)
Extra Credits 5 %
Letter Grade Distribution:
I will assign extra-credit questions with homework and/or exam. Your final grade will be a weighted average of your grades from assignments and exams, and a letter grade will be assigned accordingly.
I will consider class average and distribution when assigning letter grades with one exception: if your final score reaches 98 (with extra-credits), you will get A+ regardless of class distribution.
Important Dates:
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• Midterm date: February 13, in-class.
• Final date: 9:00 a.m. Wednesday April 15, Location TBA.
• Winter Reading Week: February 18-21, 2020
• 50% refund withdrawal deadline: February 5, 2020
• Winter withdrawal deadline (for regular 13-week classes): April 1, 2020 Course Outline:
I. Overview
II. Variations on basic choice theory
• Uncertainty (Chapter 5)
• Inter-temporal decisions (Chapter 15) III. Market Structure
• Review of Monopoly (Chapter 10)
• Pricing with Market Power (Chapter 11)
• Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly (Chapter 12)
• Game Theory (Chapter 13)
IV. Asymmetric Information, Market Failure, and the Role of Government
• General Equilibrium (Chapter 16)
• Markets with Asymmetric Information (Chapter 17)
• Externalities and Public Goods (Chapter 18) Course Policies:
• General
– You will participate in a number of games using MobLab (free with class code, see instructions on eClass). Participating in 75% or more games during the semester will earn you 3% participation credits.
– There will be pop quizzes in class. They are worth up to 7% of your final grade. There will be a total of 8 quizzes throughout the semester and each is worth 1%.
– Course materials are uploaded to course website. It’s your responsibility to keep up with the new uploads.
– Exams are closed book, closed notes.
– There will be no make-up midterm. If you miss midterm exam due to excused absence, please notify me within 24 hours of the date of midterm and submit a Request for Excused Absence form. Your final examine will cover the weight of midterm exam.
If you fail to notify me, your midterm grade will be zero.
– I will upload sample exams to eClass before midterm and final.
– I will offer slightly more challenging questions in homework and exams for extra credits.
• Assignments
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– Please submit the assignments before 5:00 PM on the due day. I encourage you to submit it in class, but you can also send them via e-mail or leave your assignment in the collection box in 8-14 Tory. Please note that the Department of Economics office at Tory 8-14 closes at 4 P.M., so if you want to submit after that, you need to bring the assignment to my office at Tory 7-23.
– No late assignments will be accepted under any circumstances. Instead of having exceptions, I will upload assignments long before its deadline. I recommend working on the assignment as soon as we have covered the materials in class.
– Although you are encouraged to discuss and study together, you are expected to work independently. Offeringand accepting solutions from others is an act of plagiarism, which is a serious offense and all involved parties will be penalized according to the Uni- versity’s Code of Student Behaviour (https://www.ualberta.ca/current-students/
academic-resources/academic-integrity)
– Discussion amongst students is encouraged, but when in doubt, direct your questions to the instructor.
• Attendance and Absences
– Attendance is expected but will not be taken. However, neither office hours nor lecture notes are substitutes for lectures. I strongly recommend showing up to classes.
– Students are responsible for all missed work, regardless of the reason for absence. It is also the absentee’s responsibility to get all missing notes or materials.
• Missed Final Exams
Students who miss final exams must apply for a deferred final exam from the Faculty in which they are registered. In Arts students are required to submit a written request by completing the “Application for Deferred Final Exam” form in the USS office. Please see “I Missed my Final Exam, Now What?” for more details.
University Notices:
• Policy about course outlines can be found in the Evaluation Procedures and Grading System section of the University Calendar.
• The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic hon- esty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University. http://www.ualberta.ca/current-students/academic-resources/
academic-integrity
• Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as part of an approved accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).
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• Territorial Statement:
The University of Alberta acknowledges that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, and respects the histories, languages, and cultures of the First Nations, M´etis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada, whose presence continues to enrich our vibrant community.
• Learning and working environment:
The Faculty of Arts is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment.
It does not tolerate behaviour that undermines that environment.
• Sexual Violence Policy:
It is the policy of the University of Alberta that sexual violence committed by any member of the University community is prohibited and constitutes misconduct. Resources and more information can be found at https://www.ualberta.ca/campus-life/sexual-violence
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