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University of Alberta Department of Economics
Econ 281 – B4
Intermediate Microeconomic Theory I
Winter 2019 L. Priemaza
Class Schedule:
Lectures: Tuesday, Thursday 9:30 – 10:50 in T 1 93 E-mail: [email protected]
Office: Tory 7-21
Hours: January: Tuesday 3:30-4:30 or by appointment. Unavailable Friday.
Feb-April 12th: Wednesday 2:30-3:30 or by appointment. Unavailable Friday.
Course Website: www.ualberta.ca/~priemaza Course Description:
Econ 281 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory I
The theory of consumer behavior; theory of production and cost; price and output determination under competition, monopoly and other market structures.
Prerequisites: ECON 101 - This prerequisite will be enforced. Please inform the instructor if you wish to take this course without this prerequisite.
Evaluation: (final exam date, time and location to be confirmed by students) Assignments (2) ……...…………..…….... 18%
Mini-Assignment (1) ………...… 2%
Mid-term exam (Thurs. Feb 14th)…....….. 30%
Final Exam (Wednesday April 24th, 9am)... 50%
Recommended Books and Materials:
➢ Besanko, David and Ronald R. Braeutigam (2010/2013) Microeconomics, 4th Edition/5th Edition (Or EQUIVALENT INTERMEDIATE MICRO TEXT)
➢ Webnotes (www.ualberta.ca/~priemaza)
➢ Calculator
2 Four-Point Grade System Implementation
“Grades reflect judgements of student achievement made by instructors. These judgements are based on a combination of absolute achievement and relative performance in a class.” - University of Alberta Calendar 23.4
Grades will be collected and aggregated in percentage form and assigned letter grades at the conclusion of the course. Letter grades will be assigned using natural distribution gaps in the class grade distribution. Improvement and class attendance will be
considered for borderline cases.
My Guarantee: An aggregate percentage grade of 60% will not be assigned a grade of less than D (1.0 – minimal pass).
Code of Student Behavior:
"Policy about course outlines can be found in ' 23.4(2) of the University Calendar." (GFC 29 SEP 2003).
"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 honesty 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.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm
<http://www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm> ) 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." (GFC 29 SEP 2003)
Course Topics:
➢ Supply and Demand
➢ Preferences and Utility
➢ Consumer Choice Behavior
➢ Individual and Market Demand
➢ Production
➢ Costs of Production
➢ Competitive Market Model and Applications
➢ Monopoly and Monopsony
➢ Pricing with Market Power
➢ Factor Markets (Throughout the course)
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Notes:
1) All class assignments will be available on the course website. Assignments are due by 3:45 PM on the due date listed at the end of the assignment in the Economics Department Office (Tory 8-14). Assignments can be handed in the next day (by 3:45PM) with a 15% late penalty. These assignments must be time stamped.
2) No e-mailed assignments will be accepted.
3) If you cannot hand in an assignment or miss a midterm due to severe illness or domestic affliction, contact your instructor immediately. Your instructor MAY redistribute the item’s weight. Note that you will be required to provide acceptable documentation, such as a “REQUEST FOR DEFERRAL OF EXAMINATIONS AND/OR TERM WORK” form. (Search the U of A Website for this form.)
4) The final exam will be cumulative, but its content will be weighted towards material covered following the midterm. Students are responsible for confirming the time and location of the final exam.
5) If you miss the final exam for a valid medical reason or severe domestic affliction, you may apply to YOUR FACULTY for the privilege of a re-write. Please refer to the University Calendar for the proper procedure.
6) Final marks will be determined by adding the marks obtained on each assessment component. Conversion of these marks to a letter grade will not follow a set grade distribution.
7) If cheating or any other violation of the Student Code of Conduct is suspected, the instructor is required to report the case to the faculty for investigation.
Examples of Cheating: Looking at another paper, a textbook, or notes during an exam. Using a cell phone or sharing a calculator during an exam. Helping another student complete an ASSIGNMENT problem. Lending assignments before they are due. Passing notes in an exam.
Not Cheating: Studying together. Helping another student do a PRACTICE problem. Lending notes. Working on study notes together.
8) The instructor reserves the right to adjust marking weights in individual extreme cases.
9) 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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Econ 281 – Planned Schedule for Winter 2019
Week # Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 January
6th
7 8 9 10 11 12
2 Jan 13th 14 15 16 17 18
A1 Out
19
3 Jan 20st 21 22 23 24 25 26
4 Jan 27th 28 29 30
A1 Due
31 February 1st
2
5 Feb 3rd 4 5 6 7 8 9
6 Feb 10th 11 12 13 14
Midterm
15 16
7 – Reading
Week
Feb 17th 18 19 20 21 22 23
8 Feb 24th 25 26
Mini Assignment Due
27 28 March 1st 2
9 Mar 3rd 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 Mar 10th 11 12 13 14 15 16
11 Mar 17th 18 19 20 21 22
A2 Out
23
12 Mar 24th 25 26 27 28 29 30
13 March 31st
April 1st 2 3
A2 Due
4 5 6
14 April 7th 8 9 10 11 12 13
15 April 14th 15 16 17 18 19 20
16 April 21st 22 23 24
281 Final
25 26 27
Notes: “A” refers to assignments. This is an estimated assignment schedule only;
refer to the end of the individual assignment for official due date.
All assignments are due in the Economics Department Office (Tory 8-14) by 3:45 PM.