Announcements (space below updated regularly)

} Course Schedule – Check here for the schedule of lecture topics, problem sets, exams, etc. This will be revised continuously throughout the semester.

Assignments

} Math primer assignment. Due Thursday, Sept 6^th at the beginning of class.

1. Course Information

Meeting time: TR 9:30-10:45 PM

Classroom: GUGG 205

Website: http://ucsu.colorado.edu/~harrod/

Prerequisites: (1) Econ 1000 (Intro to Econ) or Econ 2010 (Principles of Microeconomics); (2)

Math 1300, or Econ 1078 & Econ 1088, or equivalent

2. Instructor Information

Instructor: Megan Lawson

Office: ECON 414 (South Tower)

Email: megan.lawson (at) colorado.edu (preferred method of contact)

Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11 – 12

3. Textbook

Required: David Besanko and Ronald Braeutigam, "Microeconomics: An Integrated Approach". Second Edition (John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 2001).

The exams will be based on the class lectures and problem sets. The lectures will roughly follow the textbook, but sometimes the lectures will go beyond what is covered in the text. Conversely, the lectures often will not cover everything that is in the assigned chapter. Attending class and taking good notes is therefore very important.

4. Course Objective

This is the core theory course in economics. The main topics covered are consumer theory and producer theory. We will develop models to understand the way consumers and firms make decisions and how they interact in the market. The optional topics we will discuss include game theory and decision-making under uncertainty. We will cover chapters 1 – 11, 14, and 15 in your text.

As with many other more advanced courses in economics, this course will be technical in nature. I will expect you to have a solid background in algebra and be familiar with basic calculus as we will be applying these tools throughout the semester. I will touch on the most important mathematical concepts for the 2^nd lecture so you know what to expect during the semester. If you are uncomfortable with your background in algebra or calculus, please do some reviewing or seek some external help now.

5. Grading

There will be two midterms (worth 22% apiece) and one final (worth 22%) throughout the semester. The final will be cumulative, although it will emphasize material since the last exam. The remaining 25% of your final grade is based on your homework (20%), current events brief (10%) and class participation (4%). Class participation includes participating in class discussions, asking questions during lectures, and meeting with me during office hours.

I will assign one problem set per chapter, assigned the day we finish the chapter and due the following week (see Course Schedule for actual due dates). I encourage you to form study groups to work through the problems, but each person must pass in his/her own work. You will not receive credit for simply copying answers; for full credit, you must show all your work.

You will be required to do a lot of mathematical, graphical and applied problem-solving in the exams. Making a good effort on homework problems and additional recommended problems is the best way to master the material and do well on exams.

6. Policies

There is absolutely no make-up for any exam unless there is a proven emergency that prevents you from attending class on the scheduled exam or quiz date. You are required to submit proof of the emergency. If you miss the exam for any reason that does not qualify as a proven emergency, you get a zero.

Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a letter from Disability Services (DS) and discuss specific needs with the professor, preferably during the first week of class. DS determines accommodations based on documented disabilities (303-492-8671, Willard 322) or see www.colorado.edu/sacs/disabilityservices. We will make reasonable accommodations for students who have conflicts between religious observance dates and course examinations or assignments. Please talk to me at the beginning of the semester, if you think you may require such accommodation. For university policies on this and on other things such as classroom behavior, see www.colorado.edu/policies/index.html.

For the university honor code, see www.colorado.edu/academics/honorcode/. Plagiarism is not allowed. This means that you cannot copy anyone else’s work and pass it off as your own. Each person must turn in assignments that are the fruit of his/her own sincere efforts. You are encouraged to form study groups to discuss homework and lecture materials, but do not simply copy your group-members’ work.