2009 Fall ECON 55D-001
Bulletin Course Description Introduction of the concepts of preferences and technologies. Intermediate, non-calculus based development of the theory of demand, supply and competitive equilibrium from individual preferences and technologies. Income and substitution effects, uncompensated demand and marginal willingness to pay. Conditions under which competitive markets result in efficient outcomes. Conditions under which government policy has the potential to increase efficiency. Tension between economic efficiency and different notions of equity. Intended as replacement for Economics 2D and 52D. Instructor: Mazzacco, Nechyba, Rasiel, or Timmins
(Instructor named in bulletin description above may not be current. For current instructor, see listing below.)
Title INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMICS I Department ECON Course Number 2009 Fall 55D Section Number 001 Primary Instructor Timmins,Christopher D Prerequisites Prerequisites: Economics 1A and 2A or Economics 1D or 51D; and Mathematics 25 and 26, or Mathematics 31, 32, 41, 102, 103 or higher level math.
Synopsis of course content
Economics 55D is the first of three intermediate economics
courses that together form the theory core for economics
majors at Duke. Our goal is three-fold. First, we develop
an analytical way of thinking that underlies all economic
questions and that is broadly applicable to many facets of
life -- business, politics, and personal decision-making.
Second, we lay the foundation for those of you who choose to go on in economics -- better integrating intuition with the technical tools that you will develop in later courses. In so doing, we will make use of a number of mathematical concepts -- mostly tools from algebra and geometry (although a small amount of calculus will be used as well). Third, we will use these basic tools to describe the sorts of research questions studied by professional economists.
Textbooks
A textbook will be available for purchase in the bookstore.
Assignments
There will be approximately 6 graded homework assignments over the course of the semester.
Exams
Two midterms and a final exam.
Term Papers
None
Grade to be based on
Course grade is determined by the better of two options for each student:
Option #1:
Midterm #1.......................20%
Midterm #2.......................20%
Final Exam.......................40%
Problem Sets.....................20%
Option #2
Max [Midterm #1, Midterm #2].....20%
Final Exam.......................60%
Problem Sets.....................20%
Additional Information
Final confirmation of assignments, grading, etc. will be
available on course syllabus and through course Blackboard
site.
