Econ 11, Markets and Prices, 8:00 AM

Econ 11, Markets and Prices, 9:15 AM

Syllabus

Fred E. Foldvary, Spring 2005

Santa Clara University

Class web site:

https://foldvary.net/econ11.html

Textbook web sites:

http://mycourse.thomsonlearning.com account 87459

http://mankiwxtra.swlearning.com

Aplia web site for some problem sets:

To Aplia : $28, key: XCZV-6TMB-7U6N

MWF, 8:00-9:05 AM , Kenna 104, 4 units, #14394

e-mail: [email protected], subject line: econ 11 8AM

Office hours: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 10:30-11 AM and by appointment

Telephone: office 408/554-6968; home 510/843-0248. Office: Kenna 209.

Please do not call my home telephone after 10 PM.

Fax (econ dept.) 408/554-2331. Mailbox is in the Department of Economics, Kenna 300.

Please do not email me any attachments or problem sets.

If you cannot come to class, place written assignments in my mailbox at the Dept. Of Economics, Kenna 3^rd floor. I prefer not to have papers slipped under my office door.

Course overview:

"Markets and Prices" deals with individuals, households, communities, firms, and governments in their roles as economizing producers, traders, consumers, and governors. It is about human choice and action within the constraints of the physical and governmental environment. Microeconomics includes utility, consumer choice, supply and demand, opportunity costs, prices, marginal costs and benefits, externalities, and the impact of government spending and taxes.

You should take a professional attitude as a true student of the subject, and as a rule, never let any word or concept go past you that you do not thoroughly understand. Do not be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions. It is your job to thoroughly understand the material.

The objectives of the course:

1. A lifetime intuitive understanding of the basic principles of microeconomics so that you achieve economic enlightenment and sophistication.

2. The ability to analyze economic issues and distinguish good from bad analysis.

3. The ability to apply economic concepts to your own life. Concepts you can apply include opportunity costs in making choices, comparative advantage, using marginal analysis, exchange, efficiency, the impact of taxes and regulations, and the difference between constitutional and operational choices.

Biographical sketch:

Fred Foldvary received his B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University, Virginia. He also has taught economics at Santa Clara University and in Latvia, Virginia Tech, CSU Hayward, John F. Kennedy University, and University of California Extension.

Dr. Foldvary is the author of Public Goods and Private Communities and Dictionary of Free-Market Economics. He edited Beyond Neoclassical Economics and co-edited The Half-Life of Policy Rationales. His areas of research include public finance, business cycles, governance theory, economic philosophy, and the economics of real estate.

Student progress.

I will occasionally post student scores on the class web site. You will be assigned a number, and this will be shown rather than your name. If you don't wish to be included in this viewing, let me know. I am concerned with your success and progress, and will let you know your status on request.

Grades and the criteria for evaluating your work.

Essays are graded by the following criteria:

1) presentation (language, legibility, organization);

2) how completely it covers the topics;

3) focus (avoiding irrelevancies and redundancies);

4) knowledge of the relevant theory, facts, and terms, and defining of key terms;

5) warranting (by clear, sound, organized reasoning) and citing of sources.

The maximum points for each category are:

First midterm exam: 144 points (24 questions)

Second midterm exam: 144 points "

Third midterm exam: 144 points "

Final exam: 288 points (48 questions)

Quizzes, problem sets 260 points

Conversation, oral exam 20 points

total = 1000 points.

There will be an conversation and oral exam in my office. You don't need to prepare for it. It will usually last about 5 minutes. These conversations will help me get to know you better and see how you are developing your economic understanding.

The letter grading is as follows.

A : 921-999, A-: 900-920, B+: 880-899, B : 821-879; B-: 800-820; C+: 780-799,

C : 721-779, C-: 700-720; D+: 680-699; D : 621-679; D-: 600-620; F : 0-599

All problem sets, quizzes, and exams are open book and open note. The purpose is to test your ability to analyze rather than memorize. But there must be no talking during an exam.

All your homework must be your own work. Most students are honest, but in case there is any cheating, copying, or other dishonesty in the exams or assignments, this is a serious violation of university rules and can result in a zero for the assignment or possibly an F for the course, and will be reported to the department, school, or university administration.

Attendance

You are expected to attend all the classes. To obtain full credit for problem sets and exams, if you are unable to attend class, you must submit a written assignment by placing it in my mailbox before the class time of the date due. If you leave town, contact me prior to leaving about your assignments.

Without advance notice or a warranted reason, submissions after the class date for which it is due will be reduced by 20% of the total maximum score. After the following class day, the grade will be zero. Online assignments close at the date and time indicated. Make-up midterms must be scheduled before the midterm date unless there is some emergency.

Text books

Principles of Microeconomics, 3^rd edition, by N. Gregory Mankiw

Aplia online problems and reading

The class web site foldvary.net/econ11.html has lecture notes for some of the class material. These are not required reading except where indicated on the schedule. Some class content will not on the web site. The midterms and final exam will be derived from material from class lectures, problem sets, and readings, but not from the web lecture notes. You are responsible for obtaining the subject contents if you miss class. Some reading contents will not be discussed in class, but will still be in exams.

Assignments

The online assignments will be announced in class and on Aplia.

Week 1. March. 30, April 1

Test of knowledge. Factors of production. Economic models.

Chapter 1. 10 principles of economics (you may skip #7, #9 & #10).

Week 2. April 4+

Chapter 2. Thinking like an economist. Appendix, pp. 42 (cause and effect)-44