Professor & Class Info.

Bulletin Description 
& Course Objectives

Textbooks & Policies

Exams & Grades

Course Outline

ECON 320
Intermediate Microeconomic 
Theory and Practice


 


 
 
Professor Information:
Dr. Robert A. Lawson
Professor of Economics & George H. Moor Chair
School of Management
Capital University
227 Troutman Hall
614-236-6138 (office)
614-252-5453 (home)
614-236-6540 (fax)
rlawson@capital.edu (e-mail)
http://capital2.capital.edu/faculty/rlawson/
Class Information: 
Fall  Semester, 2002
3 credits
Section #01: 11:00-11:50 a.m., MWF
LC 02

Office Hours: 
10:00-11:00, Monday & Friday
3:30-4:30, Wednesday

Bulletin Description and Other Information: 
  • Ways in which resources are allocated to different firms and industries; theories of demand, production and pricing of commodities and productive resources under perfect and imperfect competition.  Prerequsite: ECON 200.   MATH 220 is recommended.
  • This course is required of economics majors and can fulfill the upper-level economics requirement for Management and Accounting Majors.
Course Objectives: A successful student will learn the following topics:
  • Understanding of the basic role and function of prices in individual decision-making.
  • Understanding of the basic role and function of prices in a market economy under various market conditions.
  • Understanding of the similarities and differences in product, resource, and other types of markets
  • Understanding of the role and impact of government on a market economy at the mircroeconomic level.
Textbooks & Materials:
  • A student resources web page is available here; this has sample multiple choice and essay questions, relevant news articles,  internet exercises, powerpoint presentations.  
  • You are strongly advised to buy the textbooks as the lectures will conform closely to this material.   A note to business majors especially: you should get in the habit of regularly reading the Wall Street Journal. Affordable student subscriptions are available from me. You may want to have a calculator for this course as well.
Class Policies:
  • There is no  attendance requirement. So skip at your own risk!  In the event of an absence, you are responsible for all material missed. 
  • Turn off all cell phones and audible pagers.  You may audio tape lectures.
  • As a courtesy to your classmates, make every effort to arrive at class on time.
  • The stated schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.
  • Failure to attend does not constitute official withdrawal from the course and may result in a failing grade.  Official withdrawal requires that the student submit a completed "Change of Registration" form to the Registrar by the published deadline.
  • Continued enrollment in this course will indicate that the student has carefully read the syllabus and assumed responsibility for meeting the course requirements.
  • Any "Academic Integrity" violation (see Undergraduate Student Handbook for details) may result in an "Irrevocable F-IF" in the course and may result in disciplinary action by the university.
Exams & Assignments: There will be four exams in this course worth 18% each and a comprehensive final exam worth 28% of your final grade.  The exams will consist of  multiple choice questions, short answer problems, and short essays.  You are responsible for all material covered in the books, the classroom lectures, videos, handouts, etc.  On all written work, you will be graded, in part, on grammar, spelling, style, etc. 

What if I miss an exam?  No make-up exams will be given during the term although early exams are possible with permission.  If you miss an exam for a legitimate reason, then the comprehensive final exam score will count in its place.  You must contact me as soon as possible to discuss an such situation--failure to do so will result in a zero on the exam in question.

Grading Scale: The grading scale will be determined at a later date and explained in detail in class.   Plus and minus final grades are awarded in borderline cases.

Extra Credit Opportunities: Opportunities for extra credit will be available throughout the term.
  • Occasionally, extra credit points are awarded for students to attend special on-campus events like lectures, debates, etc. Your professor will inform you of any such opportunities as and if they arrive.
Course Outline: This is a tentative course outline and is subject to change.
 
8/26 Syllabus & Introduction to Course
8/28 Chapter 1. Preliminaries
8/30 Chapter 2. The Basics of Supply and Demand
9/2 Labor Day--no classes
9/4 Chapter 2. (cont.)
9/6 Chapter 3. Consumer Behavior
9/9 Chapter 3. (cont.)
9/11 Chapter 3. (cont.)
9/12 Special Event: School of Management Distinguished Lecture by Donald Shackelford, Chairman, Fifth-Third Bank Central Ohio, Bridge of Learning, 7:30 p.m.  Extra credit will be available.  All students are strongly encouraged to attend.
9/13 Chapter 4. Individual and Market Demand
9/16 Chapter 4. (cont.)
9/18 Chapter 4. (cont.)
9/20 Exam I (18%)
9/23 Chapter 6. Production
9/25 Chapter 6. (cont.)
9/27 Chapter 6. (cont.)
9/30 Chapter 7. The Cost of Production
10/2 Chapter 7. (cont.)
10/4 Chatper 7. (cont.)
Special Event:  Todd Nesbit presentation, "Are Safer Cars More Dangerous: Evidence from NASCAR," 10:00-11:00 a.m., LC 202.  Extra credit will be available.  All students are strongly encouraged to attend.
10/7 Chatper 8. Profit Maximization and Competitive Supply
10/9 Chapter 8. (cont.)
10/11 No Class--Economic Freedom Network Meeting, Madrid, Spain.
10/14 No Class--Economic Freedom Network Meeting, Madrid, Spain.
10/16 Chapter 8. (cont.)
10/18 Mid-Semester Break--no classes
10/21 Exam II (18%)
Special Event: George H. Moor Chair Lecture by Russell Roberts, "The Argument for Free Trade," 7:00 p.m., Huntington Recital Hall. Extra credit will be available.  All students are strongly encouraged to attend.
10/23 Chapter 9. The Analysis of Competitive Markets
10/25 Chapter 9. (cont.)
Last Day to Withdraw from a course or apply for pass/fail option.
10/28 Chapter 10. Market Power: Monopoly and Monopsony
10/30 Chapter 10. (cont.)
11/1 Chapter 10. (cont.)
11/4 Chapter 11. Pricing with Market Power
11/6 Chapter 11. (cont.)
11/8 Chapter 12. Monopolistic Competition
11/11 Chapter 12 (cont.)
11/13 Exam III (18%)
11/15 Chapter 14. Markets for Factor Inputs
11/18 Chapter 14. (cont.)
11/20 Chapter 15. Investment, Time, Capital Markets
11/22 Chapter 15. (cont.)
11/25 No Class--Southern Economic Association meeting, New Orleans, LA.
11/27 Thanksgiving Break--no classes
11/29 Thanksgiving Break--no classes
12/2 Chapter 18. Externalities and Public Goods
12/4 Chapter 18. (cont.)
12/6 Exam III (18%)
12/10 Final Exam (28%), 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.