Introductory description

EC238-15 Economics 2: Microeconomics

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

The exact topics may vary, but the syllabus will include a selection of the following topics:

• Consumer Theory: indifference analysis, tastes and preferences, applications.
• Choice Under Uncertainty: risk, uncertainty, expected value, expected utility, asymmetric information, insurance, moral hazard, adverse selection and solutions.
• Producer theory: isoquants and isocost analysis; marginal rate of transformation.
• General equilibrium and welfare economics
• Market Failures: externalities, public goods and solutions
• Game Theory: Simultaneous and sequential games, Pure strategy and Mixed strategy Nash equilibrium; sub-game perfect Nash equilibrium
• Competition and Firm Behaviour: price discrimination, models of oligopoly and monopoly

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Subject knowledge and understanding:...understand key concepts and principles in intermediate microeconomics. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, Reading, Exercise question sheets, Seminar discussions, Essay. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative), Essay (summative), Summer Examination (summative).
• Subject knowledge and understanding:...apply rigorous knowledge of theoretical models which underlie economic analysis. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, Reading, Exercise question sheets, Seminar discussions, Essay. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative), Essay (summative), Summer Examination (summative).
• Key Skills:...communicate knowledge and understanding of economics in written, spoken, graphical and in mathematical forms. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheets, Essay and Seminar discussions. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative), Essay (summative), Summer Examination (summative).
• Key Skills:...conduct individual and collaborative research into an Economic topic, using world wide web and library resources. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheets, seminar discussions and essay. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative), Essay (summative).
• Subject knowledge and understanding:...demonstrate knowledge of microeconomic policies. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, Reading, Exercise question sheets, Seminar discussions, Essay. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative), Essay (summative), Summer Examination (summative).
• Subject knowledge and understanding:...abstract and simplify economic problems through the application of theoretical models. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, Reading, Exercise question sheets, Seminar discussions, Essay. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative), Essay (summative), Summer Examination (summative).
• Key Skills:...present the output of their own work to an audience. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Seminar discussions and essay. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative), Essay (summative).
• Cognitive Skills:...analyse and formulate models for understanding and solving problems. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheets, Essay and Seminar discussions. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative), Essays, Group Projects (formative), Summer Examination.
• Subject knowledge and understanding:...to understand the uses, applications and limitations of theoretical models. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheets, Seminar discussions, Essay. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative), Essay (summative), Summer Examination (summative).
• Cognitive Skills:...analyse competing models and hypotheses in a critical way. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheets, Readings and Essay. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative) Essay (summative), Summer Examination (summative).
• Subject-Specific/Professional Skills:...select and apply appropriate economic models and techniques to particular problems especially those of a policy nature. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Lectures, Reading, Exercise question sheets, Essay and Seminar discussions. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative), Essay (summative), Summer Examination (summative).
• Subject-Specific/Professional Skills:...produce concise and analytical reports relating to economic problems and issues. The teaching and learning methods that enable students to achieve this learning outcome are: Essay and Seminar presentations. The assessment methods that measure the achievement of this learning outcome are: Exercise question sheet answers (formative), Essay (summative), Summer Examination (summative).

Indicative reading list

Please see Talis Aspire link for most up to date list.

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

No subject specific skills defined for this module.

Transferable skills

No transferable skills defined for this module.