Standard

 

ECO 192 - Microeconomics

Course Description

Provides a description and analysis of microeconomic operations in contemporary society.  Emphasis is placed on developing an understanding of microeconomic concepts and theories as they apply to daily life.  Topics include: basic economic principles; theory of the corporate firm; market system;  market structure, pricing, and government regulation; resource markets; and international trade.

 

Competency Areas

Hours

 

Basic Economic Principles

Class

5

Theory of the Corporate Firm        

D. Lab

0

Market System

P. Lab/O.B.I.

0

Market Structure, Pricing, and Government Regulation

Credit

5

Resource Markets

 

 

International Trade

 

 

 

 

 

Prerequisite:

Program admission

Corequisite:

 

 

Course Guide

 

Competency

After completing this section, the student will:

Hours

Class

D.Lab

P.Lab/

O.B.I.

BASIC ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES

7.5

0

0

Concepts

Fully understand the graphic representations of supply/demand/equilibrium/elasticity/price rationing and price sensitivity.

 

 

 

 

Demonstrate an understanding of capitalism.

 

 

 

THEORY OF THE CORPORATE FIRM 

 5

 0

0

 Concepts

Short-run and long-run concepts, average, fixed, and marginal costs concepts, returns to scale, price and competition.

 

 

 

MARKET SYSTEMS 

12.5

0

 The fine market system

Consumer choice and preference.

 

 

 

 

The concept of utility, budget constraints, indexes and impact on the firm.

 

 

 

MARKET STRUCTURE, PRICING, AND GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS 

12.5 

0

0

 

Fully understand preference maps, bundles, indifference curves, marginal rates of transformation, marginal rates of substitution (isoquant/isocost curves), concavity/convexity, budget constraints, consumer theory/consumer choice, indexing and its purpose.

 

 

 

 Consumer/producer welfare, production possibilities curve, technologies impact on productivity, pricing and price strategies and trade concepts

Fully understand the production possibilities curve in production and as a technology frontier.  Understanding the theory of price

 

 

 

 

Differentiated product use for profit maximization.

 

 

 

 The Digital/Web-Based Economy

Introduction into the concept of Web-based information goods, pricing of those goods (versioning), and knowledge diffusion.

 

 

 

 

The impact of the Internet  and its function.

 

 

 

 

The impact of using banking services on-line.

 

 

 

 

Transformation to Digital.

 

 

 

The concept of scale and scope

Understanding the meaning and relevance of each in a Web-based economy.

 

 

 

 Government regulations

Understanding regulations impact.

 

 

 

RESOURCE MARKETS 

 5

0

0

 Price theory

Complete understanding of price theory, price ceilings and floors, economic shock of an oil embargo (Cartel power), short-run and long-run concepts and resources.

 

 

 

 INTERNATIONAL TRADE 

7.5

5

5

Trade concepts

Beginning trade concepts, exchange rates, international economics.

 

 

 

 

Suggested Resources

 

Books

 

Perloff, Jeffrey M. (2001). Microeconomics (2nd ed).  Boston: Addison-Wesley.