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48981-01 - Lecture: Intensive Introduction to Intermediate Economics (6 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Every fall sem. |
| Lecturers | Dragan Ilic (dragan.ilic@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | This course introduces the basic building blocks of modern economic analysis. Aimed for non-economists, it is a crash course in economic thinking. In the first, shorter part of the course we delve into basic economic concepts such as the modeling the market forces of supply and demand, thinking at the margin, efficiency, comparative advantage in trade, externalities, public goods, and measuring GDP. The second, more mathematical part of the course revolves around microeconomic theory. We will study how consumers and producers, interacting through markets, determine the prices and output of goods and the allocation of productive resources. Consumers and producers are formally modeled as agents with well-defined objectives who make optimal choices in an environment of economic constraints such as income and costs. The price mechanism signals information to consumers and producers alike, coordinating their behavior. This course will contain both lectures and exercise sessions. Course material will be provided through the ADAM webspace. |
| Learning objectives | The course aims to provide students with no economic background with the required foundation in economic analysis and theory for tackling more advanced economic courses. After completing the course, students should be able to think critically about methodological and economic issues. Students should be able to explain and interpret economic phenomena with the language and approach of economic reasoning. |
| Bibliography | Two textbooks provide the foundation for this class: Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok, "Modern Principles of Economics," Third Edition (Worth Publishers, 2016) Jeffrey M. Perloff, "Microeconomics with Calculus," Third (Global) Edition (Pearson Education, 2013) For laypersons, these two books provide an excellent and easy to read introduction into economic thinking and the value of economic modeling: Tim Harford, "The Undercover Economist," (Little, Brown and Company, 2005; various reprints) Dani Rodrik, "Economics Rules," (W.W. Norton & Company, 2016) |
| Comments | This is primarily an on-site lecture, but I will stream all lectures via Zoom and also upload the videos to my Dropbox afterwards. I highly encourage on-site participation, though - at least once a week. |
| Weblink | Weblink |
| Admission requirements | I place high value on intuition, but this course is necessarily technical in nature. I expect you to have a solid background in algebra and be familiar with basic calculus. |
| Course application | Registration: Please enroll in the Online Services (services.unibas.ch); Eucor-Students and mobility students of other Swiss Universities or the FHNW first have to register at the University of Basel BEFORE the start of the course and receive their login data by post (e-mail address of the University of Basel). Processing time up to a week! Detailed information can be found here: https://www.unibas.ch/de/Studium/Mobilitaet.html After successful registration you can enroll for the course in the Online Services (services.unibas.ch). Applies to everyone: Enrolment = Registration for the course and the exam! |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, optional |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Wednesday | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| wöchentlich | Friday | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 17.09.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 19.09.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 24.09.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 26.09.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 01.10.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 03.10.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 08.10.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 10.10.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 15.10.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 17.10.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 22.10.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 24.10.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 29.10.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 31.10.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 05.11.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 07.11.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 12.11.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 14.11.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 19.11.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 21.11.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 26.11.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 28.11.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Dies Academicus |
| Wednesday 03.12.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 05.12.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 10.12.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 12.12.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Wednesday 17.12.2025 | 08.15-10.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 117 |
| Friday 19.12.2025 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Modules |
Module: Complementary Knowledge in Economics (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) Module: Economic Approaches (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | written exam: date tbd |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration, dereg: cancel course registration |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | 1-6 0,1 |
| Repeated registration | as often as necessary |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Business and Economics , studiendekanat-wwz@unibas.ch |
| Offered by | Faculty of Business and Economics |