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48981-01 - Lecture: Intensive Introduction to Intermediate Economics (6 CP)
| Semester | fall semester 2023 |
| 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 enrol in your Online Services. EUCOR-Students and students of other Swiss Universities have to enrol at the students administration office (studseksupport1@unibas.ch) before the course starts. Enrolment = Registration for the exam! |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | Online, optional |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Thursday | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| wöchentlich | Friday | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 212 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday 21.09.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 22.09.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 212 |
| Thursday 28.09.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 29.09.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 212 |
| Thursday 05.10.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 06.10.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 212 |
| Thursday 12.10.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 13.10.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 212 |
| Thursday 19.10.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 20.10.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 106 |
| Thursday 26.10.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 27.10.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 106 |
| Thursday 02.11.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 03.11.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 106 |
| Thursday 09.11.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 10.11.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 106 |
| Thursday 16.11.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 17.11.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 106 |
| Thursday 23.11.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 24.11.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Dies Academicus |
| Thursday 30.11.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 01.12.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 106 |
| Thursday 07.12.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 08.12.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 106 |
| Thursday 14.12.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Hörsaal 119 |
| Friday 15.12.2023 | 12.15-14.00 | Kollegienhaus, Seminarraum 212 |
| Modules |
Modul: Methoden der Wirtschaftswissenschaften (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) Module: Complementary Knowledge in Economics (Master's Studies: Sustainable Development) |
| Assessment format | record of achievement |
| Assessment details | written exam: 12.01.24; 12:15-13:45. WWZ Audi: A-Z. The addresses of the examination rooms can be found here: https://wwz.unibas.ch/de/studium/pruefungen/vorlesungs-und-pruefungsraeume/ You can still withdraw from the examination by submitting a completed, signed form to our office from 17.10.23 until 27.10.23 / 12:00 o’clock. The deregistration form and the mail address can be found on the homepage of the Dean of Studies Office: https://wwz.unibas.ch/en/studies/examinations/de-/registration-of-examinations/ Prior to 16.10.23, please deregister only in the Online Services. |
| 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 |