| Instructor | Rob Szarka |
|---|---|
| Office | Montieth 440 |
| Office Hours | TBA |
| robert.szarka "at" uconn.edu |
From the course catalog:
Intermediate microeconomic theory, covering demand and supply, exchange and production, pricing, and welfare economics.
Note that ECON 1201 or its equivalent is a pre-requisite for this class, and a semester of calculus is also recommended as preparation.
Students who complete the assigned work and actively participate in class can expect to achieve the following:
In my opinion, ECON 2201 is the most important economics class you'll take at UConn, and investment in learning this material will pay off in every subsequent economics class.
Our core text will be The Applied Theory of Price (second edition) (PDF) by Dierdre (née Donald) McCloskey. (Amazon link)
We will also refer to readings or exercises from other books, journal articles, and web sites. Most of these readings will be linked from the reading list or made available via HuskyCT, as appropriate. I have also placed a copy of the McCloskey text and several other books on reserve at the library, where they can be checked out for three hours at a time. The core price theory material that makes up the bulk of this course is quite standardized and has been for several decades, so you should feel free to consult the texts that work best for you—preferably multiple texts, to gain multiple perspectives.
I have placed the following books on reserve at the UConn Library:
In addition, you may find Hal Varian's Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach useful. The eighth edition is current, but any recent edition should be fine and you should be able to find a copy at the library of for sale cheap.
For a review of introductory mico at an advanced level, see R. Preston McAfee's Introduction to Economic Analysis.
Final grades will be calculated using the following weights:
As P.R. Halmos said, "The best way to learn is to do; the worst way to teach is to talk." Solving problems is an essential component of mastering the material in this course. You should try the problems in the text as you complete the readings. I will suggest particular problems, and we will address these in class. By "address", I mean that class members will present their answers at the board and/or we will work them out collaboratively. Presenting answers, as well as participating in occasional experiments or completing other assignments will earn points toward this portion of your grade, to a maxmim of five points. No make-up work will be given, but there will be ample opportunities to earn points.
I also reserve the right to adjust final grades in the course upward by as much as 5% for students who make outstanding contributions to the class.
The final exam will be culmulative and will take place according to the university's final exam schedule. In accordance with university policy, make-up final exams will only be given with written permission from the Dean of Students. Do not miss the final exam!
Exams #1-3 will take place during our scheduled class time. There will be no make-ups of Exams #1-3. Really. If you miss one of these exams, your final exam will be weighted more heavily in its place.
If you have a diagnosed learning disability and will need special arrangements for classes or exams, please bring me a letter from the Center for Students with Disabilities as soon as possible. No special consideration can be given without documentation.
You're all adults and I'm confident you'll show me and one another respect by turning off your cell phone, setting your IM status to Away, keeping side conversations to a minimum, and disagreeing without being disagreeable. If you are using a laptop, cell phone, etc. for purposes other than class work during class, I may ask you to leave.
From UCONN's Student Code:
A fundamental tenet of all educational institutions is academic honesty; academic work depends upon respect for and acknowledgement of the research and ideas of others. Misrepresenting someone else's work as one's own is a serious offense in any academic setting and it will not be condoned. Misconduct includes, but is not limited to, providing or receiving assistance in a manner not authorized by the instructor in the creation of work to be submitted for academic evaluation (e.g. papers, projects, and examinations); any attempt to influence improperly (e.g. bribery, threats) any member of the faculty, staff, or administration of the University in any matter pertaining to academics or research; presenting, as one's own, the ideas or words of another for academic evaluation; doing unauthorized academic work for which another person will receive credit or be evaluated; and presenting the same or substantially the same papers or projects in two or more courses without the explicit permission of the instructors involved. A student who knowingly assists another student in committing an act of academic misconduct shall be equally accountable for the violation, and shall be subject to the sanctions and other remedies described in The Student Code.
I will expect any work handed in for a grade to represent your own individual effort.
See Readings for links to readings, as well as assignments and exam dates.
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