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Fall semester 2024/2025

2nd year students

  • group 4: Mondays, 15:00am, room A101
  • group 5: Mondays, 16:45am, room A101

Course instructor: Katarzyna Metelska-Szaniawska

Course syllabus: here

Requirements for passing the course

In total you can receive a maximum of 100 points in this course.
The final grade is calculated on the basis of a weighted average of the scores received for the following elements (weights in brackets):

  • A) active participation in class [25%], i.e. 25 points
Five times during the semester short 5-minute tests are organized at the beginning of class without prior announcement. The maximum score on each test is 4 points.
For each problem solved at the board by a volunteer during class a maximum of 4 points are awarded depending on the difficulty of the problem and the correctness of the solution.
  • B) participation in a group debate [15%], i.e. 15 points
One class meeting during the semester is devoted to a group debate on a topic that is selected by majority vote during the first two classes from among 2-3 proposals. The detailed organization of the debate is discussed during the first two classes and involves selecting a moderator and 6 debating groups. Assessment of the participation in the debate (maximum score 15 points) is based on the Microeconomics 3 - related content of the argumentation presented by the participant's subgroup (maximum 10 points) and the individual participant's presentation method (maximum 5 points), while for the moderator - on the quality of the moderation and effective organization of the debate. Debate material and organization: vaccination, marijuana.
  • C) final exam [60%], i.e. 60 points
The exam - a single-choice test - is organized during the exam period. The maximum score is 60 points. Example questions can be found here. Solutions to selected previous exam problems are available here.

In order to pass the course it is required to obtain at least 50% of the maximum exam score AND at least 50% of the maximum total score.
In the retake session it is only allowed to retake the exam.
Presence in class is obligatory. More than two absences without formal justification result in failing the course.
The grades will be given according to the following scale:

<90,100> 5
<80,90) 4+
<70,80) 4
<60,70) 3+
<50,60) 3
<0,50) 2

Class schedule (may be updated during the semester)

1Introductory meeting. Partial equilibriumSlides14.2-14.4,14.7,14.9-14.10,15.1-15.2,16.1-16.5-Problems
2Government interventionSlides16.6-16.9Case materialProblems
3General equilibrium, pure exchangeSlides31-Problems
4General equilibrium, production and comparative advantageSlides32-Problems
5General equilibrium, welfareSlides33-Problems
6ExternalitiesSlides34-Problems
7Public goods, Common-Pool ResourcesSlides36, 34.6Case materialProblems
8Asymmetric information - adverse selection, signalingSlides37.1-37.3, 37.6-Problems
9Asymmetric Information - moral hazard, incentivesSlides37.4-37.5, 37.7-37.8-Problems
10Law and EconomicsSlides[5th ed.: 33]Case materialProblems

Chapter numbers relate to Varian H. R., Intermediate Microeconomics..., 8th ed.

Results

Final classes results (including points for participation in class, short tests, and the debate) are available here (last update 3/2/2025).

Readings

  • Obligatory handbook: Varian Hal R. (2019), Intermediate Microeconomics: a modern approach, W. W. Norton (also in ebook format).
  • Obligatory workbook: Bergstrom T.C., H.R. Varian (2009), Test bank for Intermediate Microeconomics A Modern Approach, W. W. Norton.
  • Additional study material:
Original slides H. Varian: Equilibrium, GE - Exchange, GE - Production, Welfare, Externalities, Public Goods, Asymmetric information, Law and Economics
Additional problems with solutions: Equilibrium, GE - Exchange, GE - Production, Welfare, Externalities, Public Goods, Asymmetric Information
  • Additional handbooks: 
    Bergstrom T.C., H.R. Varian (2014), Workouts in Intermediate Microeconomics, W.W. Norton. 
    Borland J. (2008), Microeconomics: case studies and applications, Cengage Learning Australia. 
    Mansfield E., G.W. Yohe (2003), Microeconomics: theory and applications, W.W. Norton. 
    Mansfield E., J. Peoples (2003), Microeconomic Problems: case studies and exercises for review, W.W. Norton. 
    Pindyck, R.S., D.L. Rubinfeld (2004), Microeconomics, Prentice Hall.

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Page last modified on February 03, 2025, at 05:26 PM