PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS I

ECONOMICS 211

FALL 2008

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

There will be a tutorial session on Thursday, September 18th in BB 116 from 7-9pm. This will make up for Monday's session that was cancelled.

 

The due date for Problem Set # 3 has been changed to Monday , September 22, 2008.

 

Section
Time
Instructor
Office
Email
Ext
Office Hours
1
TTH 1:00-2:15

You

BB237
2304
TF 2:15-3:15
2
TTH 10:50-12:05
Soligo

BB268

3354
TTH 1:30-3:00
3
MWF 10:00-10:50
Wu
BB271
TBA
WTH 4:00-5:00
4
TTH 9:25-10:40
Dinh
BB 102
2417

TTH 1:15-2:15

5
MWF 1:00-1:50
Ertemel

BB237

2304
MTH 2:00-3:00
6
MWF 11:00-11:50
Kumar
BB237
2304

MW 12:30-1:30

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Microeconomics by Richard G. Lipsey, Christopher T.S. Ragan and Paul A. Storer 13th edition.  Copies of the book are available in the bookstore. Used copies are available through online sites.

ECON 211 HOME PAGE

Announcements, homework assignments, answers to homework assignments and other important information will be posted on the Econ 211 home page.

   

HOMEWORK

There will be 11 problem sets.  Discussion of the homework questions among students is permitted but each student must turn in a separate assignment. That is, while students may work on problems collectively they must hand in an independently written set of answers. Homework submissions that appear to be identical will be referred to the Honor Council for investigation.

Putting your name on a homework assignment in which you did not participate is a violation of the Honor Code.

IMPORTANT: homework must be neat and easy to read. Sloppy assignments will not be graded and will be given a grade of zero.

Answers to the homework assignments will be posted on the Econ 211 home page.


EXAMINATIONS

There will be two midterm examinations (each 2 hours), and one final examination (3 hours) for the course.  Midterm exams are scheduled for Thursday evenings. The midterm exam dates are shown on the list of topics below.  Please set aside these dates NOW. There are no make-up exams.  Students must take these examinations at the scheduled time.  Any student who is unable to take an exam at the scheduled time must make arrangements to take it ahead of time.  Exams will not be rescheduled solely because students have exams for other courses on or near the same dates as exams for this course.  In case of genuine and verifiable emergencies, students must work out arrangements with their instructors.

Midterm exams will be preceded by a Review Session. The time and location of these sessions are listed below.

ASSESSMENT

The course grade will be calculated as follows:

                                                Homework                 20%
                                                Mid-term Exams         45%
                                                Final Exam                  35%

 

TUTORING

Tutoring sessions are scheduled for Mondays and Tuesdays (except where noted in the Reading List) from 7:00 to 9:00pm. All tutorial are scheduled for BB 116 – regardless of date. These tutorials are for students who need additional help with the course. If are doing well in the course your attendance  will shift the focus of tutors away from those who truly need help.


COURSE COORDINATOR

Professor Ronald Soligo, Baker Building 268, Ext. 3354, soligo@rice.edu. Sometimes office hours need to be cancelled on short notice. Hence, contact through e-mail to set up an appointment is recommended

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with their instructor during the first two weeks of class.  All discussions will remain confidential.  Students with disabilities should also contact Disabled Student Services in the Ley Student Center.

OLD EXAMS

HWS/ANSWER KEYS

COURSE SCHEDULE

NOTE: Appendices to chapters are not included unless specifically included.

WEEK TOPIC/EVENT CHAPTER
Aug 25

Introduction, Production Possibility Frontier                                                                                                    

"Supplement on the Production Possibility Boundary"


No tutorials this week

 

1, 2
Sept 1

Demand and Supply, Elasticity

LABOR DAY: Mon, Sept. 1 – No Class                  

Problem Set #1.   Due, Thurs/Fri, Sept. 4/5

The Monday tutorial meets Wednesday; the Tuesday tutorial meets Thursday this week.                                                                        

 

 

 

 

3, 4

Sept 8

Applications                                                                                                

Problem Set #2. Due, Thurs/Fri, Sept. 11/12

5
Sept 15

Consumer Behavior                                                                                    
Problem Set #3. Due, Thurs/Fri, Sept. 18/19

6
Sept 22

Consumer Behavior (Cont’d), Production in Short Run                            
Problem Set #4. Due, Thurs/Fri, Sept. 25/26


 

6,7

 

 

 

Sept 29

Production and Costs (Cont’d)                                                                   
FIRST MIDTERM EXAM: Thurs, Oct 2, 7-9 PM in HZ AMP
(Review Session on Wed Oct 1, 7-9pm in KH 100)
Covers material in Chapters 1 – 6

 

7,8
Oct 6

Perfect Competition                                                                                     
Problem Set #5. Due, Thurs/Fri, Oct 9/10.

 

9
Oct 13

Monopoly    

MIDTERM RECESS: Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 13/14

The Monday tutorial meets Wednesday; Tuesday tutorial meets Thursday this week
                   


10
Oct 20

Imperfect Competition                                                                                   

Problem Set #6.  Due Thurs/Fri Oct 23/24



11
Oct 27

Economic Efficiency and Public policy                                                          
Problem Set #7.  Due Thurs/Fri, Oct 30/31
                   

DROP DEADLINE for returning undergraduates,  Friday, Oct 31.
                   

Last Day to designate course to “Pass/Fail” option, Friday, Oct 31.      

12
Nov 3

Factor Markets                                                                                              
SECOND MIDTERM EXAM: Thurs, Nov 6, 7-9 PM in HZ AMP.
         

Covers material in Chapters 7-12


(Review Session on Wed, Nov 5, 7-9 pm in HZ 210)



13, 14

Nov 10

Factor Markets (Cont’d)                                                                                
Problem Set #8.  Due Thurs/Fri, Nov13/14


14,15

Nov 17

Market Failure                                                                                               
Problem Set #9.  Due Tues/Wed Nov 20/21

16
Nov 24

Externalities

THANKSGIVING RECESS: NOV. 27-28 (Thurs.-Fri.)

Problem Set #10. Due Wed Nov 26, 5 pm

 

16,17
Dec 1

Environment   


17

 

Dec 5

Last Day of Classes

Tutorial meets Monday, Tuesday and Thursday this week

Problem Set #11. Due Friday, Dec 5, 5 pm