Text: Varian, Hal R., Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach, Sixth Edition, 2003
Prerequisites: Economics 211; Math 101 (or Math 111 and Math 112).
The course grade is determined as follows. The hour exam with lowest score will be weighted 10%, the other two hour exams will be weighted 25% each, the final exam (self-scheduled) will be weighted 40%. In addition, there is a class participation bonus of up to three percentage points. This procedure is the sole determinant of the final course grade. Note in particular that the letter grade distributions provided for each hour exam during the semester are only suggestive of relative class standing. Note also that there is no "extra credit" mechanism.
The three hour exams will be given on (or near) the dates indicated in the course schedule. Students who miss an exam without making prior arrangements with the instructor will automatically be given a grade equal to ten points less than the minimum grade made on the exam.
The final exam will be comprehensive, and must be self-scheduled by the student. The dates for self-scheduling of final exams are November 14-18 .
Extra copies of any materials handed out in class will be available on the bookshelves outside of the Economics Department office (BB 266).
A set of homework problems for the course will be available at the web site. Homework problems should be completed within 3-5 days of the time the relevant material is covered in class. Although these problems will not be graded, they provide helpful amplifications and extensions of material covered in the lectures, as well as examples of questions that might be asked on the examinations. Solutions will be posted at the website approximately one week after the homework problem is assigned. It is strongly recommended that students solve these problem sets, either individually or in study groups, before consulting the posted solutions.
This website is maintained by the teaching assistant for the course, Athiphat Muthitacharoen (athiphat@rice.edu). Please e-mail him if you have any problems with the website. Course information will also be posted as necessary at this site, so you should check it periodically.
Any student with a disability requiring accommodations in this class should come see me and also contact the Disability Support Services in the Ley Student Center.
Office Hours: TTh 11:30-12:00 and 2:30-3:00; or by appointment; BB 260
Email: zodrow@rice.edu
Phone: (713) 348-4891
TA: Athiphat Muthitacharoen
Email: athiphat@rice.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays10-11.30AM or by appointment; BB237
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Date |
Lecture Topic |
Varian |
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08/23/05 |
00. Introduction |
Appendix |
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08/25/05 |
01. The Market |
1 |
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08/30/05 |
02. The Budget Constraint and Preferences |
2,3 |
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09/01/05 |
03. Utility and Choice |
4, 5 |
|
09/06/05 |
04. Consumer Demand |
6 |
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09/08/05 |
05. Income and Substitution Effects; Labor Supply |
8, 9:173-178 |
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09/13/05 |
06. Intertemporal Choice |
10 |
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09/15/05 |
07. Consumer Surplus |
14 |
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09/20/05 |
08. Market Demand |
15 |
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09/22/05 |
FIRST HOUR EXAM |
|
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09/27/05 |
09. Asset Markets |
11 |
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09/29/05 |
10. Risky Assets |
13 |
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10/04/05 |
11. Technology |
18 |
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10/06/05 |
12. Profit Maximization and Cost Minization |
19,20 |
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10/11/05 |
FALL BREAK |
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10/13/05 |
13. Cost Curves |
21 |
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10/18/05 |
14. Firm Supply and Industry Supply |
22,23 |
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10/20/05 |
15. Equilibrium |
16 |
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10/25/05 |
SECOND HOUR EXAM |
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10/27/05 |
16. Monopoly and Monopoly Markets |
24,25 |
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11/01/05 |
17. Factor Markets |
26 |
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11/03/05 |
18. Oligopoly |
27 |
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11/08/05 |
19. Game Theory and Game Applications |
28,29 |
|
11/10/05 |
20. Exchange |
30 |
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11/15/05 |
21. Production |
31 |
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11/17/05 |
THIRD HOUR EXAM |
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11/22/05 |
22. Welfare |
32 |
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11/24/05 |
THANKSGIVING BREAK |
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11/29/05 |
23. Externalities |
33 |
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12/01/05 |
24. Public Goods |
35 |
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Date |
Lecture Topic |
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08/23/05 |
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08/25/05 |
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08/30/05 |
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09/01/05 |
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09/06/05 |
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09/08/05 |
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09/13/05 |
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09/15/05 |
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09/20/05 |
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09/27/05 |
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09/29/05 |
NO CLASS |
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10/04/05 |
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10/06/05 |
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10/13/05 |
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10/18/05 |
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10/20/05 |
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10/25/05 |
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11/01/05 |
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11/03/05 |
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11/08/05 |
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11/10/05 |
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11/15/05 |
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11/22/05 |
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11/29/05 |
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12/01/05 |
24. Externalities/ 25. Public Goods |
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Date |
Problem Set |
Solution |
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08/23/05 |
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08/25/05 |
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08/30/05 |
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09/01/05 |
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09/06/05 |
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09/08/05 |
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09/13/05 |
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09/15/05 |
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09/20/05 |
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09/27/05 |
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09/29/05 |
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10/04/05 |
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10/06/05 |
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10/13/05 |
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10/18/05 |
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10/20/05 |
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10/27/05 |
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11/01/05 |
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11/03/05 |
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11/08/05 |
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11/10/05 |
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11/15/05 |
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11/22/05 |
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11/29/05 |
