Universität Wien

180143 UK Foundational Microeconomics (2020W)

8.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 18 - Philosophie
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Thursday 01.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 02.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 08.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 09.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 15.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 16.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Thursday 22.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 23.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 29.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 30.10. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 05.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 06.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 12.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 13.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 19.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 20.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 26.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 27.11. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 03.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 04.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 10.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 11.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 17.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 18.12. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 07.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 08.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 14.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 15.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 21.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 22.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Thursday 28.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital
  • Friday 29.01. 11:30 - 13:00 Digital

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

The objective of this course is to introduce the student to the main tools and ideas in Microeconomics, with a special focus on (re)-distribution and fairness.
The course will consist of theory sections (lecture form) and practical sessions (recitation and discussions). Lectures will take place online and practical sessions will take place in the HS but students will be able to follow online. All the materials will be available in Moodle before the class.

Update 16/9: All lectures will take place online.

Assessment and permitted materials

There will be two exams (Midterm, early December; and Endterm, end January) each worth 40%. There will also be six assignments, out of which the student should hand in (at least) 4.
In addition, both exams may be retaken in late February.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

The grading will be as follows.
>85%, 1
70-85%, 2
60-70%, 3
50-60%, 4
less than 50%, 5.

Examination topics

Topics.

1. Preferences and choice.
2. Allocations and Judgements.
3. Competitive Equilibrium and Welfare Theorems.
4. Labor Markets and Production.
4. Markets and Morals.
5. Externalities and Policy.

Reading list

There are two main references for this course. Varian's 'Intermediate Microeconomics' provides a comprehensive and easily accessible introduction to the main concepts of the course. Pancs' "Lectures in Microeconomics" is more advanced and has a more modern focus. For students who are interested in obtaining a deep understanding of economic theory but have a weak math background, I recommend Simon and Blume's "Mathematics for Economists" (in particular Chapters 1-5 and 14-17).

In addition, the following readings are required (as part of coursework)
'The Use of Knowledge in Society' F. Hayek, AER 1945
'On The Economic Theory of Socialism' O. Lange, Restud 1936
'Contract and Fair Exchange' P.S. Atiyah, UoT Law Journal, 1985

"Why Surfers Should be Fed: The Liberal Case for an Unconditional Basic Income" Van Parijs, Philosophy and Public Affairs. 1991
'Lessons from the Kibbutz on the equality-incentives trade-off'. R. Abramitzky, JEP, 2011.
'What money can't buy: the moral limits of markets' The Tanner Lectures on Human Values, Oxford University, 1998 (also available as a book)
'Repugnance as a constraint to markets' A. Roth, JEP, 2007
'The Problem of Social Cost' by R. Coase, JLE, 1972. (pp. 1-28)

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Sa 08.07.2023 00:17