SmallParty.org / yoram / classes / principles05 [yoram@smallparty.org] | |||||||||
Principles of EconomicsMy office hours:
Complete Course Schedule(subject to change!)Note that some of the readings below link to restricted access websites such as JSTOR. Whitman folks should be able to access these from any computer on campus, or from any computer off campus once properly configured with the Whitman proxy server. Week 1 (starts Monday, January 17)Tuesday: Introductions. Thursday (Fun Day!): The big picture. Read (and comment on in Blackboard--see log-in instructions below--by 8am Thursday):
Logging on to Blackboard
Week 2 (starts Monday, January 24)Monday: Chapter 1 of Quantum Micro (Decision Theory, see also Mankiw pp. 4-7) Tuesday: Chapter 2 of Quantum Micro (Optimization and Risk, see also Mankiw pp. 440-414). Please bring a calculator to class. For an interesting article about the mathematics of lotteries and whether or not it's stupid to play, read Jordan Ellenberg, Is Powerball a Mug's Game?, Slate, August 31, 2001. (The mathematical workout that he mentions is not available on the Slate page, but Jordan emailed it to me and you can get it here. Thursday (Fun Day!): Paper consumption at Whitman. Paper Conservation Awareness Week at Whitman is sponsored by a group of students who would like Whitman to use less paper and buy more recycled paper. Your assignment is to read this Paper Manifesto and then post, on Blackboard by 8am Thursday, your thoughts on paper use at Whitman and what (if anything) should be done about it. I'd like you to think in particular about how this situation relates to things we've discussed in class, and (although you don't have to post about this) I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts about the merits of using economic instruments (i.e., charging for printing) to reduce paper use. Week 3 (starts Monday, January 31)Monday: Chapter 3 of Quantum Micro (Optimization over Time, see also Mankiw pp. 408-410) Please bring a calculator to class. Tuesday: Chapter 4 of Quantum Micro (More Optimization over Time) Please bring a calculator to class. Thursday (Fun Day!): Games. There is no reading or writing assignment, but you might consider bringing a few dollars to class. Week 4 (starts Monday, February 7)Monday: Chapter 5 of Quantum Micro (Transition: Arbitrage, see also Mankiw pp. 415-418) Tuesday: Chapter 6 of Quantum Micro (Cake-Cutting, see also Mankiw pp. 45-56) Thursday: Exam #1. Please bring a calculator. Last semester's exams were take-home, so they were longer and more difficult than what you'll get. Nonetheless, you can get a good sense of the problems (and a great sense of the cheat sheet that comes with the exam) from the fall 2004 exam and its answer key. The questions and answers to today's exam will be posted after class. Week 5 (starts Monday, February 14)Monday: Chapter 7 of Quantum Micro (Economics and Social Welfare) Tuesday: Chapter 8 of Quantum Micro (Sequential Move Games)
Thursday (Fun Day!): Free trade. Read (and comment on in Blackboard by 8am Thursday):
Week 6 (starts Monday, February 21)Monday: Presidents Day (no class) Tuesday: Chapter 8 of Quantum Micro (Sequential Move Games) Thursday (Fun Day!): Education/testing. Read (and comment on in Blackboard by 8am Thursday): Malcolm Gladwell, "Examined Life", The New Yorker, December 17, 2001. Given your life experiences, you should all be experts on issues surrounding education and testing, so spend some time thinking about testing and the incentives it creates and whether those incentives lead to good outcomes or bad outcomes and how you would reform the education system.... Week 7 (starts Monday, February 28)Monday: Chapter 9 of Quantum Micro (Simultaneous Move Games) Tuesday: Chapter 10 of Quantum Micro (Application: Auctions) Thursday (Fun Day!): Environmental issues. Read (and comment on in Blackboard by 8am Thursday):
Week 8 (starts Monday, March 7)Monday: Chapter 11 of Quantum Micro (Application: Marine Affairs) and Chapter 12 of Quantum Micro (Transition: Game Theory v. Price Theory) Tuesday: In-class study day for Exam #2. (I will not have any prepared material but will be available to answer questions &etc.) Thursday: Exam #2. Please bring a calculator. Last semester's exams were take-home, so they were longer and more difficult than what you'll get. Nonetheless, you can get a good sense of the problems (and a great sense of the cheat sheet that comes with the exam) from the fall 2004 exam and its answer key. The questions and answers to today's exam will be posted after class. Weeks 9 and 10 (starts Monday, March 14)Spring break (no class) Week 11 (starts Monday, March 28)Monday: Chapter 13 of Quantum Micro (Supply and Demand Basics, see also Mankiw pp. 63-84) Tuesday: Chapter 14 of Quantum Micro (Taxes, see also Mankiw pp. 124-131) Thursday (Fun Day!): Supply and demand. We'll do a double oral auction experiment. There is no reading or writing assignment. Week 12 (starts Monday, April 4)Monday: Chapter 14 of Quantum Micro (Taxes, see also Mankiw pp. 124-131) and Chapter 15 (Elasticities, see also Mankiw pp. 89-109). Tuesday: No class because of Whitman Undergraduate Conference Thursday (Fun Day!): Voting. Read (and comment on in Blackboard by 8am Thursday):
Week 13 (starts Monday, April 11)Monday: Chapter 16 of Quantum Micro (Supply and Demand Details) Tuesday: Chapter 17 of Quantum Micro (Margins, see also Mankiw pp. 137-155) Thursday (Fun Day!): Social Security I. Social Security has been in the news a lot lately. I'm curious to learn what you know (or think you know) about it and what you'd like to know (or think you'd like to know) about it. So: by 8am Thursday, spend at least 15 minutes thinking about (and at least 15 additional minutes commenting on in Blackboard) what you understand and don't understand about Social Security. There are no right or wrong answers; I just want to know what you think and what questions you have.
Week 14 (starts Monday, April 18)Monday: Chapter 18 of Quantum Micro (Transition: Welfare Economics) and Mankiw, Chapters 15 and 16 Tuesday: Mankiw, Chapters 17 and 18 Thursday: Exam #3. Please bring a calculator. The questions and answers to today's exam will be posted after class. Last semester's exams were take-home, so they were longer and more difficult than what you'll get. Nonetheless, you can get a good sense of the problems (and a great sense of the cheat sheet that comes with the exam) from the fall 2004 exam and its answer key. You can also get a good sense from the following list of possible exam topics:
Week 15 (starts Monday, April 25)Monday: Mankiw, Chapters 19 and 20 Tuesday: Mankiw, Chapter 21 Thursday (Fun Day!): Social Security and Medicare. Read (and comment on in Blackboard by 8am Thursday):
Week 16 (starts Monday, May 2)Monday: Mankiw, Chapter 22 Tuesday: No class today Thursday: Make-up from Tuesday and course evaluations. Week 17 (starts Monday, May 9)Monday: Mankiw, Chapter 23 Tuesday: Mankiw, Chapter 24
Final exam: 2-4pm on Tuesday, May 17My reading of the final exam schedule indicates that our final is scheduled for the time noted above. Please let me know immediately if you think I have it wrong. The final exam and its answer key will be posted after the exam. The final exam will be open Mankiw, meaning that you can bring and use your copy of Mankiw and/or use the copy that I will have available for general use. (Note that you are not allowed to write inappropriate notes in your Mankiw text...) The macro questions on the final (i.e., the questions about Mankiw) will be best studied for by reading through the Mankiw chapters and looking at the end-of-chapter problems. |
|||||||||
SmallParty.org and all of its content unless otherwise noted is the property of Yoram Bauman. Some content, specified as being covered by a CCL, may be used according the defined criteria. Current design is by Matt Pearson. See full Site Design Credits here. This site is best viewed using a Standards-Compliant browser. Go to GetFireFox.com if you don't have one. Output uses valid CSS. Questions, comments, and issues can be e-mailed to yoram@smallparty.org. |