SAIGONTECH
Course Syllabus
ECON2302 - Principles of Microeconomics
1. Class
: ECON2
Semester : Spring 2014
2. Instructors
Instructor:
Office:
Tel:
Mobile:
Email:
Trần Nam Giang
Room 101 – SaigonTech Tower
(08) 3715 5033 (ext. 1632)
0942 93 91 92
giangtn@saigontech.edu.vn
3. Campus and Room Location with Days and Times
Venue: Room 207 – SaigonTech Tower
Time : Tue 7:30am – 10:40am
4. Course Semester Credit Hours (SCH): 3
5. Total Course Contact Hours: 48
6. Type of Instruction: Lectures
7. Course Description
ECON 2302 is an introductory course in microeconomics, which examines the fundamental
theories of the consumer, the firm, and markets. It is a required course for any student
wishing to take major or minor in business or economics, and it is recommended for any
student who would like to understand the American, Vietnamese and world economy as it
relates to business and individual welfare. This course also meets the social science
requirements of the core curriculum, since you will be exposed to major questions
concerning human and institutional behavior, and you will be encouraged to develop your
skills in critical analysis, mathematics, and/or writing clarity.
8. Course Prerequisite(s):
ESL level 4
No previous economic study is required
9. Course Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students’
learning
Outcomes
Learning
Objectives
1. Understand the basic economic terms
2. Can define the different economic concepts
3. Provide in-depth, typical examples to each of the concepts and models
4. Be able to interpret clearly most of the economic problems
5. Can clarify principles and concepts by applicable evidences in real life
I. Be able to understand the basic economic principles and concepts:
1. Scarcity, choice and opportunity cost
2. PPF, comparative advantage, specialization, and trade
3. Economic systems
4. The role of incentives
1
5. Marginal analysis
II. Recognize the nature and functions of product markets:
1. Supply and demand. Market equilibrium
2. Determinant of supply and demand. Price and quantity controls
3. Elasticity, price, income, and cross price elasticity of demand
4. Price elasticity of supply. Consumer surplus, producer surplus and
market efficiency
5. Tax incidence and deadweight loss
III. Theory of consumer choice:
1. Total utility and marginal utility
2. Utility maximization: equalizing marginal utility per dollar
3. Individual and market demand curves
4. Income and substitution effects
IV. Production and costs
1. Production functions: short and long run
2. Marginal product and diminishing returns
3. Short run costs
4. Long run costs and economies of scale
5. Cost minimizing input combination
V. Firm behavior and market structure
1. Profit Accounting versus Economic profit. Normal profit
2. Profit maximization : MR=MC rule
3. Perfect competition. Monopoly. Oligopoly. Monopolistic competition
4. Short run and long run equilibrium
10. Textbook
Economics, 1st edition, P. Krugman and R. Wells (2006). Worth Publishers.
For the best use of the textbook, take some time to read Tools for Learning, pp.xi-xii
Go to URL: http://www.worthpublishers.com/krugmanwells for student resources
11. Course Requirements
Make-up policy
Make-up test is not allowed. If any class session is canceled, the instructor will discuss with
the students to arrange a make-up class.
Attendance and Withdrawal Policies
Please read information about attendance and withdrawal policies on SaigonTech website:
http://www.saigontech.edu.vn/saigontech/english/general_academic.jsp?subid=37#6
12. Instructor’s Requirements
Classroom policy
 Please be seated before lecture begins, and don't leave early without prior permission
since it is very distracting to me and your classmates. Arriving late or leaving early
without a valid excuse will count as half of an absence.
 Because it is distracting to other students and to me, you should keep mobile phones
off/silent, and not carry on private conversations.
 Being active in class discussions and asking questions are highly encouraged.
 To make best use of our scarce time, do NOT study for another exam, work for another
class, play games, or surf the Internet. If you are caught red-handed, you will be
dismissed from the class and your attendance for that class will be ABSENT. It also
reduces your participation grade.
2

Do not close your books or rustle your papers to signal the end of class. Pack up only
when I say I have done.
Academic Honesty
Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling
course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by
SaigonTech officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Please visit this site
for more details about Academic Dishonesty Policy:
http://www.saigontech.edu.vn/saigontech/english/student_discipline.jsp?disID=3&subid=42
Other Student Information: Refer to SaigonTech’s website at www. saigontech.edu.vn for
other students rights and responsibilities at the school
13. Grading Policies
An Incomplete may be given only for extenuating circumstances (i.e. family illness, accident,
and an unforeseen event occurring at exam time). The grading policy is summarized below:
Course Grading
1) Quiz & Problem (quantity: 2, mode: individual)
2) Presentation (quantity: 1, mode: group)
3) Mid-term exam
4) Final exam
5) Participation
Total
20%
10%
25%
35%
10%
100%
Grading Scale
A 90 – 100
B 80 – 89
C 70 – 79
0 – 69
F
The passing grade of this course is C.
1) Quiz & Problem (individual, closed book, no electronic devices)




Each student must attend the class to take the quizzes. If he/she is absent, there is no
other opportunity to make up. Mark of 0 will be given if not taking the quiz.
Specific time and date for the quizzes are specified in the course calendar. The duration of
each test is 60 minutes. They will be hold during the second half of the class. There are 2
quizzes in total.
The quizzes will be provided in order to test students’ knowledge about the materials
provided in the previous lectures and to help students be prepared before mid-term and
final examinations.
Each quiz includes 10 multiple-choice questions, 1 short question, and 1 problem:
MCQ
Short question
Problem
Total

30%
10%
60%
100%
The results and feedbacks will be received at the next class.
2) Presentation (group)
 Each group (max of 4 students) is required to do 1 presentation. Each presentation will
last about 20 minutes (excluding questions and answers).
 The groups have to hand in their power point slides to the instructor on the presentation
day.
3





Everyone in the group has to present. Those who do not present with the group at the
presentation date will receive only 50% of the mark given to the group.
The presentations will be held in week 5, 7, 13 and 15.
The topics for the presentation will be selected at the beginning of the semester.
The feedbacks will be received immediately after the presentation.
Below is the list of presentation marking criteria:
Criteria
Speaking speed
Attire
Time management
Power point slides
Pronunciation
Professional Manner
Content
Total
Standards
Not too fast, not too slow
Appropriate
20 minutes for presentation
(excluding questions & answers section)
Good design & layout
Accurate, clear, loud enough
Proper gesture, face expression, eye contact, audience control
Quality of the content presented, quality of the answers
%
5
5
5
5
20
30
30
100
3) Examination Format (individual, no electronic devices)
Exam
Midterm
Endterm
Type
MCT
Short question
Problems
MCT
Short question
Problems
No. of
questions
30
1
2
30
1
2
Points
30
10
60
30
20
50
Chapters
Mode
Duration
Reading
time
1, 2, 3, 4, 5
&6
Closed
-book
120 mins
5 mins
8, 9, 10, 14,
15 & 16
Closed
-book
120 mins
5 mins
4) Participation (individual): Participation mark depends on your diligence and activeness. To
get full mark (10%), you have to attend all 24 class-sessions and be very active in the class.
14. Course Calendar: Lectures and tutorials will follow the order of the Krugman and Wells
textbook
Week
1
Date
Tue
14/01/14
Item/Description
- Introduction
- Syllabus Clarification
- Lecture: Chapter 1 First
Principles
2
Tue
21/01/14
Lecture: Chapter 2
Economic Models: TradeOffs and Trade
3
Tue
Lecture: Chapter 3
Pre-class Reading
- Chapter 1 Opening Story,
pp.5-6
- Definition of Key Terms of
Introduction & Chapter 1
(see the list of Key Terms on
pp. 4, 18)
- Chapter 2 Opening Story,
p.20
- Definition of Key Terms of
Chapter 2 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.38)
After-Classs Homework
- Check Your Understanding 11 (p.11), 1-2 (p.17)
- Economics in Action (pp.1617)
- Summary, pp.17-18
- Chapter 3 Opening Story,
- Check Your Understanding 3-
- Check Your Understanding 21 (p.33), 2-2 (p.37)
- Summary, p.38
4
11/02/14
Supply and Demand
pp.56-57
- Definition of Key Terms of
Chapter 3 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.79)
- Chapter 4 Opening Story,
pp.83-84
- Economics in action (p.89)
- Definition of Key Terms of
Chapter 4 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.105)
- Chapter 5 Opening Story,
p.109
- Economics in action
(p.120)
- Definition of Key Terms of
Chapter 5 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.131)
1 (p.63), 3-2 (pp.67-68), 3-3
(p.72), 3-4 (p.77)
- Summary, pp.78-79
4
Tue
18/02/14
- Lecture: Chapter 4
The Market Strikes Back
- Quiz 1 (Chapters: 1, 2 & 3)
5
Tue
25/02/14
- Lecture: Chapter 5
Elasticity
- Presentations
6
Tue
04/04/14
Lecture: Chapter 6
Consumer and Producer
Surplus
- Chapter 6 Opening Story,
p.135
- Economics in action
(pp.151-152)
- Definition of Key Terms of
Chapter 6 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.157)
- Check Your Understanding 61 (p.142), 6-2 (p.146), 6-3
(p.152), 6-4 (p.156)
- Summary, p.157
7
Tue
11/03/14
8
Tue
18/03/14
- Revision for Mid–term
examination
- Presentations
Mid-term examination
9
Tue
25/03/14
Lecture: Chapter 8
Behind the Supply Curve:
Input and Costs
- Chapter 8 Opening Story,
pp.181-182
- For Inquiring Mind (p.186)
- Definition of Key Terms
of Chapter 8 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.203)
- Chapter 9 Opening Story,
p.206
- Economics in action
(p.220)
- Definition of Key Terms of
Chapter 9 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.227)
-Check Your Understanding 81 (p.189), 8-2 (p.197), 8-3
(p.202)
-Summary, pp.202-203
10
Tue
01/04/14
Lecture: Chapter 9
Perfect Competition and
the Supply Curve
11
Tue
08/04/14
Lecture: Chapter 10
The Rational Consumer
-Chapter 10 Opening
Story, pp.230-231
-Economics in action
(pp.233-234)
-Key Terms of Chapter 10
(see the list of Key Terms
on p.250)
-Check Your Understanding
10-1 (p.234),
10-2 (p.241),
10-3 (p.245),
10-4 (p.249)
-Summary, p.249
12
Tue
15/04/14
- Lecture: Chapter 14
Monopoly
- Chapter 14 Opening Story,
p.333
- For Inquiring Mind (p.345)
- Definition of Key Terms of
-Check Your Understanding
14-1 (p.339),
14-2 (p.347),
14-3 (p.352),
- Check Your Understanding 41 (p.90), 4-2 (p.94), 4-3 (p.99),
4-4 (p.104)
- Summary, pp.104-105
- Check Your Understanding 51 (p.113), 5-2 (pp.120-121), 5-3
(p.123), 5-4 (p.126)
- Summary, pp.130-131
- Check Your Understanding 91 (p.210), 9-2 (p.220), 9-3
(p.226)
- Summary, p.227
5
- Quiz 3 (Chapters: 8, 9 &
10)
- Lecture: Chapter 15
Oligopoly
- Presentations
13
Tue
22/04/14
14
Tue
29/04/14
Lecture: Chapter 16
Monopolistic Competition
and Consumer Choice
15
Tue
06/05/14
- Revision for Final
examination
16
Tue
13/05/14
Chapter 14 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.359)
14-4 (p.358)
-Summary, pp.358-359
- Chapter 15 Opening Story,
pp.363-364
- Economics in action
(pp.377-378)
- Definition of Key Terms of
Chapter 15 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.384)
-Check Your Understanding
15-1 (p.366),
15-2 (p.370),
15-3 (p.378),
15-4 (p. 383)
-Summary, p.384
- Chapter 16 Opening Story,
pp.388-389
- Economics in action
(p.392)
- Definition of Key Terms of
Chapter 16 (see the list of
Key Terms on p.404)
- Check Your Understanding
16-1 (p.393),
16-2 (p.398),
16-3 (p.400),
16-4 (p. 403)
- Summary, p.403
- Presentations
Final examination
6