ECO100Y5Y – Introduction to Economics
LEC8201 to 8206, LEC9201, LEC9202, LEC9401
Department of Economics
University of Toronto Mississauga
Fall 2020/ Winter 2021
Contact Information
Instructor: Tenzin Yindok
Course email: utmeco100.s2@utoronto.ca
Office: KN 3212
Phone number: 905-569-5744
Drop-in Hours: Mondays 13:30 – 14:30 and Thursdays 21:00 – 22:00. Online. Link on Quercus.
By Appointment: Wednesdays 13:30 – 14:30. Online. Link on Quercus.
Time Zone Information
All lecture times, tutorial times, exam times, deadlines, etc. are stated in local Toronto time. Please
note that Toronto adheres to Eastern Daylight Time until Sunday, November 1, 2020, 2:00 am, followed
by Eastern Standard Time until Sunday, March 14, 2021, 2:00 am, followed again by Eastern Daylight
Time. It is your responsibility to correctly convert local Toronto time to your time zone: we will not accept
confusion about deadlines as an excuse for lateness or missed tests/work.
Contact Hours
LEC8201-8203: Mondays and Tuesdays, 11:10 – 12:00. Online synchronous with in-person rotation.
LEC8204-8206: Mondays and Tuesdays, 12:10 – 13.00. Online synchronous with in-person rotation.
LEC9201: Mondays and Tuesdays, 11:10 – 12:00. Online synchronous.
LEC9202: Mondays and Tuesdays, 12:10 – 13.00. Online synchronous.
LEC9204: Wednesdays, 11:10 – 13:00. Online synchronous.
TUT9201 to TUT9209, TUT9401 to TUT9403, 13:10 – 14.00. Online synchronous.
TUT9210 to TUT9215, TUT9404 to TUT9406, 14:10 – 15.00. Online synchronous.
Tutorials start on September 11. Lectures start on September 9 for LEC9204, and on September 14
for LEC8201-8206, LEC9201 and LEC9202.
By taking this course you acknowledge that you are available during the lecture and tutorial times you
registered for. Each lecture will feature synchronous (i.e. live) instruction or a combination of
asynchronous (i.e. pre-recorded) and synchronous instruction. All tutorials will feature synchronous
instruction. Details (including Zoom links) will be provided on Quercus. Several sections of ECO100
are offered earlier in the morning Toronto time. Please enroll in those sections if you are in a time zone
that may put you at a disadvantage. Due to the size of the course, special makeups will not be provided
for missed coursework.
Starting in October, students registered in LEC8201 to LEC8206 will have the OPTION to attend a
limited number of the Zoom sessions with the instructor in the assigned lecture room on campus. Details
of how and when to attend will be posted on Quercus. In-person attendance is subject to public health
conditions. We will avoid unnecessary risk.
Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
This course introduces students to the core principles and applications of economics, and the tools
frequently used by economists. In the first half of the course, we will discuss how people and firms make
choices under constraints, and consider questions of ‘allocation’ using the concepts of market allocation
and market failure. We will examine how economists use the tool of ‘all else equal’ to assess cause and
effect. In the second half, we will study macroeconomic indicators, learn about the causes of business
cycles and modern economic growth, and evaluate relevant macroeconomic policies.
You will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate understanding of the principles of economics
verbally, numerically and graphically. In addition to mastering individual modules, you will be expected
to put together concepts from multiple modules to show awareness of the overarching principles and
frameworks learned in the course, and apply relevant concepts to explain real world phenomena. This
course is part of UTM’s Writing Development Initiative, where you will receive instruction and feedback,
and will eventually be assessed on your ability to communicate your understanding of economics in a
coherent, concise and professional manner.
Prerequisites are strictly checked and enforced and must be completed before taking a course. By
taking this course you acknowledge that you will be removed from the course at any time if you do
not meet all requirements set by the Department of Economics.
Course Website
The course website is https://q.utoronto.ca/courses/175800. Please turn on notifications for Quercus
Announcements and make sure you check Quercus regularly. I will post announcements and course
materials there. Note that this is not a substitute for attending class: there may be occasions where
announcements will be made in class and will not be posted on Quercus.
Course Materials
Required: Karlan, Microeconomics & Macroeconomics, 2 nd Canadian Edition, with CONNECT
(required to complete assignments worth 10% of your grade). I strongly advise you to buy the digital
materials from the UofT Bookstore. Buying them elsewhere will cost more.
(Note that Professor Bailey’s sections require a different textbook.)
1. Option 1: This bundle with CONNECT access codes and e-textbooks for $150. This is the
cheapest option if you want access to CONNECT and the e-textbooks for one year.
2. Option 2: Get CONNECT access codes for Micro and Macro without the e-textbooks at $65 each
or $130 in total. Each access code is valid for 180 days. If you take this option, please register for
Micro CONNECT for the fall semester (starting in September) and the Macro CONNECT for the
winter semester (starting in January). This is necessary to make sure that you have access to the
assignments when they are due. The Bookstore will not reimburse you for expired Macro codes if
you register too early.
Print texts can be purchased here and here. You may purchase the first editions of the print textbooks,
as long as you note the differences in chapters and page references yourself. The new edition of the
Macroeconomics textbook has a new chapter. Otherwise, the differences between the two editions
are minor.
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Course Outline
The following course outline is tentative and subject to change.
Microeconomics
• Introduction to principles of economics: Chapter 1 and 2.
• Market Allocation: Chapter 3, 4, 5 and 6.
• Consumer Behavior: Chapter 7.
• Firm Behavior: Chapter 12 and 13.
• Market Failure: Chapter 14 and 18.
Macroeconomics
• Macroeconomic Indicators: Chapter 7, 8 and 9.
• The Labor Market: Chapter 16 from the Microeconomics Textbook.
• The Loanable Funds Market (Savings and Investment): Chapter 14.
• The Money Market: Chapter 15.
• Business Cycles: Chapter 11, 12 and Frank Chapter 25 (Chapter will be available on Connect).
• Macroeconomic Policy: Chapter 13 and 16.
• Economic Growth: Chapter 10.
• International Macroeconomics: Chapter 18.
Evaluation
Your grade in this course will be determined as follows:
Cumulative Final Exam
Best 2 of 3 Term Tests
Short-Answer Term Test
Tutorial Activities
Connect Assignments
Lecture Engagement
Course Surveys
TBA by the Registrar’s Office
Oct 23, Dec 4, Feb 12
March 12
Weekly during tutorials
Weekly, asynchronous
Weekly, during lectures
Ongoing
20%
40%, Best 2 of 3 weighted 20% each
8%
15%
10%
5%
2%
All term tests are written during your registered tutorials (13:10 to 14:00 or 14:10 to 15:00). Online exams
require an onboarding process that includes checking your T-card. To manage this smoothly for all
students and to ensure that everyone receives 50 minutes to write the tests, we may ask you to join your
tutorial Zoom meeting up to half an hour earlier than the exam start time. If you have a UofT course right
before your registered tutorial, you must notify me when asked so that we can coordinate the logistics
of the onboarding process in advance.
Tutorial Activities (15%): Tutorials will be held synchronously on Zoom. Attend your registered tutorial
on Fridays with a reliable computer and internet, and a webcam and a mic. You will complete polls and
a Quercus Quiz on questions that are closely related to a pre-assigned practice set. Practice questions
are representative of exam questions. (On October 2, you will be asked to provide written responses
to short-answer questions; one of your responses will be chosen randomly for grading and feedback.)
To do well, solve the practice questions before the tutorials, collaborate with classmates before the
tutorials and attend office hours for guidance. The SIX lowest tutorial scores will automatically be
dropped. No makeups offered for any reason, including illness and technology failure. You do not need
to notify me.
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Connect Assignments (10%): On non-test weeks, you will have a one-week window to complete a
one-hour timed assignment on CONNECT. They are graded instantly at due date with detailed
feedback. The more difficult questions on the assignment are representative of exam questions. The
TWO lowest scores will automatically be dropped. No extensions or makeups for any reason, including
illness and technology failure. You do not need to notify me.
Lecture Engagement (5%): You will be asked to participate in various activities in the synchronous
lectures. To do well, review the pre-recorded screencasts before attending the weekly Zoom session
and engage with your peers whenever required. The EIGHT lowest lecture scores will automatically be
dropped. No makeups offered for any reason, including illness and technology failure. You do not need
to notify me.
Course Surveys (2%): I will ask you to participate in several surveys throughout the year to learn about
your experience and to coordinate the course. Please take advantage of these grade boosters.
Technology
You will need reliable and regular access to a laptop/desktop, an adjustable webcam and a mic. (A
laptop with a webcam and mic is sufficient.) You will also need reliable and regular access to highspeed internet. A smart phone or a similar device with a camera will be required to upload written work
online. However, phones and tablets are not sufficient to complete coursework, and should not be used
to take quizzes and tests. Use the most recent versions of Chrome or Firefox for Quercus Quizzes. Do
not use Safari. See the University’s Recommended Technology Requirements for Remote/Online
Learning for more details. Read also the UTM Library Learn Anywhere resource website.
Video Conferencing: Although you may already have a personal Zoom account, you should always
access course-related Zoom sessions using your UTM-licensed Zoom Pro account. Visit
utoronto.zoom.us, enter UTORid to create a profile or log into your account. Always make sure you
are signed into your UTM Zoom account. You will not be able to join otherwise. Please attend the
lectures and tutorials online from a relatively private space. Although your video and audio will be
muted in large meetings, you will be required to turn them on in small breakout rooms. We will use
BB Collaborate (available within Quercus) as a backup.
Crowdmark: We may use Crowdmark for assessments. You can sign in here. You will need to upload
your handwritten work in manageable file sizes. Most phones can scan and Crowdmark accepts PDF,
JPG and PNG files.
Piazza: We will use the third-party discussion forum Piazza that is fully integrated with Quercus to
facilitate communication. I encourage you to post questions (and answers!), and read what your
classmates have posted. Read Piazza’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use carefully. If you decide to
participate in Piazza, only provide content that you are comfortable sharing under the terms of the
Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Online Submissions: You will need to be proactive to avoid technical and other difficulties—which
includes submitting well before deadlines, maintaining your devices, minimizing the strains on your
internet bandwidth, learning how to scan efficiently, and carefully reading all assessment instructions.
To allow for the occasional technology failure (along with illness and other emergencies), I have built
in various buffers for all ongoing term work as specified in this document. Technology failures during
term tests will be accommodated as a missed test, and may require documentation where appropriate.
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VPN: If you are at a location where Quercus, Zoom, Youtube and Connect may be blocked, you should
email UTM's help desk (helpdesk.utm@utoronto.ca) to get access to UofT's Virtual Private Network
(VPN). The process of setting up takes a while, and there will be a lot of similar requests closer to
September. It's a good idea to get the ball rolling now. Students in Mainland China may also find
the Alibaba Cloud Enterprise Network useful.
Email Policy
I use a strict email policy to streamline communication from my 900-plus students. This careful
approach will help me interact successfully with as many of you as possible.
Please send an email to utmeco100.s2@utoronto.ca ONLY to notify me of specific concerns that you
need to discuss urgently. I will respond to such emails within two business days.
• Use your @mail.utoronto.ca email address only.
• I strive to respond carefully to your concerns. Likewise, it is your responsibility to ensure that
your requests are thoughtful and well-articulated. Refer to Re: Your Recent Email to Your
Professor for some best practices.
Please do NOT use email for questions about the course material and policies. You should post these
on Piazza or use the drop-in office hours. Use the appointment-based office hours to speak with me
privately. All policies regarding missed activities, assignments and tests, and regrades are on the
syllabus, and cannot be changed for individual students.
Please do NOT send emails to my personal email address; do NOT use the Quercus Inbox Application.
We will not answer these.
Learning Support
All instructor and TA virtual office hours (for the fall semester) are listed below. Winter hours will be
updated on Quercus. You can attend the office hour of any TA. All links to join will be posted on
Quercus. TAs will share their email addresses, to be used ONLY for urgent tutorial-related issues. They
will not respond to any emails about course material and policies - these should be posted on Piazza
or asked during office hours.
Monday
9:00 AM
Tuesday
Minh Quan
(1 hour)
Wednesday
Oyut Enkhbat
(45 minutes)
11:00 AM
Lara Wulandari
(45 minutes)
Santo Romano
(1 hour)
1:00 PM
1:30 PM
3:00 PM
Thursday
Instructor
(1 hour)
Danny Song
(1 hour)
Akram Ramadan
(45 minutes)
4:00 PM
9:00 PM
Instructor by
appointment (1 hour)
Spandana Unnava
(1 hour)
Hassan Aldarawsheh
(45 minutes)
Nehal Khan
(1 hour)
Instructor
(1 hour)
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Drop-in Office Hours: I will take questions from you, or go over frequently asked questions that a
teaching assistant will compile each week. You can attend to listen to FAQs and questions from other
students. Please refrain from asking me to cover a missed lecture or tutorial. Otherwise, all questions
are welcome including seeking my advice on how to study for the course, current affairs, and economics
in general. If you find yourself struggling in this course, meet with me early and frequently.
Appointment-based Office Hours: I will release 10-minute slots for Wednesdays 13:30 – 14:30,
available for booking on Quercus. Use the slots to speak privately with me. No-shows will lose booking
privileges.
TA Support and Facilitated Study Groups: In addition to your teaching assistants, facilitated student
group (FGS) leaders will also hold regular office hours (TBA). TA’s and FSG leaders are excellent
undergraduate students who have performed well in my course. Ask them to guide you, rather than
teach you from scratch.
RGASC Support: Michael Kaler from the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Center will host special
ECO100-focused Writing Office Hours on Sept. 30 from 14:00 – 17:00 - he will post an announcement
about them on the course website. More office hours will be available in March before the short-answer
writing test. If you want help or support with writing, math, or other academic skills, you can book
appointments at the Robert Gillespie Academic Skills Centre (RGASC). You can book appointments
and see the list of programs and workshops that it offers here, and there are various useful resources
posted here.
Using the Textbook: The textbook for this course is concise and easy to read. It contains examples
from around the world and highlights how economics can be used to make the world a better place.
Read the textbook before and after the lectures to gain a richer understanding of the things we discuss
in class. Note that the textbook does not contain everything covered in this course. My lectures serve
as the main source of course material. Textbook sections not covered in my lectures will not be directly
examined in tests and exams.
Missed Term Work
There are “best-of” accommodations built into all ongoing activities (tutorial quizzes, Connect
assignments, lecture engagement), to account for illness, emergencies, technology failure, late
registration and any other extenuating situation. We do not accept late submissions and no other
makeups are available. It is every student’s responsibility to ensure that their online submission is
submitted successfully by the due date. Accommodations will not be made for unsuccessful
submissions due to, but not limited to, i) the system timing out, ii) submitting the incorrect document(s),
iii) poor internet connection / no internet connection etc.
Missed Test: Students who miss a test because of circumstances beyond their control (e.g. illness
or an accident) can request that the Department grant them special consideration. The following steps
must be completed in order to be considered for academic accommodation for any missed
quiz/test/assignment.
• Your absence must be declared on ACORN on the day of the missed test / due date, or by the
day after, at the latest.
• You must notify me within one week of the missed test / deadline. To do so, fill out the Missed
Term Work form that I created for this course. I will post a link to the form on Quercus. Note
that I will not accept notifications by email.
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Complete an online Special Consideration Request within one week of the missed test / due
date. The University is temporarily suspending the need for a doctor’s note or medical
certificate for any absence from academic participation if you are experiencing COVID-19
symptoms. However, this policy may change at any point during the course. If you missed your
test for a reason connected to your registered disability, the department will accept
documentation supplied by Accessibility Services. If you visited a Dentist, Nurse/Nurse
Practitioner, Physician/Surgeon, Psychologist, Psychotherapist or Social Worker registered
and licensed in the Province of Ontario, have them fill out the University’s Verification of
Student Illness or Injury form. In other cases, a Verification of Extenuating Circumstances form
is acceptable. Other documentation can include, but is not limited to, automobile collision or
police reports, death certificates, and supporting documentation from employers, lawyers and
other related personnel. Please email your form to economics.utm@utoronto.ca. Do NOT
email them to me.
Consult the Office of the Registrar should your absence be lengthy or affect multiple courses.
The written explanation and documentation that you submit represents an appeal from you,
requesting the opportunity to account for that portion of your grade in some other manner. If an appeal
is not received, or if the appeal is deemed unacceptable, you will receive a grade of zero for the item
you missed.
Note that it is your responsibility to ensure that your email account is working. Claims that a
Departmental decision was not received will NOT be considered as a reason for further consideration.
Note that holidays and pre-purchased plane tickets, family plans, weddings of friends, lack of
preparation, or too many other tests/assignments are not acceptable excuses for missing a quiz, a
test or an item of term work.
Accommodation for Missed Test: If the appeal is granted – that is, your reason for missing the item
is considered acceptable by the professor – then the following mechanism will be applied to account
for the missing grade.
• Missing one test out of the first three tests moves you to a “2 out of 2” grading scheme.
• The weight of the approved second missed test out of the first three tests will shift to the exam.
• If approved to miss all of the first three tests, the entire weight will shift to a makeup test.
• If approved to miss the short-answer writing test, the weight will shift to the makeup test.
The makeup test will take place on April 5 (the makeup day) between 13:00 and 15:00. The format of
the makeup test will be announced two weeks in advance, and may not follow the format of the regular
term tests. If a student is granted permission to take a makeup test and misses it, then they are assigned
a mark of zero for the test unless the instructor is satisfied that missing the makeup test was
unavoidable. Students are not automatically entitled to a second makeup test. Approved cases of
missed makeup tests will be resolved through an oral exam on Zoom.
Missed Final Exam: Students who cannot complete their online final examination due to illness or
other serious causes must file an online petition within 72 hours of the missed examination. Late
petitions will NOT be considered. Students must also record their absence on ACORN on the day of
the missed exam or by the day after at the latest. At this time, the university has temporarily
suspended the requirement to provide medical documentation if illness is cited as the reason for a
deferred exam request. Fees for deferred exam requests are also temporarily being waived during
this examination period.
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Students CANNOT petition to re-write a quiz/test once the test has begun. If you are feeling ill, please
do not start the online or in-class test, seek medical attention immediately, and the policy on Missed
Term Work will apply.
Regrade Request
You may submit a regrade request until one month (= 31 days) from the day on which we returned a
graded assessment. To submit the request, fill out the Regrade Request form that I created for this
course. I will post a link to the form on Quercus. Note that I will not accept regrade requests by email.
Note further that the request will result in regrading of the entire assessment. Consequently, your grade
may go down instead of up. You may consult me about regrades in one-on-one virtual meetings; do
not use emails.
Privacy and Use of Course Materials
Notice of Video Recording and Sharing (Download Permissible; Re-use Prohibited): Lectures
in the main Zoom meeting room (where students' video and audio will be muted) will be recorded on
video and will be available to students in the course for viewing remotely and after each session. The
recordings will be hosted on UofT supported MyMedia and will be posted on Quercus. Course videos
and materials belong to your instructor, the University, and/or other source depending on the specific
facts of each situation and are protected by copyright. In this course, you are permitted to download
session videos and materials for your own academic use, but you should not copy, share, or use them
for any other purpose without the explicit permission of the instructor. For questions about recording
and use of videos in which you appear please contact your instructor.
Notice of Online Proctoring: To ensure that a degree from the University of Toronto Mississauga is
a strong signal of each student’s individual academic achievement, test and exams may be invigilated
by video. Please be advised that we may use ProctorU, an online proctoring service integrated with
Quercus and fully vetted by U of T for information security and data management practices. If you have
any privacy concerns about ProctorU, we will be happy to refer you to the FIPPA Office at UTM. We
will provide instructions and demonstrations in advance if we use ProctorU. Visit the test-taker resource
center to check the system requirements.
Student Conduct
It is your responsibility as a student at the University of Toronto to familiarize yourself with, and adhere
to, The Code of Student Conduct, which is a University policy that sets out expectations for student
behavior, and prescribes processes for dealing with prohibited behaviour. The Student’s Companion
to the Student Code of Conduct is a set of frequently asked questions and the responses about the
Code of Student Conduct. It aims to simplify and clarify Code usage for the University’s community
members.
Lectures and tutorials for this class will be online. You are expected to adhere to the same standards
regarding behaviour as in a normal classroom. This includes, but is not limited to,
• Adhere to the same standards as you would in the physical classroom.
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Respect your peers. Use proper and respectful language. Refrain from insults, threats or bad
jokes, and refrain from making fun of someone’s ability to read, write and speak. Be forgiving
of mistakes. Do not point out insignificant errors of your peers in front of others.
Use the chat function in Zoom thoughtfully. It is okay to make minor errors so long as you are
understood. Be mindful of internet language: e.g. the interpretation of all cap letters is that you
are shouting. It’s okay to use emoji’s but do not overdo it. Avoid using slang and/or vernacular
language. UTM is a very diverse community and this could possibly lead to misinterpretation,
especially in the chat function.
If someone posts information that you think may have been posted accidentally, let them know
about it privately. Do not spread the accidental post to your peers.
Please be patient in the event of unforeseen technical issues. Check your email and the course
homepage for announcements about back-up options.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is essential to the pursuit of learning and scholarship in a university, and to
ensuring that a degree from the University of Toronto Mississauga is a strong signal of each student’s
individual academic achievement. As a result, UTM treats cases of cheating and plagiarism very
seriously. The University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters outlines behaviours
that constitute academic dishonesty and the process for addressing academic offences. Potential
offences include, but are not limited to:
In papers and assignments:
1. Using someone else’s ideas or words without appropriate acknowledgement.
2. Submitting your own work in more than one course without the permission of the instructor.
3. Making up sources or facts.
4. Obtaining or providing unauthorized assistance on any assignment.
On tests and exams:
• Using or possessing unauthorized aids.
• Looking at someone else’s answers during an exam or test.
• Misrepresenting your identity.
In academic work:
• Falsifying institutional documents or grades.
• Falsifying or altering any documentation required, including (but not limited to) doctor’s notes.
With regard to remote learning and online courses, UTM wishes to remind students that they are
expected to adhere to the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters regardless of the course delivery
method. By offering students the opportunity to learn remotely, UTM expects that students will
maintain the same academic honesty and integrity that they would in a classroom setting. Potential
academic offences in a digital context include, but are not limited to:
Remote assessments:
• Accessing unauthorized resources (search engines, chat rooms, Reddit, etc.) for
assessments.
• Using technological aids (e.g. software) beyond what is listed as permitted in an assessment.
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Posting test, essay, or exam questions to message boards or social media.
Creating, accessing, and sharing assessment questions and answers in virtual “course
groups.”
Working collaboratively, in-person or online, with others on assessments that are expected to
be completed individually.
All suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be investigated following procedures outlined in the
Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters. If you have questions or concerns about what constitutes
appropriate academic behaviour or appropriate research and citation methods, you are expected to
seek out additional information on academic integrity from your instructor or from other institutional
resources.
Honesty and fairness are considered fundamental to the university's mission, and, as a result, all those
who violate those principles are dealt with as if they were damaging the integrity of the university
itself. Ignorance of the rules does not excuse cheating or plagiarism.
Supplement
The Supplement to Course Syllabi of UTM’s Department of Economics should be understood to be
an integral part of this syllabus. It describes
• your responsibility to avoid course conflicts;
• your responsibility to honour the copyright of course materials;
• your right to receive accommodations for religious observances;
• the equity statement for this course;
• your academic rights;
• some resources that are available to you as a student, including Accessibility Services.
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