ECONOMICS 103A: Introduction to Microeconomics
Prof. Diane Flaherty
Room 826 Thompson
Email: econ103a@econs.umass.edu
Office Hours: MW 10:05 – 11:05 and by
appointment
The textbook
The purpose of this course is to familiarize students with basic economic concepts used
in the theory of consumer choice and production and applications to current economic
issues like inequality and public support for education. The textbook is Bade and Parkin
Foundations of Microeconomics, edition 5e. The customized paperback version
specifically designed for this course is available at Food for Thought bookstore (106
North Pleasant Street in downtown Amherst). In addition, you must register for
MyEconLab, where the homework will be available. Procedures for gaining access and
registering also are described below.
MyEconLab and the department course website
The homework and practice problems can be done only through MyEconLab, so you
must check that website frequently for due dates of homework assignments. The course
also uses an Economics department website to provide important information such as
this syllabus and information about quizzes, exams, teaching assistants and discussion
sections. Review questions will be posted on the department course website as well.
You will need to check this web site at http://courses.umass.edu/econ103a .
Assessment and grading
Assessment and grading are based on homework sets, two midterm exams and a final
exam. Homework will account for 20 percent, the midterm exams for 20 percent each
and the final exam for 40 percent of the grade for the course.
There will be weekly homework from MyEconLab due Sunday nights starting on January
30th. The first two homeworks are for practice with MyEconLab and grades will not count
toward the course grade. All subsequent homeworks are required and will be graded.
All homework is on the MyEconLab (MEL) website, along with practice problems.
Information on how to register for MEL is given below. Exact due dates and times for
each homework set will be posted on the MEL website along with the homework
questions.
A homework reading assignment with an online discussion is also required. Information
concerning this assignment will be posted on the department course web site. In addition,
review questions will be posted on the course web site before both the midterm and final
exams. These review questions are designed to familiarize students in advance with the
structure of the exams and are not graded assignments.
The midterm exams will be on Wednesday, February 29th and Wednesday, April 4th, both
during class time.
General course policies
Make-up exams will be given only in cases of documented medical or personal
emergencies. Please make sure that you do not arrange for travel at the end of the term
until you know the final exam schedule. University policy is that final exams can be
rescheduled only in cases of direct time conflicts between exams or three exams
scheduled in one day. For exams, quizzes, writing assignments and homework,
University policy on conduct and academic honesty will be followed strictly. The policies
are available at http://www.umass.edu/dean_students/code_conduct/.
Schedule for readings
(Chapter numbers are from the custom textbook available at the Food for Thought
bookstore.)
Date
Chapter number and topic
Date
Chapter number and topic
1/23
1/25
1/30
2/1
2/6
2/8
2/13
2/15
2/22
2/27
2/29
3/5
3/7
1. Getting Started
2. US and Global Economies
3. Demand and Supply
Ch. 3 continued
4. Elasticities
Ch. 4 continued
5. Efficiency and Fairness
Ch. 5 continued
6. Public Goods
Ch. 6 continued
Midterm 1
7. Consumer Choice/Demand
Ch. 7 continued
3/12
3/14
3/26
3/28
4/2
4/4
4/9
4/11
4/17
4/18
4/23
4/25
4/30
Ch. 7 continued
8. Production and Cost
Ch. 8 continued
9. Perfect Competition
Ch. 9 continued
Midterm 2
10. Monopoly
Ch. 10 continued
11. Monopolistic Competition
Ch. 11 continued
12. Oligopoly
Ch. 12 continued
13. Externalities
MyEconLab information
To access your MyEconLab online course for the first time, you need to register and
log in. Whenever you want to use MyEconLab after that, you just need to log in.
You can do both from the same starting point, at www.pearsonmylab.com
To register, you will need a student access code and a course ID (provided by your
instructor.) If you purchased a new textbook, it should have come with a Student
Access Kit that contains a code you can use to register. If you do not have a Student
Access Kit, you can purchase access online with a major credit card.
Course ID: flaherty81145
Course name: Bade/Parkin: Foundations of Microeconomics 5e – 103a
Registration
1. Go to www.pearsonmylab.com and click the Student button, in the Register
section.
2. Enter the course ID, flaherty81145 and click Continue.
3. If you have an existing Pearson account, Sign in with your existing user name
and password, if not click Create an account.
4. Choose to register an access code, or purchase access with a credit card /
PayPal. If you are waiting on financial aid to purchase your course materials,
select the Get temporary access without payment for 17 days at the
bottom of the page.
5. Follow the instructions to complete your registration. Check your email for
your registration confirmation.
To log into your course
1.
2.
3.
4.
Go to www.pearsonmylab.com
Click on Sign In
Enter your username and password, then click Sign In
Click on the course name on your Courses home page to begin working in
your course.
Be sure to click on the Browser Check link on the Announcements area. This
instillation wizard will walk you through necessary plugins and players that you
will need to use the MyFinanceLab resources.
Need More Help?
A video walkthrough of the registration process is available at
http://pearsonmylabandmastering.com/students/
Help and Support from within your course is available by clicking on the Help and
Support Link on the top right hand side of your screen.
To contact Pearson support directly, please visit: http://247pearsoned.custhelp.com/