AP Economics - Microeconomics
1st Semester 05-06
Johannes; bjohannes@micds.org; 995-7450 x7615
Content and Objectives
The purpose of this Advanced Placement course in microeconomics is to give students a thorough
understanding of the principles of economics that apply to the functions of individual decision makers
within the larger economic system. It places primary emphasis on the nature and functions of product
markets, and includes the study of factor markets and the role of government in promoting greater
efficiency and equity in the economy.
Texts
 McConnell, Campbell R. and Brue, Stanley L. Economics: Principles, Problems, and Policies; 16th
Edition; McGraw-Hill-Irwin, 2005.
 Miller, Roger LeRoy, Benjamin, Daniel K., and North, Douglass C. The Economics of Public
Issues; 14th Edition; Pearson – Addison Wesley, 2005.
Students should bear in mind that all significant material will not be discussed in class and it is
important to complete all the readings to be fully informed about the material in a given unit of study. It
is of paramount importance that a student keeps current with the reading and reads actively: reading a
section, thinking about the most important ideas, and highlighting the idea for later review. Students
will typically be reading the material before it is discussed in class and will be expected during lectures
to demonstrate a familiarity with what they have read.
Assignments
All daily homework assignments are to be turned in on time. No late daily assignments will be accepted
without prior approval of the instructor. Major assignments turned in after the date and time due will be
penalized 10% each day late. If a student misses a class because of illness, any missed assignments will
be due the day the student returns. If a student knows he or she will be absent from class on a given day
(for a college visit or vacation), all assignments are due before the student leaves.
Note: students recognizing that a particular deadline will be difficult to meet because of a convergence
of events should consult with the instructor to make an arrangement for the timely completion of the
assignment. The further in advance this conversation takes place, the more likely it is that a mutually
agreeable arrangement can be reached.
Tests
Tests will be given approximately every two to three weeks to ensure that students are understanding
new concepts before new material is covered. A student absent on the day of a scheduled test needs to,
upon the day of return to school, meet with the teacher before 8:00 to make arrangements for making
up the test. The student should be prepared to take the test that day, unless (1) the absence from school
was extensive, or (2) the student already has two tests that day. A student absent for one day the day
before a test should plan to take the test as scheduled.
Email
Students must have and use a MICDS FirstClass email account for submission of assignments.
Honor Code
All students are assumed to be tenacious adherents to the MICDS Honor Code:
“As a member of the MICDS community I will stand for what is good and right.
Therefore, I resolve to act with respect, responsibility, honesty, and compassion.”
Plagiarism - Unacknowledged use of someone else's words, ideas, or opinions. For example, copying,
paraphrasing, or using any material from books, the Internet, or any other source without giving proper
credit in a citation and/or bibliography. Plagiarism is not allowed.
Cheating - Using or copying work that is not your own OR allowing your work to be used or copied.
This prohibits using work from students in your class, from students in other sections, or from tests or
papers from previous years of the course. It also prohibits discussing individual assignments with
classmates before or during work on them. In general, all work you turn in must be your own unless
your teacher has specifically authorized collaborative work in the process of doing an assignment or in
the presentation of the final piece of work. It is your responsibility to check with your teacher if you are
unsure whether an assignment allows for collaboration or not. Cheating is not allowed.
Final Grade
A student’s final grade will be based on:







Tests
Quizzes
Daily Homework Assignments
Spreadsheet Assignments
Article Reviews
Semester Research Project
Class Participation
Course Outline
Unit 1: An Introduction to Economics and the Economy
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 3: Individual Markets: Demand and Supply
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 8: Slave Redemption in Sudan
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 9: Choice and Life
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 3Web: Applications and Extensions of Supply and Demand Analysis
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 13: The Effects of the Minimum Wage
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 11: Bankrupt Landlords, from Sea to Shining Sea
TEST (09/12)
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 20: Elasticity of Demand and Supply
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 5: Sex, Booze and Drugs
TEST (09/21)
Unit 2: An Introduction to Economics and the Economy
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 1: The Nature and Method of Economics
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 1: Killer Airbags
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 21: Killer Cars and the Rise of the SUV
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 22: Crime and Punishment
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 4: The Market System
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 5: The U.S. Economy: Private and Public Sectors
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 3: Flying the Friendly Skies?
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 2: The Economizing Problem
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 6: The United States in the Global Economy
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 37: International Trade
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 29: Free Trade, Less Trade, or No Trade?
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 30: The $750,000 Steelworker
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 31: A Farewell to Jobs
TEST (10/03)
Unit 3: Microeconomics of Product Markets
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 21: Consumer Behavior and Utility Maximization
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 22: The Costs of Production
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 23: Pure Competition
TEST (10/20)
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 24: Pure Monopoly
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 18: Keeping the Competition Out
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 15: Give Me MP3 or Give Me Death
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 25: Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 17: Coffee, Tea, or Tuition-Free?
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 19: The Perils of Product Differentiation
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 16: Contracts, Combinations, and Conspiracies
TEST (11/10)
Unit 4: Microeconomics of Resource Markets
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 27: The Demand for Resources
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 28: Wage Determination
TEST (12/01)
Unit 5: Microeconomics of Government & (more) International Economics
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 30: Government and Market Failure
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 27: Smog Merchants
The Economics of Public Issues, Ch. 28: Greenhouse Economics
McConnell/Brue, Ch. 38: Exchange Rates, the Balance of Payments, and Trade Deficits
SEMESTER EXAM