Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Debrecen
Spring semester, academic year 2015/16
Institute: Institute of Economics
Program: BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT BA
BUSINESS INFORMATICS BA
Course title and Neptun-code: Microeconomics, GT_AGMNE033, KTE10310-K5, INJKA11
Classes per week: 2+2
Course credit value: 5
Prerequisites: Introduction to Economics, Mathematics 1
1. INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. Judit Kapás, Professor (office hours: Thursday 12-13, TVK building 141.)
2. COURSE GOALS
The course is aimed at making students familiar with the basic concepts of microeconomic analysis.
Particularly, the course will be focused on the analysis of how economic actors, consumers and firms,
choose between different alternatives. By the end of the course, student should be able to use the basic
tools and models of microeconomics, and apply them in solving problems.
3. SCHEDULE
Week
Topic
Date
Week 1 Registration
Principles of microeconomics, equilibrium analysis –
Week 2
graphical treatment
FEB18
Demand, supply, and equilibrium – algebraic treatment
Week 3
FEB 25
Price elasticity and other elasticities
Consumer preferences and utility
Week 4
MAR 3
Utility functions with two goods, and indifference curves
Special preferences and utility functions
Week 5
MAR 10
The budget constraint
Consumer choice
Week 6
MAR 17
Consumer choice
Consumer choice with special preferences: corner points
Week 7
MAR 24
Week 9
Chapter 1,
pp. 1-21
Chapter 2.1
pp. 25-38
Chapter 2.2,
pp. 38-46
Chapters 3.1 and 3.2,
pp. 69-77
Chapter 3.2,
pp. 77-87
Chapter 3.2,
pp. 87-97
Chapter 4.1,
pp. 98-105
Chapter 4.2,
pp. 105-111
Chapter 4.2,
pp. 105-111
Chapter 4.2,
pp. 111-114
NO CLASS
Individual demand
Week 8
MAR 31
Readings
(Besanko–Breautigam)
Consumer surplus and market demand
Production with a single input
1
Chapter 5.1,
pp. 136-144
Chapters 5.3 and 5.4,
pp. 159-161, 168-170
Chapters 6.1 and 6.2,
pp. 186-194
APR 7
Week 10
APR 14
Week 11
APR 21
Week 12
APR 28
Week 13
MAY 5
Week 14
MAY 12
Production with more than one input
Special production functions and the returns to scale
Costs
Cost-minimization
Cost curves
Perfect competition I
Perfect competition II, long-run supply
Producer surplus
Monopoly
Monopoly
The welfare economics of monopoly
Week 15
MAY 19
Chapter 6.3, pp. 194-203
Chapters 6.4 and 6.5,
pp. 203-215
Chapters 7.1 and 7.2,
pp. 226-240
Chapters 8.1 and 8.2,
pp. 264-274
Chapter 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3
pp. 305-316
Chapters 9.3 and 9.4,
pp. 316-335
Chapter 9.5,
pp. 345-353
Chapters 11.1.
Chapters 11.1. and 11.2,
pp. 413-427
Chapter 11.5,
pp. 440-442
Summary
4. COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility for final exam (all of the following):
- active class work
- attendance (you cannot miss more than 3 classes)
5. GRADING
The written exam will be evaluated according to the following grading schedule:
0 - 50% – 1
50%+1 point - 63% – 2
64% - 75% – 3
76% - 86% – 4
87% - 100% – 5
6. REQUIRED READINGS
Besanko, David – Breautigam, Ronald R.: Microeconomics. Third Edition (International Student
version). John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 2008.
Besanko, David – Breautigam, Ronald R.: Microeconomics. Study Guide. Third Edition. John Wiley
and Sons, Inc., New York, 2008.
7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The required textbooks are available in the library. Microeconomics is generally considered very
difficult by undergraduate students, so constant preparation for classes and practicing is highly
recommended.
For the benefit of your fellow classmates and me, please refrain from arriving late to class or leaving
early. In addition, please do not disturb the class with pagers, phones, or conversation with your fellow
students during class. Needless to say, this is extremely distracting and rude to others and the instructor.
Debrecen, February 10, 2016
Dr. Judit Kapás
Professor, Course Coordinator
For questions concerning the requirements of the course students should consult the Statutes of
Examination and Teaching, and the Ethical Code of the University of Debrecen.
2