IBD@NEU PROGRAMME
BASIC ECONOMICS
Course outline
Economics is the study of how society allocates its scarce resources to satisfy unlimited
wants. It provides understanding about how the economy works and how individuals in the
economy make choice to maximize their benefits. This course requires no prior exposure to
economics and covers very basic concepts and theories of microeconomics and
macroeconomics- the two branches of economics. Real-life examples will be discussed to
give students a more practical approach.
1. Teaching staff
Lecturers
Daniel Van Houtte, Ngo Men
Tutors
Nguyen Phuong Mai
Classroom & time
Lectures on Wednesday afternoons (14.00-17.00) starting from
April 10
Tutorials: on Friday morning (8.30-10.00), starting from April
12.
Email
daniel.vanhoutte@gmail.com
ngomen127@gmail.com
nguyen.mai@isneu.org
Class manager
Nguyen Minh Hien
Email: nguyen.hien@isneu.org
2. Aims
This course is a basic course for undergraduate students with no background in economics.
The main aim is to introduce students to the foundations of economic thinking while
developing theoretical and applied skills that make economics useful for understanding
simple economic behaviour. The topics studied in this course provide a foundation not only
for specialised fields of economics, but also for business disciplines, such as finance,
management, and marketing.
3. Learning goals
By the end of this course, students could:
i.
understand fundamental concepts and theories of both microeconomics and
macroeconomics by solving practice questions.
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ii.
use these theories and concepts to explain some simple economic behavior and
issues happening in real life.
iii.
develop their critical thinking skills and problem solving skills.
4. Assessment
A final exam will be held in the end of the course. Exam date will be announced later.
A pass is obtained by completing at least 50% of the final exam and attending at least 70%
of the lectures and tutorials.
5. Recommended textbook
N.G. Mankiw, Principles of Economics, 5th edition, 2008
David Begg, Stanley Fischer, Rudiger Dornbusch, Economics, 7th edition, McGraw-Hill
Education, 2003.
Vietnamese:
1. http://www.vneconomy.vn (Thời báo kinh tế VN)
2. http:// www.gso.gov.vn (Tổng Cục Thống Kê)
3. http:// www.vnexpress.net
And Ministerial websites
1. http://www.sbv.gov.vn/ (Ngân Hàng Nhà Nước VN)
http://www.vnbaorg.info/
2. http:// www.moit.gov.vn (Bộ Công Thương)
3. http:// www.mof.gov.vn (Bộ Tài Chính)
4. http:// www.mard.gov.vn (Bộ Nông Nghiệp và Phát Triển Nông Thôn)
English:
1. http:// www.worldbank.org (Ngân Hàng Thế Giới)
2. http:// www.UNDP.org (Chương trình Phát Triển Liên Hiệp Quốc)
3. http:// www.IMF.org (Quỹ Tiền Tệ Thế Giới)
4. http:// www.ADB.org (Ngân Hàng Phát triển Châu Á)
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6. Week-by-Week Topic Guide (Lectures)
WEEK
DATES
TOPIC(S)
READINGS FROM
MANKIW’S TEXTBOOK
1
April 8
Introduction to economics
Chapter 1, 2,
2
April 15
Demand & Supply
Chapter 3, 4,
3
April 22
Elasticity
Chapter 5
4
May 6
Production and costs
Chapter 13
5
May 13
Firms in competitive markets
Chapter 14,
Chapter 15
6
May 20
Monopoly
Science of Macroeconomics
7
May 27
Measuring a Nation’s Income
Introduction to
Macroeconomics
Chapter 22
Measuring the Cost of Living
8
Jun 3
9
Jun 10
10
Jun 17
11
12
Jul 24
Chapter 23, 26
Unemployment and its Natural Rate
The Monetary System
Chapter 27
Open-economy macroeconomics:Basic concepts
Chapter 29
Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply
Chapter 31
Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply
Chapter 31 (cont’)
The Monetary and Fiscal policy : An Introduction
Chapter 32
Jul 1
Revision
Jul 8
Final exam
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