ECONOMICS 101-001—Principles of Microeconomics
Spring 2015
Name:
Office:
Phone:
Email:
Office hrs.:
Zhao Li
Room 310A, Rich Building
678-756-6460
zli78@emory.edu
W 1:00-2:00 pm; TH 5:30-6:30 pm
Description
This is an introductory course for microeconomics. Microeconomics studies the economic behavior of
individual decision-making agents such as buyers and seller, or consumers and producers. We will also
analyze the characteristics of different types of markets. This course will teach students to “think like an
economist” and lay down the foundations for all of economics. A good academic performance in this
course will help students productively engage in upper-level field courses in economics such as
intermediate microeconomics, industrial organization, game theory, public finance etc.
Text
The Principle of Microeconomics by Mankiw, 7th edition.
Macmillan
We will use the online learning tool called Macmillan which will cost you $40. All students have to register
online at http://saplinglearning.com. I will post class material and assignment through it. Introduction to it
and further information will be posted to you soon.
Grading
 Your overall course grade will be determined by a total score consisting of these components weighted
as follows:
Two midterms (not comprehensive)
A comprehensive final
Online homework problems on Macmillan
Attendance
20% each
40%
15%
5%
Preliminary grade cutoffs are:
A
A-
92
90
B+
B
B-
87
83
80
C+
C/S
C-
77
73
70
D+
D
D-
67
63
60
F
< 60
Those taking the course pass/fail need to make at least a ‘C’ in order to get an ‘S’ (satisfactory) grade.
After the final, I may ‘curve’ your grades (i.e., lower the grade cut-offs).




Your Macmillan score will be calculated as follows. At the end of the semester, I will calculate the
percentage scores on each set, drop 2 of your lowest scores and take the simple average of the
remaining scores.
You are expected to attend every class. You are allowed 3 unexcused absence without penalty. Each
additional unexcused absence lower your attendance score by 1 point until you lose all 5 points. In
addition, if you miss more than 25% of the classes for this course, you cannot receive a grade higher
than C.
Please note that if you miss a Macmillan problem set, I cannot let you take it once the deadline
has passed! However, if you know ahead of time that you will be unable to complete a set before its
deadline for reasons outside your control, let me know as soon as possible and I will try to give you
partial credit.
There will be NO makeup tests in general. If something totally unforeseen comes up on the day of
your test that prevents you from testing, contact me IMMEDIATELY.
Responsibilities
 You are expected to adhere to Emory’s Academic Honor Code at all times. In taking this course,
you affirm that it is a violation of the Code to cheat or facilitate cheating on exams, to plagiarize, to
deviate from my instructions about collaboration on work that is submitted for grades, to give false
information to a faculty member, and to undertake any other form of academic misconduct. You agree
that I and my TAs are entitled to move you to another seat during examinations, without
explanation. You also affirm that if you witness others violating the Code you have a duty to report
them to the Honor Council.
 For the record, you may consult or work together with your classmates on Macmillan homework
assignments—that does NOT constitute a violation of the Honor Code so long as you are not just
copying off of others.
 Please start working on your problem sets early! You may change your answers as often as you
wish until the deadline passes, at which point the last set of answers will be graded automatically. Feel
free to consult with your classmates on difficult questions if you wish.
 Class Materials will be posted on Macmillan for download.
 I will enforce a strict no-electronic-devices-in-use policy in the classroom! That means no open
computers, or texting on cellphones. If you need to use your phone, please exit the room to do so.
Please silence all electronic devices that can make noise before you come into the classroom.
 In emailing me, please write ‘101’ as part of your subject line so I can filter your mail!
ECON 101 Spring 2015: Tentative Course Outline (Updated 1/6/15)
Week
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Class
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
9
10
22
23
24
25
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
Day
1.14
1.16
1.19
1.21
1.23
1.26
1.28
1.30
2.2
2.4
2.6
2.9
2.11
2.13
2.16
2.18
2.20
2.23
2.25
2.27
3.2
3.4
3.6
3.9
3.11
3.13
3.16
3.18
3.20
3.23
3.25
3.27
3.30
4.1
4.3
4.6
4.8
4.10
4.13
4.15
4.17
4.20
4.22
4.24
4.27
5.4
Chapters
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
4
5
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
10
11
11
13
13
13
14
15
15
16
16
17
17
18
18
21
21
21
Course Topics
Introduction to Microeconomics
Introduction to Microeconomics
MLK Day!
Thinking Like an Economist
Thinking Like an Economist
Comparative Advantage and Trade
Comparative Advantage and Trade
Supply and Demand
Supply and Demand
Supply and Demand
Elasticity and Its Application
Elasticity and Its Application
Elasticity and Its Application
Government Interventions
Government Interventions
Market Efficiency
Market Efficiency
Review Session I
Midterm Exam I
Taxation
Taxation
Externalities
Public Goods
Spring Break!
Spring Break!
Spring Break!
Public Goods
The Costs of Production
The Costs of Production
The Costs of Production
Competitive Markets
Review
Midterm Exam II
Monopoly
Monopoly
Monopolistic Competition
Monopolistic Competition
Oligopoly
Oligopoly
The Labor Markets
The Labor Markets
The Theory of Consumer Choice
The Theory of Consumer Choice
The Theory of Consumer Choice
Review
FINAL EXAM: 3:00 P.M - 5:30 P.M