Course 2024-2025 a.y.

30667 - ECONOMICS (MODULE I - CONSUMER BEHAVIOR & FIRMS)

Department of Economics

Course taught in English
code 30667 ‘Economics (Module I – Consumer behavior & firms)’ and code 30668 ‘Economics (Module II – Macro-economic governance)’ are respectively the first and the second module of the course code 30666 ‘Economics

Class timetable
Exam timetable
Go to class group/s: 45
BIG (6 credits - I sem. - OB  |  SECS-P/01)
Course Director:
MICHELE FIORETTI

Classes: 45 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 45: MICHELE FIORETTI


Mission & Content Summary

MISSION

This course explores the fundamental principles of individual economic behavior, focusing on the decision-making processes of consumers and firms. Students will analyze how markets operate under different competitive conditions, understanding supply and demand, price determination, and resource allocation. Through lectures, discussions, and practical exercises, the course examines real-world economic issues and market dynamics. Additionally, students are introduced to game theory and its strategic applications, particularly in political science. The course also highlights the relevance of microeconomic concepts to digital economics, sustainability, and social responsibility, preparing students to address contemporary economic challenges.

CONTENT SUMMARY

  • Consumption Decisions. 
  • Production Decisions and Profit Maximization.
  • Competitive Equilibrium and Market Failures.
  • Market power and Pricing in Monopoly and Oligopoly.
  • Externalities and Public Goods.
  • Asymmetric Information.
  • Extra topic: Platform Competition

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Analyze market dynamics and decision-making processes of consumers and firms.
  • Critically analyze how different competitive conditions affect market outcomes.
  • Integrate microeconomic concepts to address contemporary economic challenges such as those presented by digital markets and sustainability.

APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

At the end of the course student will be able to...
  • Evaluate the effect of public policies on consumers' and firms' incentives.
  • Apply game theory to the analysis of firms' market strategies.
  • Design regulatory interventions to achieve desirable market outcomes.

Teaching methods

  • Lectures
  • Practical Exercises

DETAILS

The learning experience in this course includes face-to-face lectures, as well as Problem Sets assigned to students throughout the term. These exercises enable students to apply the analytical tools taught during the course. Additionally, students will participate, either individually or in groups, in creating a blog focused on global microeconomics news.


Assessment methods

  Continuous assessment Partial exams General exam
  • Written individual exam (traditional/online)
  x x
  • Group assignment (report, exercise, presentation, project work etc.)
x    

ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

The exam is written and consists of open-ended and exercise questions. The open-ended questions assess students’ ability to:

 

  • Conduct economic reasoning
  • Identify various market structures
  • Distinguish sources of economic inefficiency

 

The exercise questions evaluate students’ ability to:

 

  • Apply analytical tools presented during the course
  • Understand consumption decisions by individuals and production decisions by firms in markets with varying competitiveness
  • Evaluate the effect of public policies on incentives for consumers and firms

 

Course performance can be evaluated in two ways:

 

  1. A partial exam covering the first part of the course, followed by a final exam covering the second part. Each exam lasts 1 hour and includes exercises and open-ended questions. Each exam is graded on a scale of 0 to 30. The course is passed if both exam grades are at least 18, and the final grade is the average of the two, rounded up. Students who fail can retake the exam in the general format.
  2. A general exam lasting 1 hour, covering the entire course, consisting of exercises and open-ended questions. The grade ranges from 0 to 30, and a minimum of 18 is required to pass. Students who fail can retake it in the general format.

 

Students can earn up to 1 extra point by writing a microeconomics article for the class blog, either individually or in groups of up to three. This assignment assesses their ability to apply course concepts to real-world economic situations and to design regulatory interventions for desirable market outcomes.


Teaching materials


ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS

  • B. DOUGLAS BERNHEIM, D. WHINSTON, Microeconomics, ISBN : 9781307298048.
  • Microeconomics, Exercises, Egea, 2020.
Last change 24/05/2024 12:18