Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2018 - ECON 325 D100

Industrial Organization (3)

Class Number: 10956

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 10, 2018: Fri, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 17, 2018
    Tue, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    ECON 201 or 301; 60 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces students to the economics of imperfect competition. Topics covered include the theory of the firm, market structure, and various aspects of firm strategy such as pricing, advertising, product differentiation, and innovation. Related questions of public policy will also be addressed. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

Industrial Organization may also be called Economics of Imperfect Competition. Take a firm with a considerable market power and find out how it behaves, and how it is internally organized. Look at a market where several such firms operate and find out its structure. Make a judgment about efficiency in the market. Come up with a good suggestion about a policy to address the market “imperfections,” or failures. These are the Industrial Organization themes.

Within these topics, more specific questions may be just about anything – from setting a price for a soft drink to a choice of a spouse to marry. While the latter may seem more useful, the former must be mastered first if you want to approach the life problems as an IO expert. We will work through the core topics such as price discrimination, choice of product quality and variety, basic oligopolistic market models, predatory conduct and collusions. We will then analyze some selected topics that may include mergers, advertising, use of information, research and development, patenting a product, or a theory of a firm.

Grading

  • Homework Assignments 15%
  • Midterm Test 35%
  • Comprehensive Final Examination 50%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Lynne Pepall, Dan Richards and George Norman, Industrial Organization: Contemporary Theory and Empirical Applications (5th edition), 2014, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing

Department Undergraduate Notes:

***  NO TUTORIALS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES***

Students requiring  accomodations as a result of a disability must contact the  Centre for Students with Disabilities  at 778 782 3112 or csdo@sfu.ca 

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS