Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - ECON 302 D200

Microeconomic Theory II: Strategic Behavior (4)

Class Number: 7515

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Tue, 8:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Dec 18, 2020
    Fri, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    ECON 201 or 301; 60 Units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Aspects of microeconomic theory concerned with strategic behavior, imperfect information, and market failure. Topics include game theory and oligopoly; uncertainty and insurance; asymmetric information and market power, externalities and public goods, together with related issues in welfare economics. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course is meant to teach interactions between economic agents and understand the economic incentives that come into play under different circumstances such as the presence of externalities, the lack of information, uncertainty and their relevance in the analysis of market failures. The course will be structured as follows:

Part 1: Introduction (demand, supply, Pareto efficiency, competitive equilibrium)

Part 2: monopoly and discrimination

Part 2: externalities and public goods

Part 4: Game theory: Nash equilibrium, pure strategies, mixed strategies

Part 5: Uncertainty

Part 6: Adverse selection

Part 7: Moral hazard

Topics: market failures, uncertainty, Monopoly, game theory

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Topics: market failures, uncertainty, Monopoly, game theory

Grading

  • Midterm Exam 30%
  • Problem sets 15%
  • Quizzes 15%
  • Final Exam 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

None 

RECOMMENDED READING:

Intermediate Microeconomics: a modern approach, by Hal R. Varian (any edition)

Microeconomics: theory and applications with calculus (any edition)

 

 


Department Undergraduate Notes:

Please note that, as per Policy T20.01, the course requirements (and grading scheme) outlined here are subject to change up until the end of the first week of classes.

Starting Fall 2020, final exam schedules will be released in October. This will allow students to avoid enrollment conflicts, and will significantly reduce instances of exam hardship. If your course has a final exam, please ensure that you are available during the final exam period December 9 - 20 until you receive confirmation of your exam dates. 

Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability must contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) at 778-782-3112 or caladmin@sfu.ca.

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

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/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

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).