Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2021 - ECON 325 D100

Industrial Organization (3)

Class Number: 2831

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 12 – Aug 9, 2021: Mon, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Aug 16, 2021
    Mon, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    ECON 201 or 301, with a minimum grade of C-; 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

  • Online quizzes 15%
  • Assignments 35%
  • Midterm tests 30%
  • Final exam 20%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Lynne Pepall, Dan Richards and George Norman, Industrial Organization: Contemporary Theory and Empirical Applications (5th edition), 2014, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing. ISBN: 978-1118250303


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.

Final exam schedules will be released later in the semester. 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 (August 10th -20th) 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 SUMMER 2021

Teaching at SFU in summer 2021 will be conducted primarily through remote methods, but we will continue to have in-person experiential activities for a selection of courses.  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).