Skip to main content
Unit of study_

ECON5001: Microeconomic Theory

Intensive February, 2022 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit presumes no prior exposure to economics and aims, by the end of the unit, to bring a proficiency equivalent to that of students with an intermediate level microeconomics unit in an Honours degree program. Many economic principles developed in this unit are routinely used in several other units in the program. Microeconomics studies how economic agents make choices in a variety of environments. The unit covers theory and applications of the principles of consumer choice, of firm behaviour, and of strategic interaction among economic agents. Equipped with these theories of decision making, students can address a range of interesting and important questions. Examples are: What market strategy should a firm adopt with its competitors? How might one create a market to deal with externalities such as pollution? What are the implications of different kinds of taxes? What compensation scheme will provide the right incentives to work?

Unit details and rules

Unit code ECON5001
Academic unit Economics
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
ECON5040
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Chandana Maitra, chandana.maitra@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Open book) Type C final exam Final exam
Final exam - week of 15 February
55% Formal exam period
Due date: 16 Feb 2021 at 10:00
2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Online task Online quiz 1
Online quiz 1
2% Week 01
Due date: 20 Jan 2021 at 18:00

Closing date: 20 Jan 2021
Untimed
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Online task Online quiz 2
Online quiz
2% Week 01
Due date: 24 Jan 2021 at 18:00

Closing date: 24 Jan 2021
Untimed
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Online task Online quiz 3
Online quiz
2% Week 02
Due date: 27 Jan 2021 at 18:00

Closing date: 27 Jan 2021
Untimed
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Online task Online quiz 4
Online quiz
2% Week 02
Due date: 29 Jan 2021 at 18:00

Closing date: 29 Jan 2021
Untimed
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
In-semester test (Open book) Type C in-semester exam Mid-semester exam
Mid-semester exam
35% Week 03
Due date: 02 Feb 2021 at 10:00

Closing date: 07 Jan 2021
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Online task Online quiz 5
Online quiz
2% Week 03
Due date: 05 Feb 2021 at 18:00

Closing date: 05 Feb 2021
Untimed
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Type C final exam = Type C final exam ?
Type C in-semester exam = Type C in-semester exam ?

Assessment summary

Please refer to Canvas for more information

Assessment criteria

 

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Budget constraints, preferences, marginal rate of substitutions Varian Chapters 2 & 3 Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Utility, choice of demand Varian Chapters 4, 5 & 6 Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Comparative statics, market demand Chapters 6, 8 (except 8.8, 8.9) Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Inter-temporal choice, market equilibrium, welfare theorems Varian Chapters 10, 15 & 32 Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Topics related to lectures Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Topics related to lectures Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Topics related to lectures Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Topics related to lectures Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 02 Technology, profit, cost minimisation Varian Chapters 19, 20 & 21 Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Cost curves, firm supply Varian 22 & 23 Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Industry supply Varian Chapter 24 Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Topics related to lectures Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Topics related to lectures Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Topics related to lectures Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 03 Monopoly Varian Chapters 25 & 26 Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Oligopoly Varian Chapters 28, 29 & 30 Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Uncertainty, externalities and public goods Varian Chapters 12, 38, 35 & 37 Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Topics related to lectures Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Topics related to lectures Online class (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Topics related to lectures Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Topics related to lectures Online class (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

  • Attendance: According to Faculty Board Resolutions, students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board. The Examiner’s Board will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: Students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Prescribed textbook: Intermediate microeconomics: a modern approach / Hal R. Varian. Edition 9th ed. New York: W.W. Norton and Co.

Other Recommended texts: 

  • Pindyck & Rubinfeld, Microeconomics, 9th Edition
  • Samiran Banerjee, Intermediate Microeconomics: A Tool Building Approach, 2015

 

 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand economic, political, legal, commercial and business issues and apply fundamental theories and concepts in diverse and unpredictable environments
  • LO2. formulate and develop persuasive arguments relevant to major fields of study that can be applied to business problems
  • LO3. think critically about underlying theories, concepts, assumptions and arguments in major fields of study
  • LO4. apply principles, techniques and technologies to data/information relevant to practice in major fields of study
  • LO5. analyse and solve economics problems.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Student feedback and student experience from the previous time the unit was offered has been used to redesign the pace at which different topics are to be covered.

Work, health and safety

 

 

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.