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Unit of study_

ECON6001: Microeconomics Analysis 1

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit is an introduction to modern microeconomic theory and as such has three purposes: (i) to introduce students to the major ideas of modern microeconomics and to develop their understanding of these ideas; (ii) to develop students' facility with analytic economic models; and (iii) to develop students' ability to solve economic problems with the ideas, techniques, and models available to professional economists. Topics covered include (i) individual decision-making by economic agents, (ii) the determination of prices and resource allocation in competitive general equilibrium models, (iii) strategic behaviour by firms under imperfect competition, and (iv) contracting with imperfect information.

Unit details and rules

Unit code ECON6001
Academic unit Economics
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
ECON6701
Prerequisites
? 
ECON5001 or ECON5040
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Murali Agastya, murali.agastya@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Khanh Phan, khanh.phan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam Final exam
Online exam
45% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1
Assignment Online Quiz 1
n/a
12.5% Week 03 Two days
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
In-semester test Midterm (take home)
Take home exam
30% Week 07
Due date: 07 Apr 2020 at 18:00
2.5 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Online Quiz 2
n/a
12.5% Week 11 Two days
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

 
 
 
  • Quiz 1  (Online)
  • Midterm  (2hrs, online take home)
  • Quiz 2  (Online)
  • Final Exam  (online or take home TBA)

 

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Check Canvas for due dates.  For exams, University's Special Consideration policy applies. For Quizzes, the weight of a missed Quiz is automatically transferred to the Final Exam.

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 Choice, preferences, utility Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 02 Classical consumer theory Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 03 Classical consumer theory Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 04 Welfare & equilibrium in exchange economies Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 05 Production, monotone comparative statics Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 06 Choice under uncertainty Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 07 Game theory: static games, applications to imperfect competition Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 09 Sequential games: bargaining, monopoly Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 10 Agency, incentives Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 11 Selected topics from repeated games, mechanism design, public goods, auctions Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 12 Continued from week 11 Lecture (3 hr)  
Week 13 Continued from week 12 Lecture (3 hr)  

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

 
 
 
 

All readings for this unit can be accessed on the Library eReserve link available in the Canvas site for this unit.

Study material is drawn from the following texts amongst other sources.

  • Microeconomic Foundations I: Choice and Competitive Markets by David Kreps.
  •  Microeconomic theory by  Andreu Mas-Colell, Michael D. Whinston, and Jerry R. Green.
  • Game Theory for Applied Economists by Robert Gibbons.

Other readings will be prescribed as the course progresses. Check the Canvas website.

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. demonstrate a sound understanding of the structure of major microeconomic models of the decision problems facing individual consumers and firms, and the formal techniques commonly applied to solve them
  • LO2. demonstrate both a formal and intuitive understanding of the results generated by these models, how they relate to underlying assumptions, and how they may change as a result of varying those assumptions
  • LO3. demonstrate a knowledge of the criteria that may be used to evaluate the welfare properties of market allocations, and the conditions under which such allocations may be expected to be efficient
  • LO4. possess a solid foundation for the subsequent application of microeconomic analysis to problems in specialist and applied fields of economics, including in independent research.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered
 
 
 
 

 

Work, health and safety

 
 
 
 

 

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