Western University Economics 2150A (section 001) Intermediate Microeconomic Theory I Peter Streufert Fall 2013 SYLLABUS Description.

This course is based on Chapters 1-10 of Microeconomics by David Besanko and Ronald R. Braeutigam (Fourth Edition, Wiley, 2011), together with the corresponding material in its study guide. Accordingly, the course will cover the following material. * Introduction to microeconomics (Chapters 1 and 2): Constrained optimization, equilibrium analysis, and comparative statics. * Consumer theory (Chapters 3, 4, and 5): Preferences, utility, choice, and demand. * Production and cost theory (Chapters 6, 7, and 8): Production functions, cost minimization, and cost curves. * Perfectly competitive markets (Chapter 9): Prot maximization, supply, and market equilibrium. * Comparative statics and welfare analysis (Chapter 10): Economic eciency, government intervention, and deadweight loss. The course website is at https://owl.uwo.ca/. Course Requisites. The courses prerequisites are Economics 1021A/B and 1022A/B, or Economics 1020 or 2001A/B, and one of MCV4U, Mathematics 0110A/B or Calculus 1100A/B. Its antirequisite is Economics 2260A/B. Course Requirements. Students are expected to attend lectures Tuesdays 12:30-2:30 and Thursdays 12:30-1:30 in Sommerville House 3345. Further, students are expected to do the assigned exercises and in-class quizzes (they wont be marked), to write the midterm examination on the evenings of Friday October 4 and Friday November 8, and to write the nal examination at a date to be set by the registrar. Students are also expected to watch the course website for announcements. There will be no class on Tuesday December 3 because of a speaking engagement. The course mark will be determined by the midterm examinations (25% each) and the nal examination (50%)
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SYLLABUS

Help. My oce hours are Mondays 2:30-3:30, Wednesdays 2:003:00, and Fridays 4:00-5:00, in 4040 Social Science. My phone is 6612111x85384, and my email is [email protected] (kindly put 2150 in the subject line). In addition, a teaching assistant will provide several oce hours each week, and other graduate students will be available at the department Drop-In Centre (http://economics.uwo.ca/undergraduate/ economics dropin centre private tutor list.html). Please note that, due to the size of the class, it may be impossible for me to answer all emails. The undergraduate advisors oce is 4075 Social Science. Her phone is 519-661-3507, and her email is [email protected]. The coordinator of the dierent sections of 2150 is Greg Pavlov. Missed Examinations. If you need to miss one of the three examinations, you must notify me in person or by phone or by a phone message at least one hour before the examination begins (if at all possible). Further, you must provide full documentation to your home facultys academic counselling oce no later than 48 hours after the lecture or examination (if at all possible). Either myself or the academic counsellors can block you from taking a make-up examination if either (1) you fail to meet the above deadlines or (2) we think the evidence is unconvincing. Students excused from an examination may be given an essay examination. Electronic Devices. Students writing exams will be allowed to use simple calculators which do not have programming or graphing capabilities. All other electronic devices, including cell phones and dictionaries, are prohibited. Department Warning about Registration. You are responsible for ensuring you are registered in the correct courses. If you are not registered in this course, the department will not release your marks until your registration is corrected. You may check your timetable by using the Login on the Student Services website at https:/studentservices.uwo.ca/ secure/index.cfm. If you notice a problem, please contact your faculty academic counsellor right away. Department Warning about Course Requisites. You are responsible for ensuring that you have successfully completed all course prerequisites, and that you have not taken an antirequisite course. Lack of

SYLLABUS

prerequisites may not be used as a basis of appeal. If you are found to be ineligible for a course, you may be removed from it at any time and you will receive no adjustment in your fees. This decision cannot be appealed. If you nd that you do not have the course prerequisites, it is in your best interest to drop the course well before the end of the add/drop period. Your prompt attention to this matter will not only help protect your academic record, but will ensure that spaces become available for students who require the course for graduation. Department Warning about Scholastic Oences. Scholastic oences are taken seriously and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specically, the denition of what constitutes a scholastic offence, at the following website: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook /appeals/scholo.pdf.

Please Note Remember that the University expects all students to take responsibility for their own academic Programs. Also remember to check your registration to make sure you are enrolled in the correct courses. 1. Guidelines and policies for the Faculty of Social Science and the Department of Economics are posted online in the current Western Academic Calendar at http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca. 2. Students must familiarize themselves with the Rules of Conduct for Examinations http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2013/pg136.html. 3. Cheating as an academic offence: Students are responsible for understanding what it means to cheat. The Department of Economics treats cheating incidents very seriously and will investigate any suspect behavior. Students found guilty will incur penalties that could include a failing grade or being barred from future registration in other economics courses or programs. The University may impose further penalties such as a notation on your official academic transcript, suspension or expulsion. 4. Plagiarism: Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea or a passage from another author, they must acknowledge it by using quotation marks where appropriate and referencing with footnotes or citations. Plagiarism is a major academic office (see Scholastic Offence Policy in the current UWO Academic Calendar at http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2013/pg113.html). The University of Western Ontario uses software to check for plagiarism and students may be required to submit their written work in electronic form. Those found guilty will have penalties imposed as noted in point 3. 5. It is Department of Economics policy that NO assignments be dated, stamped or accepted by staff. Students are responsible for submitting assignments in class or to the instructor during office hours. 6. When appealing a mark, students should refer to the Universitys Procedures in the current UWO Academic Calendar (http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2013/pg112.html). Please note the relevant deadlines. The Department will not consider any appeal unless an attempt has been made to settle the matter first with your instructor. If after this discussion you remain dissatisfied with a grade or other decision, you may proceed with a written appeal (e-mails are not acceptable) to the Undergraduate Director in Economics, stating the reasons for your appeal. A useful form and checklist is provided at (http://economics.uwo.ca/undergraduate/program_counselling/responsibilities_policies.html#appe als).

7. Systematic adjustments of a class grade distribution (either up or down) can occur in Economics courses. The fact that grades have been adjusted is not grounds for an appeal. 8. Note the following add and drop deadlines: Last day to add a full course or First term half course: Tuesday, September 17th, 2013 Last day to drop second term half course without academic penalty: Tuesday, November 5th, 2013 9. Faculty of Social Science policy states that oversleeping or misreading an exam schedule is not an excuse for a make-up. This rule applies to all mid-term tests and final exams in the Department of Economics. Policy Regarding Makeup Tests and Final Examinations Academic Accommodation will not be granted automatically on request. You must demonstrate by documentation that there are compelling medical or compassionate grounds before academic accommodation will be considered. If you decide to write a test or an examination, you must be prepared to accept the mark you earn. Rewriting tests or examinations, or having the value of the test or examination reweighted on a retroactive basis, is not permitted. Book airline flights after you know the dates of your final examinations. Airline flights must not conflict with test or final exams. If you are requesting a makeup test for a midterm or a final examination, unless medically incapable, notify your instructor by email or phone, preferably prior to the scheduled date of the test, but definitely within 24 hours of the date of the test or exam. Failure to follow this procedure may result in denial of a request for academic accommodation or result in a grade of zero. Set up an appointment as soon as possible to meet personally with your instructor. If the instructor is not available, you may send an email message, copying the Undergraduate Coordinator at [email protected] (Social Science Room 4075).

Notifying your instructor of a missed test or exam does not automatically entitle you to a makeup test.
Students who seek a makeup test or examination must provide medical or other relevant verification that their absence from a regularly scheduled test or examination is beyond their control. Documentation must support your reasons. Medical documentation should be given to the Academic Counselling Office of your home Faculty as soon as possible (preferably within 24 hours of the test) if you know you may not be able to write your final examination on the scheduled day and time. Failure to follow this procedure, or to provide supporting documentation, may result in denial of a request for academic accommodation or result in a grade of zero. If your documentation is not acceptable, you will be given a zero for the missed test.

For personal illness, if you consult Student Health Services regarding your illness or personal problem, you should request a Student Medical Certificate from the physician. If you were seen by an off-campus doctor, obtain a certificate from his/her office at the time of your visit. The off-campus medical certificate form must be used and can be found at: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/medicalform.pdf. Notes stating "For Medical Reasons" are not considered sufficient. For any other circumstances, if you are not sure what documentation to provide, ask your Academic Counselor. If your documentation is judged sufficient, the academic counselor will issue a Recommendation for a Special Examination (a single form for midterms or a triple color form for final examinations). Once you have this form, contact your instructor as soon as possible to make arrangements. Even if approved from your home faculty Academic Counsellor, there is no guarantee that you will be allowed to write the makeup test and exam. For final examinations, you need permission from your home Faculty Counsellor, your instructor, and the Department Chair. Failure to follow this procedure may result in an examination grade of zero. You must ensure that the Special Examination form has been signed by the instructor and Department Chair and that the form is returned to the Academic Counseling Office for approval without delay. Make-up final examinations, if permitted, will be written within one month of the end of the exam period. Policies Regarding Academic Accommodation Information about the Faculty of Social Sciences policies regarding academic accommodation is found on its website at http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/havingproblems.asp or in Social Science Room 2105. Your Academic Rights and Responsibilities are also outlined in the current UWO Calendar at http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2013/pg111.html. Claiming that you didnt know what to do is not an acceptable excuse for not following the stated procedures. Policy Regarding Class Attendance If your instructor views your class attendance as unsatisfactory, you can be prohibited from writing the final examination. If there is intent to make use of this University policy, you will be notified in writing. Statement on Mental Health If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you. Please visit http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.