Course Syllabus

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Contact Information:

Instructor Name: Todd Myers

Email Address: todd.myers@gcccd.edu

Phone: 619-644-7848

Office Hours: By Appointment in Zoom. Here are ways to enter my Zoom office:

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Preferred method of contact: Please contact me by email at todd.myers@gcccd.edu if you have any problems or questions with regards to the course. I will respond to emails within 24 hours on weekdays and on Monday for messages sent over the weekend. We can also set appointments in Zoom.

Course Description:

This course provides students with the basic analytical tools necessary to analyze the U.S. economy from the microeconomic perspective. The course includes an examination of the core economic problem of scarcity, the essentials of supply and demand analysis, and the workings of a market system; elasticity; costs of production; market structures of pure competition, monopoly, monopolistic competition, and oligopoly; marginal revenue productivity; theory of wage determination, unions, and government policies; applied cases of microeconomics such as the problems of agriculture, pollution, mal-distribution of income and international economics. Current economic problems are examined by guest and staff speakers from liberal, conservative, and radical perspectives.

Student Learning Outcomes:

At the end of this course students should be able to:

  • Articulate the inter-workings of the market system including how the interaction of supply and demand answers the three economic questions of what to produce, how to produce, and who to produce for.
  • Analyze and discuss the production of goods & services through the perspective of the firm and the profit motive. Compare and contrast the four market structures of perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and perfect monopoly. Understand how firm behavior relates to the supply-side of the marketplace.
  • Analyze and discuss the consumption of goods & services through the perspective of the consumer and the utility motive. Understand how individual behavior relates to the demand-side of the marketplace.
  • Analyze market failures: the conditions whereby market outcomes are substandard from society’s perspective. Understand the role and effectiveness of government intervention when markets fail.
  • Distinguish between positive and normative economics and reflect upon how efficiency criteria and ethical concerns can be balanced

Course Content:

Week 1 - August 17 – 21

Chapter 1 Introduction

Week 2 - August 24 – 28

Chapter 2 Introduction to Choice in a World of Scarcity

Week 3 - August 31 – September 4

Chapter 3 Introduction to Demand and Supply

Test 1

Week 4 - September 7 – September 11

Chapter 4 Introduction to Labor and Financial Markets

Week 5 - September 14 – September 18

Chapter 5 Introduction to Elasticity

Week 6 - September 21 – September 25

Chapter 6 Introduction to Consumer Choices

Test 2

Week 7 - September 28 – October 2

Chapter 7 Introduction to Production, Costs, and Industry Structure

Week 8 - October 5 – October 9

Chapter 8 Introduction to Perfect Competition

Week 9 - October 12 – October 16

Chapter 9 Introduction to Monopoly

Test 3

Week 10 - October  19 – October 23

Chapter 10 Introduction to Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly

Week 11 - October 26 – October 30

Chapter 11 Introduction to Monopoly and Antitrust Policy

Week 12 - November 2 – November 6

Chapter 12 Introduction to Environmental Protection and Negative Externalities

Test 4

Week 13 - November 9 – November 13

Chapter 13 Introduction to Positive Externalities and Public Goods

Week 14 - November 16 – November 20

Chapter 14 Introduction to Labor Markets and Incomes

Week 15 - November 23 – November 27

Chapter 15 Introduction to Poverty and Inequality

Test 5

Week 16 -November 30 – December 4

Chapter 16 Introduction to Information, Risk, and Insurance

Chapter 17 Introduction to Financial Markets

Week 17 - December 7 – December 11

Test 6

Textbook:

Great news: your textbook for this class is available for free online!
Principles of Microeconomics from OpenStax, ISBN 1-947172-29-8

You have several options to obtain this book:

You can use whichever formats you want. Web view is recommended -- the responsive design works seamlessly on any device.

Important Notes:

  • All first week assignments need to be completed and submitted by the due date to avoid possibly being dropped from the class.
  • Any student needing accommodations should inform the instructor. Students with disabilities who may need accommodations for this class are encouraged to notify the instructor and contact the Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) early in the semester so that reasonable accommodations may be implemented as soon as possible. Students may contact the ARC by visiting the Center (located in Building 60 120) or by phone (619-644-7112 voice or email grossmont.arc@gcccd.edu). All information will remain confidential.
  • Academic dishonesty and plagiarism will result in a failing grade on the assignment. Using someone else's ideas or phrasing and representing those ideas or phrasing as our own, either on purpose or through carelessness, is a serious offense known as plagiarism. "Ideas or phrasing" includes written or spoken material, from whole papers and paragraphs to sentences, and, indeed, phrases but it also includes statistics, lab results, artwork, etc.  Please see the Grossmont College Handbook for policies regarding plagiarism, harassment, etc.

Grades and Assignments:

Five 16 Point Tests - 80 points

You will have five 12 point tests during the semester that may include multiple-choice questions, true/false questions, fill in the blank questions, and essay questions.

Final Exam - 20 points

Your final exam will be worth 20 points and will be comprehensive. It may include multiple-choice questions, true/false questions, fill in the blank questions, and essay questions.

Grading Scale:
A =  +90, B = +80, C = +65, D = 60, F = Below 60

Grade consequences for less than the completed performance of course requirements:

1. Written assignments will be lowered a letter grade if turned in late.
2. Missed assignments cannot be made up.

The instructor reserves the right to use his discretion in individual circumstances that may not be covered by this syllabus or if the application of the rules of the syllabus would result in a miscarriage of justice. If you have any problems with the class or the instructor please come to talk to me about these issues during office hours so that we can work the issues out.  I am a reasonable person and will try to address your concerns in a manner that will be mutually satisfactory. If you are not satisfied with the resolution we arrive at, you should contact my Chairman, Shahrokh Shahrokhi at 644-7508.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due