SE-306 Issues in Microeconomics
- ECTS Credits:
- 7.5
- Responsible department:
- School of Business and Law
- Course Leader:
- Daniel Göller
- Lecture Semester:
- Autumn
- Duration:
- 1 term
The course is connected to the following study programs
- Bachelor's Programme in Business Administration
- Master's Programme in Business Administration (5 years)
Prerequisites
Introduction to Mathematics Applied in Business Administration and Microeconomics, or equivalent
Course contents
This course builds upon SE-213 Mikroøkonomi. The students learn how firms behave under different market structures and how these induce firms’ market power. We derive firms’ optimal behaviour, focus on price discrimination and advertising, and discuss competition policy issues. Other important topics include asymmetric information, contract theory, decision making under uncertainty, and risk. Moreover, intertemporal decision making, externalities and property rights theory will be covered.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course the student should:
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have fundamental knowledge of how market structures affect firms’ decision behaviour.
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have a thorough understanding of why and how firms price-discriminate and what this means from a welfare perspective.
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be able to apply economic theory to assess regulatory and competition policy issues in markets with imperfect competition.
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have an in-depth understanding of how risk, asymmetric information, and uncertainty influence decision making, particularly in businesses.
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have a thorough understanding of how firms’ activities create externalities and strategies how to mitigate negative ones.
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understand how businesses can use contracts to mitigate moral hazard and to share risks optimally.
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be able to apply economic theory to assess current issues in microeconomics.
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realize how important the core topics negative externalities, moral hazard, and risk sharing are for understanding several of the United Nations sustainable development goals.
Examination requirements
Approved compulsory assignment, in which the students apply the theory and models learned to solve microeconomic problems. Detailed information will be available on Canvas at the start of the semester.
Teaching methods
Lectures, group work and digital learning using the MyEconLab platform. The total workload is about 200 hours.
Evaluation
The person responsible for the course, in consultation with the student representative, decides the method of evaluation and whether the courses will have a midterm- or end of term evaluation, see also the Quality System, section 4.1. Information about evaluation method for the course will be posted on Canvas.
Admission for external candidates
No.
Assessment methods and criteria
4-hour written examination. Letter grades.