Instructor:      Tibor Besedes
Office:           102 New Jersey Hall,
                     75 Hamilton Street,
                     College Avenue Campus
e-mail:           dinamo@eden.rutgers.edu
Web Page:    http://econweb.rutgers.edu/besedes/intermicro.htm
Lectures:       TTh 6:15-9:45, Frelinghuysen Hall A1
Office Hours: Tuesday 3:30-5:30
 
 

Intermediate Microeconomics
Summer 2003 Course Syllabus
 

Textbook:
Pindyck, Robert S. and Daniel L. Rubinfeld, Microeconomics, 5th ed., Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
Suslow, Valery and Jonathan Hamilton, Study Guide, 5th ed., Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall (optional).

Prerequisites:
Introduction to Microeconomics (220:102) and Introduction to Macroeconomics (220:103) or Economic Principles and Problems (220:200), and Calculus I (640:135) or equivalent are prerequisites for this course. 

Course Objectives:
This course expands on the topics of the intro to micro course: the purchasing behavior of consumers and the production and selling behavior of firms. In each case, it is shown how the behavior that economics predicts can be described by a solution to problem of optimization, or “rational maximization.” This class will add an analytical approach to the descriptive approach of the intro micro course. You will learn how to use mathematical models inmodeling of economic concepts. This will enable you to rigorously analyzeeconomicproblems.
Since this is an intermediate course we will make  a heavy use of the tools you learned Calculus I. While I will review any mathematical concepts that we will use it is to your best advantage to have completed CalculusI or an equivalent course already.

Grading:
Your grade for the course will be based on three exams: June 5, June 19, and July 3. The first two exams are worth 30% of your grade each, while the final is worth 40%. The final exam is cumulative. Every exam will be held during the regularly scheduled class, with the first two exams beginning at 8:15 PM. There will be a lecture before each of the first two exams. The final will begin at 6:15 PM.
You are graded solely on the work you do on assignments assigned during the duration of the course. There will be no special extra credit assignments or extra work of any kind for the purpose of raising a grade during or after the session. 

Make-ups:
No make-ups of the exams are allowed. You know in advance when the exams are scheduled. Make every effort to be in class on those days.

Extra Credit Assignment:
Any extra credit assignments will be assigned as homework for the whole class. There will be no special extra credits or extra work of any kind for the purpose of raising a grade during or after the semester.

Attendance:
While attendance will not be graded, I strongly encourage you to attend classes, as performance in the class is usually highly correlated with attendance.

General Information:
I plan to cover as much as possible during the course of this class. While I will mostly follow the textbook, I may add some material that is not contained in it. In that case, your lecture notes will contain all the relevant information that you will need on exams. If you are having trouble with the material you are strongly encouraged to come see me during the office hours. I strongly encourage you to work on the problems assigned in class and others. This will not only help you come exam time but also enable you to truly understand the material.
Please turn off all electronic devices such as cell phones, pagers, and beeping watches.

Academic Honesty:
Cheating is totally unacceptable. The Universityhas established rather severe penalties for cheating. I advise you to review Rutgers’ policies oncheating which can be found in the Undergraduate Catalog.

Topics to be covered:
Introduction – Ch 1, 2
Consumer Choice – Ch 3, 4
Producers – Ch 6-8
Market Structure – Ch 9-13

Your grade for the course will be based on three exams: June 5, June 19, and July 3. The first two exams are worth 30% of your grade each, while the final is worth 40%. The final exam is cumulative. Every exam will be held during the regularly scheduled class, with the first two exams beginning at 8:15 PM. There will be a lecture before each of the first two exams. The final will begin at 6:15 PM.
You are graded solely on the work you do on assignments assigned during the duration of the course. There will be no special extra credit assignments or extra work of any kind for the purpose of raising a grade during or after the session. 

GRADES