Economics 341:
Industrial Organization
Fall 2008
Section 1: MW 1:
Professor Hilary Sigman
Office hours: New Jersey Hall 419, Monday
Telephone: (732) 932–7594
E-mail: sigman (at) econ.rutgers.edu
Course overview:
This course examines the determinants and effects of market structure. It
relies theoretical concepts and empirical research, focusing particularly
on
Objectives:
Throughout
the course, students will use microeconomics to understand
firms'
strategic decisions and to evaluate public policies for competition.
They will solve problems designed to capture some of the major
concepts
in the course; some of these problems require basic calculus as well as
other mathemetical skills. Students will also apply econometrics to empirical research on the causes and
consequences
of market concentration.
Problem sets:
Seven problem sets will be distributed during the term. Timely submission of
these problem sets will count for 10% of your course grade. You may drop one
problem set and still get full credit for problem set submission. This dropped
problem set gives you an automatic excuse for a date when you have a conflict,
illness, or transportation problem. Otherwise, no problem sets will be
excused for any reason, even very good ones. Problem sets are due at the beginning of class
on the due date. Late, faxed, or emailed problem sets will not be accepted.
Class web site:
The class has a website
on
Email addresses: Any course-related email messages (e.g., snow
cancellations) will be sent to via Sakai. Please make sure that your
preferences there are set to send mail to an email address you actually check.
You may also decide (under preferences on Sakai) whether you'd like to
receive
Exams:
There will be two midterm exams in class (see attached schedule) and a
cumulative final exam (at
the time scheduled by the Registrar, Wednesday, 12/17,
Check to be sure you can attend all the exams before deciding to
take this class. There will be no alternative exam dates.
Grading policy:
Course grades will be based on problem set completion (10%), midterms (25%
each) and final 40%. All course grades will be curved. No
additional coursework will be available for students dissatisfied with their
grades.
Economics 341: Industrial Organization
Fall 2008
Prof. H. Sigman
Calendar
(Dates are approximate, except for exams, which are
definite)
|
Day |
Topic |
|
Problem set due dates |
|
W, 9/3 |
Introduction; Costs |
pp. 50-62 (sec. 3.1) |
|
|
M, 9/8 |
Scale Economies,
Profit maximization |
|
|
|
W, 9/10 |
Markets and welfare |
pp. 19-29 (sec. 2.1-2.3) |
|
|
M, 9/15 |
Entry barriers |
|
|
|
W, 9/17 |
Monopoly |
pp. 29-42 (sec 2.4-2.5)
|
|
|
M, 9/22 |
Monopoly |
|
|
|
W, 9/24 |
Dominant firms |
pp. 124-127 |
|
|
M, 9/29 |
Regulation of monopolies |
pp. 747-764 |
|
|
W, 10/1 |
Exam Review |
|
|
|
M, 10/6 |
First Midterm Exam |
|
|
|
W, 10/8 |
Noncooperative Oligopoly: Cournot |
pp. 231-246 |
|
|
M, 10/13 |
Noncooperative Oligopoly: Bertrand |
pp. 256-258, 467-472 |
|
|
W, 10/15 |
|
|
|
|
M, 10/20 |
Cartels |
|
PS 3 due |
|
W, 10/22 |
Monopolistic Competition |
pp. 247-254 |
|
|
M, 10/27 |
Product Differentiation |
pp. 258-262, 367-374,
379-384 |
|
|
W, 10/29 |
Empirical analysis of
market structure |
Chapter 12 |
|
|
M, 11/3 |
Empirical analysis of
market structure |
|
|
|
W, 11/5 |
Antitrust policy |
pp. 715-719, 726-732 |
|
|
M, 11/10 |
Exam Review |
PS 5 due |
|
|
W, 11/12 |
Second Midterm Exam |
|
|
|
M, 11/17 |
Price Discrimination |
pp. 155-170 |
|
|
W, 11/19 |
Price Discrimination |
|
|
|
M, 11/24 |
Theory of the Firm |
pp. 62-75 |
PS 6 due |
|
M, 12/1 |
|
pp. 76-79, 683-687 |
|
|
W, 12/3 |
|
pp. 688-696 |
|
|
M, 12/8 |
Patents and Research and
Development |
|
PS 7 due |
|
W, 12/10 |
Exam Review |
|
|
|
Wed 12/17, |
Final Exam (cumulative) |
|
|