­Economics 341: Industrial Organization
Fall 2008

Section 1: MW 1:10-2:30 pm, Freylinghusen Hall A6
Professor Hilary Sigman
Office hours: New Jersey Hall 419, Mondays 10:30am-noon
E-mail: sigman (at) econ.rutgers.edu

Course overview:  This course examines the determinants and effects of market structure.  The course discusses monopolies and oligopolies and public policies to address these market structures. Later topics include price discrimination, vertical relationships, innovation and R&D.  

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 mathematical skills. Students will also apply econometrics to empirical research on the causes and consequences of market concentration.  

Text: Jeffrey Church and Roger Ware, Industrial Organization: A Strategic Approach. You may download the pdf version of the book (for free!) from the Resources section of our Sakai site.

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 Sakai (log in to sakai.rutgers.edu). This web site will include copies of class handouts, such as this syllabus and problem sets. I will try to make lecture outlines available on the web site before each class. Some sample old exam questions will also be posted.

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.

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, 8–11 am.  The exams will be based on the lectures, readings, and the problem sets. The lecture and readings will not always cover the same material. You are responsible for the material in both the lectures and readings.

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%.  No additional coursework will be available for students dissatisfied with their grades.

Economics 341: Industrial Organization
Fall 2008
Prof. Sigman
Calendar

(Dates are approximate, except for exams, which are definite)