ECON2001 Intermediate Microeconomics II: Description
ECON2001 Intermediate Microeconomics II: Description
ECON2001
Intermediate Microeconomics II
Pre-requisite: ECON2000
Description
This course is an intermediate course in microeconomic theory. During the semester, we will relax
some of the very strong assumptions of perfect competition studied in ECON2000 in both input and
output markets. This will lead us to make comparisons, between these new types of equilibrium
conditions and those we have learnt are associated with perfect competition. You will need to re-
familiarize yourself with differential calculus, as you will be expected to work with functional forms
representing the new types of markets and to derive equilibrium outcomes from them.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, the student should be able to use formal calculus and other
mathematical tools to:
Relax the assumption of freedom of entry, define the resultant market as monopoly and
analyse the new implied equilibrium quantity and price
Compare the monopoly outcome and the perfectly competitive outcome
Determine the emergence of deadweight loss and the changes in both consumer and producer
surplus from these changes
Analyse the new implied equilibrium quantity demanded and supplied of the factor and the
equilibrium factor price
Relax the assumption of many firms and homogenous goods and define the resultant market
as monopolistic competition
Analyse the new implied equilibrium quantity demanded and supplied of the product and the
equilibrium price
Compare the monopolistically competitive outcome and the perfectly competitive outcome
Relax the assumption of many firms (the good may or may not be homogenous) and define
the resultant market as oligopoly
Define equilibrium concepts under Oligopoly of:
o Nash
o Cournot
o Collusive
o Monopoly
o Stackelberg
o Bertrand
Compare the oligopoly outcome and the perfectly competitive outcome
Consider the implications of a market with two firms
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Analyse the new implied equilibrium quantity demanded and supplied of the product and the
equilibrium price
Compare the duopoly outcome and the perfectly competitive outcome
Define market failures: externalities, public goods and asymmetric information
Write down models that provide for their correction/reduction
Compare the outcome under market failures and the perfectly competitive outcome
Discuss the benefits and challenges of government intervention
Analyse and solve both simultaneous-moves and sequential-moves games and will be
familiarized with different solution concepts like minimax, Nash equilibrium, dominant
strategy equilibrium, Subgame perfect equilibrium, etc.
Modes of Delivery
Two lecture hours and one tutorial hour per week, face to face. Problem sets (not for grading) will be
provided for practice at problem solving.
Assessment
Item Tentative Dates Weight
TOTAL 100
Syllabus
Perfect Competition (Brief review) (Unit 1)
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Industry’s Long-Run Supply Curve.
Monopoly (Unit 2)
Theory
Simultaneous and Sequential moves (Games)
Pure and Mixed strategies
Market Failures & Government Intervention (Unit 6)
Externalities
Public Goods
Difficulties with Regulation
Resources
Prescribed
Pyndyck and Rubenfield, Microeconomics (Any Edition)
Recommended
Varian, Hal, Intermediate Microeconomics, Norton, 7th Edition
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Student Responsibility
Your regular attendance at lectures and participation in tutorials is expected. All communication about
this course will be made through the OurVLE course site and/or your official email provided by the
University. Announcements made via OurVLE and your official email are deemed to be made to the
entire class.
13 13/04/2022 Review/Class
presentations
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