Teacher(s)
Language
Dutch
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |
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Content
The Economics 1 course will start with a presentation of the economic model of demand and supply in order to provide an analysis of the mechanisms of competitive markets (price determination, equilibrium quantity, etc.). It will also be the occasion to investigate the impact of some public policies such as price control and indirect taxation on the competitive equilibrium.
The course will then determine why, and under which conditions, free trade can be viewed as an efficient way to coordinate the actions of specialized economic agents. Through a careful examination of the (utopic) necessary conditions a market must fulfil to be considered perfectly competitive, it will be brought to the students' attention that those conditions are seldom (if ever) respected: the course will then provide an overview of several market failures, as well as study in detail several types of imperfect competition.
Finally, the question of the possibility (and the necessity) of public intervention in a market economy will remain a central focus throughout the course.Part I: Introduction
Chapter 1: Economics - some basic concepts
Chapter 2: Economics as a science
Part II: How competitive markets work:
Chapter 3: The supply-demand model
Chapter 4: Elasticities and shocks
Chapter 5: Game theory and the functioning of markets
Part III: The behavior of the competitive firm
Chapter 6: The firm and output markets
Chapter 7: The firm and factor markets
Part IV: Competitive imperfections and market failures
Chapter 8: The market and social welfare
Chapter 9: Public intervention
Chapter 10: Imperfect competition
Chapter 11: Public goods and externalities
Chapter 12: Asymmetric information
Chapter 13: Inequality and income redistribution
The course will then determine why, and under which conditions, free trade can be viewed as an efficient way to coordinate the actions of specialized economic agents. Through a careful examination of the (utopic) necessary conditions a market must fulfil to be considered perfectly competitive, it will be brought to the students' attention that those conditions are seldom (if ever) respected: the course will then provide an overview of several market failures, as well as study in detail several types of imperfect competition.
Finally, the question of the possibility (and the necessity) of public intervention in a market economy will remain a central focus throughout the course.Part I: Introduction
Chapter 1: Economics - some basic concepts
Chapter 2: Economics as a science
Part II: How competitive markets work:
Chapter 3: The supply-demand model
Chapter 4: Elasticities and shocks
Chapter 5: Game theory and the functioning of markets
Part III: The behavior of the competitive firm
Chapter 6: The firm and output markets
Chapter 7: The firm and factor markets
Part IV: Competitive imperfections and market failures
Chapter 8: The market and social welfare
Chapter 9: Public intervention
Chapter 10: Imperfect competition
Chapter 11: Public goods and externalities
Chapter 12: Asymmetric information
Chapter 13: Inequality and income redistribution
Teaching methods
a) Plenary lectures
During the plenary lectures, the professor presents the concepts and mechanisms associated to the different models. Those lectures will follow the course outline presented above.
From a methodological point of view, numerous press articles will be used as bibliographical support beyond the reference book. The objective is twofold: train the students to a careful reading and synthesis of economic texts, as well as draw the students' attention to the omnipresence of economic questions in the public debate.
b) Exercise sessions (TA sessions)
The exercise sessions are carried out in small groups, and aim at checking knowledge acquisition as well as applying the theoretical concepts presented in class to solve exercises and case studies. So as to benefit from those sessions, the students should have reviewed the corresponding lectures.
c) Personal work
Regular personal work is critical for success. As the course goes on, each student is expected to devote sufficient time so as to make sure he/she understands the subjects being treated. The revision period at the end of the semester should not be the occasion to discover the course contents, but rather to strengthen the comprehension of a course that is already known by the student. Personal meetings with the course assistants and the professor can be arranged for the students who specifically ask it.
d) Paper assignment
Each student will hand in a short paper in which concepts of the course are applied to a press article, chosen by the student from a list of press articles made available on the course website.
During the plenary lectures, the professor presents the concepts and mechanisms associated to the different models. Those lectures will follow the course outline presented above.
From a methodological point of view, numerous press articles will be used as bibliographical support beyond the reference book. The objective is twofold: train the students to a careful reading and synthesis of economic texts, as well as draw the students' attention to the omnipresence of economic questions in the public debate.
b) Exercise sessions (TA sessions)
The exercise sessions are carried out in small groups, and aim at checking knowledge acquisition as well as applying the theoretical concepts presented in class to solve exercises and case studies. So as to benefit from those sessions, the students should have reviewed the corresponding lectures.
c) Personal work
Regular personal work is critical for success. As the course goes on, each student is expected to devote sufficient time so as to make sure he/she understands the subjects being treated. The revision period at the end of the semester should not be the occasion to discover the course contents, but rather to strengthen the comprehension of a course that is already known by the student. Personal meetings with the course assistants and the professor can be arranged for the students who specifically ask it.
d) Paper assignment
Each student will hand in a short paper in which concepts of the course are applied to a press article, chosen by the student from a list of press articles made available on the course website.
Evaluation methods
Written exam (90% of final result) and paper assignment (10 of final result).
The final exam requires a knowledge of the theoretical concepts as well as the ability to apply those concepts to the resolution of applied exercises (similar but not identical to those treated in the exercise sessions) and the analysis of real-life economic problems.
The final exam requires a knowledge of the theoretical concepts as well as the ability to apply those concepts to the resolution of applied exercises (similar but not identical to those treated in the exercise sessions) and the analysis of real-life economic problems.
Bibliography
Ouvrage de référence: Erwin Ooghe et Tom Verbeke, Economie. Een inleiding, édition 2013, ISBN 9789464146493. Disponible au service de reprographie
Syllabus: Tom Truyts, Economie 1. Disponible au service de reprographie
Syllabus: Tom Truyts, Economie 1. Disponible au service de reprographie
Faculty or entity
Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)
Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Bachelor in Economics and Management (French-Dutch-English)
Bachelor : Business Engineering (French-Dutch-English)
Bachelor in Economics and Management [Dual Bachelor’s degree for the holder of a Bachelor in Law]
Bachelor in Political Sciences [Dual Bachelor’s degree for the holder of a Bachelor in Law]