ECON
Econ 130 – “Principles of Microeconomics”– Spring 2014
Tuesdays, Thursdays – Bilger 150 – 3-4:15pm
Professor John Lynham (lynham@hawaii.edu)
Course Description:
Economics is the study of the use of scarce resources to satisfy human wants. In microeconomics, we study how these scarce resources are allocated within the market system.
Topics include: division of labor, comparative advantage, supply and demand analysis, price ceilings/floors, taxes, monopoly, price discrimination, cartels, wages, pollution and failures of the market system. Mathematical skills beyond simple algebra and graphical analysis are not required in this course. This course meets the diversification requirement (DS) of Gen Ed requirements for social sciences.
Student Learning Objectives:
The main objective of this course is to give students a broad understanding of the choices people make in using scarce resources to meet their wants. On completion of the course students should be able to:
•
•
•
Explain basic microeconomic terms, concepts and theories
Apply economic reasoning to real-world situations
Communicate economic reasoning to others in writing
Recommended Textbooks:
Introduction to Microeconomics by Edwin G. Dolan. 4th edition [5th or 3rd edition is also fine – the 4th edition is the best option]. The book is available from the UH Bookstore. You can get the hard cover, paperback, or ebook version, whatever works best for you. I will explain in class how you can purchase access to additional homework problems online.
Other Texts that are not required but might interest you:
The Cartoon Introduction to Economics by Klein and Bauman.
Murder at the Margin by Marshall Jevons. This is an extremely cheesy book about an Econ professor on a Caribbean island who solves a murder mystery using the tools of economics!
Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. This book spent 98 weeks on the New
York Times bestseller list. It looks at the economics behind
Tuesdays, Thursdays – Bilger 150 – 3-4:15pm
Professor John Lynham (lynham@hawaii.edu)
Course Description:
Economics is the study of the use of scarce resources to satisfy human wants. In microeconomics, we study how these scarce resources are allocated within the market system.
Topics include: division of labor, comparative advantage, supply and demand analysis, price ceilings/floors, taxes, monopoly, price discrimination, cartels, wages, pollution and failures of the market system. Mathematical skills beyond simple algebra and graphical analysis are not required in this course. This course meets the diversification requirement (DS) of Gen Ed requirements for social sciences.
Student Learning Objectives:
The main objective of this course is to give students a broad understanding of the choices people make in using scarce resources to meet their wants. On completion of the course students should be able to:
•
•
•
Explain basic microeconomic terms, concepts and theories
Apply economic reasoning to real-world situations
Communicate economic reasoning to others in writing
Recommended Textbooks:
Introduction to Microeconomics by Edwin G. Dolan. 4th edition [5th or 3rd edition is also fine – the 4th edition is the best option]. The book is available from the UH Bookstore. You can get the hard cover, paperback, or ebook version, whatever works best for you. I will explain in class how you can purchase access to additional homework problems online.
Other Texts that are not required but might interest you:
The Cartoon Introduction to Economics by Klein and Bauman.
Murder at the Margin by Marshall Jevons. This is an extremely cheesy book about an Econ professor on a Caribbean island who solves a murder mystery using the tools of economics!
Freakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. This book spent 98 weeks on the New
York Times bestseller list. It looks at the economics behind