|
Week
number
|
Date |
Day |
Topic
|
Assignment
|
|
Week
1
Back
to top of schedule
|
9/9/02
|
M
|
Introduction
to Economics 155A and B |
-- |
| |
9/11/02
|
W |
Introduction
to formal economic reasoning |
Chapter
1 of Colander
"Economic
Scene," Virginia Postrel, The New York Times (January
3, 2002). (E-Res).
|
| |
9/12/02 |
Th |
Review of
mathematical and spreadsheet skills for economists
(Selected
slides)
|
-- |
| |
9/13/02
|
F |
Thinking
like an economist (part 1) |
Chapters
1 - 8 of Roberts
|
|
Week
2
Back
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|
9/16/02
|
M |
Production
possibilities
(Selected
slides)
|
Chapter
2 of Colander
Worksheet
on making trails in national forests.
|
|
|
9/18/02
|
W |
Economic
reasoning, society, and well-being. |
Chapter
1 from Something New Under the Sun: An Environmental History
of the Twentieth Century World, J.R. McNeill, W.W. Norton
and Co. (E-Res)
'Water Hazard'
The Economist (March 19, 1998) (E-Res)
|
| |
9/19/02
|
Th |
Introduction
to the United Way of Addison County: MaryEllen Mendl |
-- |
| |
9/20/02
|
F |
Introduction
to supply and demand |
Chapter
4 of Colander
"As
Demand Soars, Flagmakers Help to Bolster Nation's Morale"
Julian E. Barnes, The New York TImes (September 23, 2001)
"When
times get tough, some go for plastic surgery," Ruth La
Ferla, The New York Times (October 21, 2001). (E-Res).
|
|
Week
3
Back
to top of schedule
|
9/23/02
|
M |
A
market for spring-break vacations |
Problem
set 1: using economic reasoning (due by 5:00 PM in 'class
slot' in Munroe Hall - outside of Munroe 316)
Answers
to problem set 1
|
|
|
9/25/02
|
W |
Applications
of supply and demand analysis |
Chapter
5 (including Appendix A) of Colander
"Wet
weather, high oil costs boost demand for wood." (E-Res).
"Demand
Far Exceeds Supply for Flu Shots" Sarah Kershaw, The
New York Times (September 16, 2001)
|
| |
9/26/02
|
Th |
Introduction to the Middlebury Business Association: Gail Freiden
|
-- |
| |
9/27/02
|
F |
Thinking
like an economist (part 2) |
Chapters
9 - 14 of Roberts
"Teacher
Shortages Vanish When the Price is Right.' Richard Rothstein,
The New York Times (September 25, 2002)
Donors
Choose, a new kind of nonprofit
"Matching
Givers with Those in Need." Stephanie Strom, The
New York Times (July 2, 2002)
|
|
Week
4
Back
to top of schedule
|
9/30/02
|
M |
The
limits of markets: when should we intervene? |
In class
problems - Colander, Chapter 5, 'Questions for Thought and Review',
pp. 127 - 128, problems 5 - 7.
"Ways
and Means: Harvard's Wage Debate." Harvard Magazine
(November - December 2001) (E-Res).
"Let
Them Sweat," Nicholas D. Kristof, The New York Times
(June 25, 2002).
"Pennies
an Hour, and No Way Up," Tom Hayden and Charles Kernaghan
The New York Times (July 6, 2002).
|
|
|
10/2/02
|
W |
The
sensitivity of supply and demand |
Chapter
6 of Colander
"Steep
Cheese Prices Have Pizza Industry Crying in the Mozzarella,"
Associated Press (September 1, 2001)
Household
survey and preliminary
results from seven towns in Cambodia
|
| |
10/3/02
|
Th |
Meeting
about consulting projects |
Times
to be arranged |
| |
10/4/02
|
F |
Taxation
and government intervention
(selected
slides)
|
Chapter
7 of Colander, pp. 156 - 164.
"The
effectiveness of gasoline taxation to manage air pollution."
(E-Res)
|
|
Week
5
Back
to top of schedule
|
10/7/02
|
M |
The
economic case for a new drug policy |
"Stumbling
in the dark," "How did we get here?," and "Set
it free," The Economist (July 28, 2001) (E-Res)
Problem
set 2: using demand and supply: (due by 5:00 PM in 'class
slot' in Munroe Hall - outside of Munroe 316)
Answers
to problem set 2
|
| |
10/9/02 |
W |
The logic
of individual choice
(selected
slides)
|
Chapter
8 (including Appendix A) of Colander
"A
price not paid in money," James Schembari, The New York
Times (February 28, 1999). (E-Res).
"Why
Americans should rest," Juliet Schor, The New York
Times (September 2, 2002).
|
| |
10/10/02
|
Th |
Review for
exam
|
First
exam from Fall 2000
Answers
to first exam from Fall 2000
First
part of second exam from Fall 2000
Answers
to first part of second exam from Fall 2000
First
exam from Fall 2001
Answers
to first exam from Fall 2001
|
| |
10/11/02
|
F |
Thinking
like an economist (part 3) |
Chapters
15 - 21 of Roberts |
| |
10/13/02 |
Su* |
Office hours:
5:00 - 6:00 PM in the Grille
|
--
|
|
Week
6
Back
to top of schedule
|
10/14/02
|
M |
No
class meeting |
First
exam -- open book and note -- 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM - Munroe Lecture
Hall
Solutions
to first exam
|
| |
10/16/02
|
W |
On
running a business |
Otter
Creek Brewing
"Insurance
costs put pinch on employers," The Addison Independent
(November 12, 2001) (E-Res)
|
| |
10/17/02 |
Th |
Researching
economic and nonprofit sectors: Brenda Ellis |
-- |
|
|
10/18/02
|
F |
The
relationship between productivity and costs. |
Chapter
9 of Colander, pp. 201 - 208.
"Smaller:
the disposable diaper and the meaning of progress," Malcom
Gladwell, The New Yorker (November 26, 2001) (E-Res)
|
|
Week
7
Back
to top of schedule
|
10/21/02
|
M |
Economic
profits and the determinants of marginal productivity |
Chapter
9 of Colander, pp. 208 - 213.
"Boom
in natural gas drilling can't match soaring demand," Douglas
Jehl, The New York Times (July 22, 2001). (E-Res).
Take-home
exercise 1
Solutions
to take-home exercise 1
|
|
|
10/22/02
|
Tu* |
What
makes a good firm? |
"Enron
could use a dose of Buffet," Jack Z. Smith, The Burlington
Free Press (December 12, 2001) (E-Res) |
|
|
10/23/02
|
W |
Review
of cost curve logistics |
"The
spirit of St. Louis," The Economist (March 9, 2002)
(E-Res)
Take-home
exercise 2: Colander, Chapter 9, Problems and exercises 1,4
and 7 (pp. 214 - 215).
Solutions
to take home exercise 2
|
|
Week
8
Back
to top of schedule
|
10/28/02
|
M |
Economies
of scale |
Chapter
10 of Colander
"The
Fuel-Cell Sell," James Surowiecki, The New Yorker
(November 6, 2000) (E-Res).
"The
Goldilocks Effect," James Surowiecki, The New Yorker
(May 27, 2002) (E-Res).
Simulation
from "The Emergence of Firms in a Population of Agents:
Local Increasing Returns, Unstable Nash Equilibria, and Power
Law Size Distribution," by Robert Axtell. The Brookings
Institute.
|
|
|
10/30/02
|
W |
Firm
behavior in a perfectly competitive market |
Chapter
11 of Colander
"Net
start-up flourishes in Ghana," Michael M. Phillips, The
Wall Street Journal (May 22, 2002) (E-Res)
Ames
reorganization information
"Closing
Leaves a Hole in a Town's Retail Heart"
Lisa W. Foderaro. The New York Times (November 4, 2002).
Income
statement of Amazon.com
|
|
|
10/31/02
|
Th |
No
discussion section: please use this time to work on consulting
projects |
-- |
| |
11/1/02
|
F |
The
monopolistic market |
Chapter
12 of Colander
"New
theaters stir competition," Brent Hallenbeck, The Burlington
Free Press (January 14, 2002) (E-Res)
|
|
|
11/3/02
|
S |
-- |
Problem
set 3: (due by 5:00 PM in 'class slot' in Munroe Hall - outside
of Munroe 316).
Part
1: Colander, Chapter 10, Problems and exercises 3, 4 and 5 (p.
232).
Part
2: Colander, Chapter 11, Problems and exercises 4, 5 and 8 (p.
258-59).
Solution
to Problem Set 3
|
|
Week
9
11/6 - 11/10
Back
to top of schedule
|
11/4/02
|
M |
Firm
behavior in a monopolistic market |
"The
Microsoft Verdict," Ken Auletta, The New Yorker (July
9, 2001) (E-Res)
"Microsoft's
New Set of Hurdles"
Steve Lohr. The New York Times (November 4, 2002).
It's
Time for Teamwork on New Drugs Daniel Akst, The New Tork
Times(January 14, 2002)
|
|
|
11/6/02
|
W |
The
monopolistically competitive market and oligopoly |
Chapter
13 of Colander.
|
|
|
11/7/02
|
Th |
Feedback
on consulting projects |
Rough
copies of consulting projects |
|
|
11/8/02
|
F |
Firm
behavior in a monopolistically competitive market |
Take
home exercise 3
Solutions
to take home exercise 3
|
|
Week
10
11/13 - 11/17
Back
to top of schedule
|
11/11/02
|
M |
Firm
behavior in an oligopolistic market |
A
Beautiful Mind
"Our
precious fossil fuels" James Surowiecki, The New Yorker
(August 6, 2001) (E-Res);
"Warnings
by 2 OPEC Nations Send Oil Price to a 2-Year Low,"
Neela Banerjee, The New Tork Times(November 7, 2001)
|
| |
11/13/02
|
W |
Review
for exam |
Second
exam from Fall 2000
Solutions
to second exam from Fall 2000
Second
exam from Fall 2001
Solutions
to second exam from Fall 2001
|
| |
11/14/02
|
Th |
No
section meeting |
Second
exam -- open book and note -- 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM - Munroe Lecture
Hall
Solutions
to second exam
|
| |
11/15/02
|
F |
No
class meeting |
-- |
|
Week
11
11/18 - 11/22
Back
to top of schedule
|
11/18/02
|
M |
The
tragedy of the commons |
"The
Tragedy of the Commons." (E-Res)
|
|
|
11/20/02
|
W |
Solutions
to the tragedy of open-access fisheries |
"A
Tale of Two Fisheries,." John Tierney, The New Tork
Times(August 27, 2000)
|
| |
11/21/02
|
Th |
Draft
presentations of group projects |
-- |
| |
11/22/02
|
F |
Strategies
for improving well-being among the world's poor |
'Globalization
and its critics' The Economist (September 27, 2001)
'Economic
man, cleaner planet' The Economist (September 27,
2001)
|
|
Week
12
11/25 - 11/26
Back
to top of schedule
|
11/25/02
|
M |
Voices
of the poor |
"Listen
to the voices," from the website for Voices
of the Poor, Deepa Narayan et al., Oxford University Press. |
|
Week
13
12/3 - 12/6
Back
to top of schedule
|
12/2/02
|
M |
Solutions
for the delivery of clean water. |
"Institutional
Determinants of the Impact of Community-Based Water Projects:
Evidence from Sri Lanka and India," Jonathan Isham
and Satu Kähkönen, Economic Development and Cultural
Change 50 (3): 667-92. |
|
12/4/02 |
W |
Practice
PowerPoint presentations |
Rough
drafts of presentations |
|
12/5/02
|
Th |
Presentation
of United Way projects |
2:00
- 4:00 PM - The Ilsley Library in Middlebury |
|
12/5/02
|
Th |
Presentation
of MBA projects |
4:00
- 6:00 PM - The Ilsley Library in Middlebury |
|
12/6/02
|
F |
Handout
and review for final examination and course evaluations. |
|
|
12/8/02 |
Su* |
-- |
Final
copy of research project due by Sunday evening -- in the course
share folder (CLEARLY LABELED) or via email |
|
Exam
period
12/11 - 12/18
Back
to top of schedule
|
|
|
Final
exam |
Self-scheduled
exam slots
Final
exam from Fall 2001
|
