ELE 3729 Applied Microeconomics

ELE 3729 Applied Microeconomics

Course code: 
ELE 3729
Department: 
Economics
Credits: 
7.5
Course coordinator: 
Terje Synnestvedt
Course name in Norwegian: 
Anvendt mikroøkonomi
Product category: 
Bachelor
Portfolio: 
Bachelor - Electives
Semester: 
2019 Spring
Active status: 
Active
Level of study: 
Bachelor
Teaching language: 
Norwegian
Course type: 
One semester
Introduction

Hovedmålet for dette kurset er å gi studentene innsikt i hvordan sentrale samfunnsøkonomiske problemstillinger kan belyses ved mikroøkonomisk teori. Studentene skal utvikle forståelse for hvorfor vi har en offentlig sektor og hvordan offentlige inngrep, herunder direkte og indirekte reguleringer, påvirker aktørene i det økonomiske liv. Studentene skal få innsikt i formålet med, og elementene i, nyttekostnadsanalyser og utvikle en forståelse for kompleksiteten knyttet til privatiserings- og konkurranseutsettingsspørsmål.

Learning outcomes - Knowledge

The main objective of this course is to give students insight into how key economic issues can be analyzed by microeconomic theory. Students will develop an understanding of why we have a public sector and how government intervention, including direct and indirect regulations, affects the economy. Students will gain insight into the purpose and elements of cost-benefit analyzes and develop an understanding of the complexities associated with privatization and competition issues.

Aquired knowledge
After completing the course, students should be able to explain phenomena in an unregulated economy that creates an efficient use of scarce resources, including phenomena such as externalities, public goods, imperfect competition, natural monopoly and imperfect information. The students should be able to propose measures, where such phenomena exist, providing a better resource allocation. Students should be able to explain the different steps of a cost-benefit analysis, and be able to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of specific privatization and competition issues.The students should also be able to explain what is ment by competitive advantages.

Learning outcomes - Skills

Students should be able to determine what microeconomic approach that is most relevant to investigate a specific problem. Furthermore, students should be able to analyze a problem using both verbal, graphical and mathematical presentations.

Learning Outcome - Reflection

The students should develop a critical sense to statements related to the society's allocation of resources and be able to assess an economic issue from different individuals / groups' interests.

Course content
  • Efficiency
  • Taxes and subsidies
  • Inequalities
  • Market failure (externalities, public goods, imperfect competition, natural monopoly and imperfect information).
  • Public sector, some facts
  • Government failure
  • Taxation
  • Cost-benefit analysis
  • Environmental Economics
  • Industrial organization
  • International trade
  • The financial crise
  • Privatization and competition
Learning process and requirements to students

The course consists of 36 lecture hours + 6 hours of plenary review of exercises.

E-learning
In course delivery as online courses, lecturer will, in collaboration with the student administration, organize an appropriate course implementation, combining different learning activities and digital elements on the learning platform. Online students are also offered a study guide that will contribute to progression and overview. Total recommended time spent for completing the course also applies here.

Software tools
No specified computer-based tools are required.
Additional information

For electives re-sit is normally offered at the next scheduled course. If an elective is discontinued or is not initiated in the semester it is offered, re-sit will be offered in the electives ordinary semester.

Qualifications

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Required prerequisite knowledge

SØK 3520 Microeconomics or eqivalent

Assessments
Assessments
Exam category: 
Submission
Form of assessment: 
Written submission
Invigilation
Weight: 
100
Grouping: 
Individual
Support materials: 
  • BI-approved exam calculator
  • Simple calculator
Duration: 
3 Hour(s)
Exam code: 
ELE37291
Grading scale: 
ECTS
Resit: 
Examination when next scheduled course
Exam organisation: 
Ordinary examination
Total weight: 
100
Student workload
ActivityDurationComment
Teaching
36 Hour(s)
Feedback activities and counselling
6 Hour(s)
Student's own work with learning resources
100 Hour(s)
Group work / Assignments
55 Hour(s)
Examination
3 Hour(s)
Sum workload: 
200

A course of 1 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 26-30 hours. Therefore a course of 7,5 ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of at least 200 hours.