AAEC 2580
Applied Microeconomic Principles
MWF 10:10 - 11:00am
Prof. Jeffrey Dorfman
Office: 312 Conner Hall, no specific office hours, around the most on MWF
Office Phone: 706.542.0754
Email: jdorfman@agecon.uga.edu (recommended method of contact)
This class is designed to introduce students to the basic principles of microeconomics, the study of individual decisions by people and businesses. At the end of the course you should be able to understand and explain the workings of individual economic decisions in many different situations that we all run across everyday.
Book: Schiller, Bradley C. The Micro Economy Today (McGraw-Hill). The book has considerable web resources students can access for additional information. The book will also be augmented by information on the class web pages.
Grading:
- Homework, 30% with the lowest score dropped automatically
- Exams, 45%
- Exam 1, 15%, Sept. 17, the basics, chaps. 1-4
- Exam 2, 15%, Oct. 18, consumer demand and markets, chaps. 5-9
- Exam 3, 15%, Nov 17, market structure and optional topics, chaps. 10-11
- Final Exam, 25%, Dec. 17, 8-11am, covering the entire course
Grading will be mostly for correct answers, but partial credit will be given to the extent I can given the large class size. Effort is definitely appreciated. Failure to turn in assignments (other than 1 problem set since you can drop one) will not help you if you end up on the edge between two different letter grades.
How the class works:
The class will involve some lecturing on my part, but also a lot of questioning and discussion involving the students. That means it will work better and you will learn more if you come to class prepared. Please try to read the book as assigned before we cover each topic in class.
Also, please try to participate in class discussion. Nobody loses points for wrong answers. I will not answer questions posed to the class, but will wait for a student to answer. Many partially correct and even wrong answers lead to great discussions and much learning. So take a chance.
If you wish to reach me outside of class, you can call my office, come by my office, or send me an email. I check my email nights and weekends, so you might get an answer to a homework question on Saturday at 11pm. Of course, you might not, but it is worth a shot. I will be around my office more on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays than on Tuesdays and Thursdays. No specified office hours; if you catch me, I will (almost always) answer your questions.