The course gives a first, short introduction to economics. The goals are (1) to teach the students basic elements of economic theory, (2) to give them an understanding of the economic approach to issues and problems, and (3) to illustrate, through micro and macro examples, applications of economics.
Upon completion of the course, the students will:
Knowledge :
- know that economics is about allocation of scare resources, and based on this be able to think systematically in terms of alternatives
- understand how prices and quantities are determined in perfectly competitive markets, be able to explain where supply and demand curves come from and how they reveal firms´ marginal costs and consumers´ marginal willingness to pay
- know what is meant by economic efficiency, be able to explain why perfect markets result in an efficient allocation of resources, and know about different sources of market failure
- be able to explain how economic policy may correct a market failure
- know examples of modern empirical analyses in economics
- build an understanding of how the economic toolbox can be used to define, explain, and contribute to a more sustainable development of the economy and society.
Skills:
- be able to illustrate a market equilibrium and how it is reached
- be able to illustrate consumer and producer surplus
- be able to illustrate market failure and how policy may correct a market failure
- be able to illustrate relatively elastic and inelastic demand and supply and the consequences for whether consumers or producers are carrying the burden of a tax
- be able to apply economics to at least one specific case
General competence:
- understand and be able to use core economics language
- know about key themes in economics
- know about popular scientific literature in economics
- have written a text about an important topic in economics