Microeconomics

SAM2 Microeconomics

Spring 2026

Autumn 2025
  • Topics

    How do changes in prices or income affect consumers’ choices? How are producers’ choices of technology influenced by changes in labour costs—will they shift to more capital-intensive production, choose to automate, or perhaps relocate production to a low-cost country? How is the market price affected by a tax, and how does such a tax influence consumers, producers, and society as a whole? What problems does pollution create for social welfare, and how should the authorities intervene to address these problems? How does a monopolist choose price and quantity, and what challenges does this create for society? And what about oligopolies—that is, markets with few firms: how are price and quantity determined in such markets, and what strategies can a firm use to gain a competitive advantage? Strategic interaction is not limited to choices about price or quantity; game theory shows how many situations involving elements of conflict can be analysed. Microeconomics examines all these questions. The course consists of four parts: consumer theory, producer theory, market analysis, and imperfect competition and game theory.

  • Learning outcome

    The course gives an introduction to modern microeconomic theory of consumer and firm behavior and the functioning of markets under perfect competition, monopoly, and oligopoly.

    Upon completion of the course, the student can:

    Knowledge:

    • Explain the main models in consumer, producer, and market theory.
    • Be familiar with how behavioural economics differs from standard economic analysis.
    • Explain market failure and the rationale for economic policy, for instance to reduce the harmful effects of pollution on the environment.
    • Be familiar with the main models of imperfect competition: Cournot, Bertrand, and Stackelberg.
    • Be familiar with the tools of game theory for analysing simultaneous and sequential games.

    Skills:

    • Use microeconomic theory to analyse relevant problems.
    • Evaluate different types of economic policy to ensure economic efficiency and sustainability.

    General competence:

    • Communicate microeconomic analysis in a clear way, both in writing and orally.

  • Teaching

    The course consists of plenary lectures and group teaching. 

  • Recommended prerequisites

    It's recommended that the students have acquired knowledge equivalent to SAM1.

  • Compulsory Activity

    i. Oral presentation of case assignment in groups.

    ii. At least 25 correct answers on the multiple choice questions during the semester. There will be 5 rounds of multiple choice, each round consisting of 10 questions with four options.

    Previously approved compulsory activities remain valid.

  • Assessment

    4-hours written pen and paper school exam (100%). 

  • Grading Scale

    A-F

  • Permitted Support Material

    Calculator 

    One bilingual dictionary (Category I) 

    All in accordance with Supplementary provisions to the Regulations for Full-time Study Programmes at the Norwegian School of Economics Ch.4 Permitted support materialhttps://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/regulations/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/regulations/ and https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/examination-support-materials/https://www.nhh.no/en/for-students/examinations/examination-support-materials/  

Overview

ECTS Credits
7.5
Teaching language
Norwegian.
Teaching Semester

Spring. Offered spring 2026.

Course responsible

Professor Kjetil Bjorvatn, Department of economics.