Advanced microeconomics
A.A. 2022/2023
Obiettivi formativi
The course is designed to provide a rigorous introduction to the conceptual apparatus of modern microeconomics. Its objective is to equip first-year students with the basic analytical tools required to read and understand contemporary literature in theoretical and applied microeconomics and possibly to approach more advanced research topics in this area.
Risultati apprendimento attesi
By attending this course, the students: 1) will obtain a thorough knowledge of the foundations of modern microeconomic analysis; 2) will learn how to interpret and explain a number of economic phenomena central to contemporary market economies; 3) will acquire advanced skills enabling them to apply the relevant methodology, analytical tools, and theoretical apparatus of modern microeconomics to the solution of a number of economic problems (concerning consumers¿ and producers¿ choices, price formation, economic efficiency, and social welfare).
Periodo: Primo semestre
Modalità di valutazione: Esame
Giudizio di valutazione: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Corso singolo
Questo insegnamento non può essere seguito come corso singolo. Puoi trovare gli insegnamenti disponibili consultando il catalogo corsi singoli.
Programma e organizzazione didattica
Edizione unica
Responsabile
Periodo
Primo semestre
Programma
Unit 1. Consumers and producers
1. Individual decision making: An introduction
- Market economies: commodities and prices
2. Consumer choice theory
- Preferences and utility
- Utility maximization and expenditure minimization
3. Demand theory
- Individual demand functions: Walrasian and Hicksian
- The Slutsky equation: income and substitution effects
- Aggregation
4. Producer choice theory
- Technology: production sets, transformation functions, production functions
- Profit maximization and cost minimization
5. Supply theory
- Individual supply functions
- Cost and supply in the single-output case
- Aggregation
6. Imperfect competition
- Monopoly, monopoly behavior and monopolistic competition
- Oligopoly: Cournot and Betrand Competition
- Elements of Game Theory
Unit 2. Competitive equilibrium and Pareto optimality
7. Competitive equilibrium and Pareto optimality: An introduction
8. General equilibrium theory: some examples
- The Edgeworth Box economy
- The Robinson Crusoe economy
9. General equilibrium theory and welfare economics
- The two Fundamental Theorems of Welfare Economics
- Pareto optimality and social welfare optima
1. Individual decision making: An introduction
- Market economies: commodities and prices
2. Consumer choice theory
- Preferences and utility
- Utility maximization and expenditure minimization
3. Demand theory
- Individual demand functions: Walrasian and Hicksian
- The Slutsky equation: income and substitution effects
- Aggregation
4. Producer choice theory
- Technology: production sets, transformation functions, production functions
- Profit maximization and cost minimization
5. Supply theory
- Individual supply functions
- Cost and supply in the single-output case
- Aggregation
6. Imperfect competition
- Monopoly, monopoly behavior and monopolistic competition
- Oligopoly: Cournot and Betrand Competition
- Elements of Game Theory
Unit 2. Competitive equilibrium and Pareto optimality
7. Competitive equilibrium and Pareto optimality: An introduction
8. General equilibrium theory: some examples
- The Edgeworth Box economy
- The Robinson Crusoe economy
9. General equilibrium theory and welfare economics
- The two Fundamental Theorems of Welfare Economics
- Pareto optimality and social welfare optima
Prerequisiti
The students are expected to fully master the topics dealt with in the course Mathematics for Economics (6 credits), i.e., linear algebra, intermediate calculus, and an introduction to static optimization. A reasonable acquaintance with introductory and intermediate microeconomics (consumer and producer theory, partial competitive equilibrium theory) is expected.
Metodi didattici
The topics dealt with in the course will be thouroughly discussed from an analytical and theoretical viewpoint in a series of lessons. Applications to a number of issues concerning both individual decision-making and market outcomes will be discussed in a series of classes, where the students will have the opportunity to interact with the instructor in analysing the solutions to previously circulated problem sets.
Materiale di riferimento
Hal Varian Intermediate Microeconomics: A modern approach,
Ninth Edition Norton
Supplemental Material made available on ARIEL
Ninth Edition Norton
Supplemental Material made available on ARIEL
Modalità di verifica dell’apprendimento e criteri di valutazione
A number of problem sets, both unmarked (UPS) and marked (MPS), will be handed out over the entire duration of the course. All problem sets will be discussed in specific class meetings. Two problem sets will be marked. Students will be required to hand in the solutions to each marked problem set in the week immediately following its distribution. The overall assessment will be based on the successful solution of all the problem sets (20% of the final grade) and a written final examination (80% of the final grade). Regular attendance is encouraged.
SECS-P/01 - ECONOMIA POLITICA - CFU: 8
Lezioni: 64 ore
Docente/i
Ricevimento:
Su appuntamento previo messaggio mail. Per le tesi è necessario prendere appuntamento via mail
Ufficio N.16 1° piano D.ESP
Ricevimento:
Giovedì 16:30-18:00 (è necessario richiedere un appuntamento via email)
Microsoft Teams