BARUCH COLLEGE

(Spring 2009)
Course Title: Microeconomics
Course Number: ECO 9708
Name of Instructor: T. Ramin
Department: Economics and Finance
Phone: 646-312-3501
Office: 10-260B,VC.Hours:Saturday: 1:00pm to 2:00pm
E-Mail: taghi_ramin@baruch.cuny.edu

Course Description:
Intensive examination of the theories of utility and demand, production theory, and
Cost functions in the short and long run, culminating in the price-output models of perfect
Competition and monopoly. Problems and applications are heavily used to acquaint
Students with the implications of the theoretical concepts.
Specific Course Objectives:
This course is designed to introduce the student to the various concepts used in analyzing
and studying economic events. More broadly, we show throughout this course how
Microeconomics can help students understand how markets operate. You will learn:
Why do prices change? How are prices determined in various markets? What is the
significance of price changes? In addition, determination of wages, rents, and profits will
be covered. We will occasionally use some simple Calculus to derive results and solve
problems, but we will review all the necessary rules and definitions before we do so.
Student Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
-Describe the different costs of production and their economic meaning.
-Use supply and demand analysis to examine various economic phenomena.
-Discuss the differences between competitive, monopolistic, and Oligopoly markets.
-Discuss the reasons for government intervention in the market.
-Discuss the role of unions in a capitalist economy.
-Critically read journalistic explanation of economic events.
Required Text:
Pindyck/Rubinfeld, Microeconomics, 7th Edition (Publisher: Prentice Hall)
Suggested Reading:
Study Guide, Suslow/Hamilton, 7th Edition (Publisher: Prentice Hall)
Assignments:
1). Midterm 40%; Saturday, February 21, 2009
2). Final exam 60%. Saturday, March 14, 2009
The grading scale is the official Baruch scale published in the course catalog.
Please note: The final exam will be based on the entire class’s lecture.
The format of the exams will be multiple-choice questions. A number 2 pencil is required
for all exams. Exams are taken without the aid of textbooks or of notes of any kind, and
no collaboration is allowed on exams. You may use a calculator in the exams, but the use
of a calculator on which you have stored any information relevant to the course
constitutes a violation of the “Academic Integrity Policy”. Furthermore, every student
must have his or her own calculator. Sharing calculators will not be allowed.
Makeup Policy:
There will be no make-up exam for the midterm. If you miss the midterm exam with an
 excused absence, the final exam will count 90% instead of 60%. If you miss the final
exam due to an emergency, and if I approved in advance, an ABS will be assigned in the
course. The make-up final exam will be considerably more difficult because it will be a
different exam, which I have to make especially for you, and it might not be a true
representation of the work you have done in class.
There are no extra credit assignments. There is no way to ex poste improve your grade
on an examination. Plan to do well on the required material.
If you have a question – ASK!!! If I am going to fast, please ask me to slow down.

To help encourage the proper educational environment and out of courtesy for
your fellow classmates, please turn of all cell phones and pagers prior to
entering the classroom and be on time. No food in the classroom except for
bottled water

Academic Integrity:
Students are expected to know and adhere to the Baruch College Academic Honesty Policy,
found at http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html. It states, inter alia, that
Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Cheating, forgery,
plagiarism and collusion in dishonest acts undermine the college's educational
mission and the students' personal and intellectual growth. Baruch students are
expected to bear individual responsibility for their work, to learn the rules and
definitions that underlie the practice of academic integrity, and to uphold its ideals.
Ignorance of the rules is not an acceptable excuse for disobeying them. Any student
who attempts to compromise or devalue the academic process will be sanctioned.

Topics:
Preliminaries: Ch. 1
The Basics of Demand & Supply: Ch. 2
The Theory of Consumer Behavior: Ch. 3
Individual and Market Demand. Ch. 4
Production: Ch.6
The Cost of Production: Ch. 7
Profit Maximization And Competitive Supply: Ch. 8
The Analysis of Competitive Markets: Ch. 9
Market Power: Monopoly and Monopsony: Ch. 10
Pricing with Market Power: Ch. 11
Monopolistic Competition and Oligopoly: 12
Markets for Factor Inputs: Ch.14
Market Failure and the Role of Government: Chs. 16,18.
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NOTE: SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY INSTRUCTOR
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