Economics 1110-dl Introductory Microeconomics
Dr. Jennifer P. Wissink, Senior Lecturer
Cornell University
Office: 468 Uris Hall
Phone: 255-6316 (Office), 255-4254 (Econ Dept.)
E-mail: jpw6@cornell.edu

COURSE MATERIALS: This course is taught entirely on-line. It uses video materials on a Cornell web page and materials only accessible via Aplia (which is a web site for which you register for and pay for separately from Cornell's Winter Session registration and payment). An electronic text book is provided via your registration and payment to Aplia. Aplia also provides the class with a Discussion Board. Video recordings of lecture content can be viewed on a number of computers and browsers including Windows Vista, Windows XP, OS X (Intel only), and IE, Firefox and Safari browsers. You may be required to install Microsoft's Silverlight plugin the first time you view a lecture. Students are expected to also have Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint (viewer).

SPECIAL NOTE: Anyone seriously interested in the course should get in contact with Professor Wissink as soon as they register with Cornell for the class and you will receive information about password protected areas of the web site. Since the class covers a lot of material in a short period of time, it is advised that you start looking at materials available on the site before the official start of the session.

COURSE CORNELL WEB PAGE: http://courses.cit.cornell.edu/econ101-dl/
Please consult this Web page for additional and detailed information about the class.

EXAM INFORMATION:

Midterm Exam: The midterm exam will be distributed to you electronically on TO-BE-ANNOUNCED sometime shortly after 1:00pm and it will be due back TO-BE-ANNOUNCED by 11:30pm (23:30hrs) Ithaca time.
The Discussion Board will shut down for new questions starting at 1:00pm on the day the exam goes out. No NEW posts should go on the board until AFTER the midterms are past due. You are welcome to review existing posts.
Coverage for the midterm will be announced at the start of the session.

Final Exam: The final will be distributed to you electronically on TO-BE-ANNOUNCED sometime shortly after 1:00pm and it will be due back TO-BE-ANNOUNCED by 11:30pm (23:30hrs) Ithaca time.
The Discussion Board will shut down for new questions as of 1:00pm on the day the exam goes out. No NEW posts should go on the board until AFTER the finals are in. You are welcome to review existing posts.
The final will be cumulative.

You will be put on an honor system for the exams. You may use your notes, books, computer, etc., but you may not consult any other human being. The integrity of the distance leaning environment is critically dependent on your honesty and self-proctoring. More explicit details on taking each exam will be given with the exam itself.

Cornell's code of academic integrity is strictly enforced.

GRADING POLICY: You will receive one grade for Economics 1110-dl that reflects your performance on all components of the course using the weights shown below.

30% Midterm exam
40% Final exam
20% Aplia Problems sets
10% Class participation (Web interaction)

COURSE CONTENT:

I. INTRODUCTION AND PRELIMINARIES

Introduction to Economics and the "Economic Problem"
Math and graphing review
The Production Possibilities Frontier & Comparative Advantage

II. DEMAND, SUPPLY and MARKET EQUILIBRIUM

Fundamentals
Applications
Elasticities

III. CONSUMER THEORY

IV. PRODUCER THEORY: PRODUCTION, COST FUNCTIONS & PROFIT MAXIMIZATION

V. FIRM STRUCTURE, CONDUCT & PERFORMANCE: INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION THEORY

Perfect Competition
Monopoly
Monopolistic Competition
Oligopoly and Game Theory

VI. INCOME DISTRIBUTION AND FACTOR MARKETS

Labor Markets
Capital Markets
Income Distribution

VI. MARKET FAILURE AND PUBLIC POLICY

Notify webmaster: jpw6@cornell.edu

©1999, 2011 John M. Abowd & Jennifer P. Wissink, all rights reserved.