Berg Syllabus for ECO 3310, Spring 2008

Intermediate Microeconomic Theory

Section 001 (call number 11185) meets TR 10:00am to 11:15am in SOM1.110
Section 501 (call number 11186) meets Thursdays 7:00pm to 9:45pm in CB1.108

Instructor: Dr. Nathan Berg, Associate Professor of Economics

Email: nberg@utdallas.edu
Phone: 972.883.2088
Office: Green Hall 2.804

Office Hours: By appointment. Please email me to schedule an appointment. If you’d like

to ask a question by email, that’s fine. If you’re asking for an appointment, I’d like you to
suggest a time (or several possible times) in your email.

Textbook: Microeconomics and Behavior (Hardcover) 7th edition, by Robert Frank,

McGraw-Hill

Non-required textbooks (FYI: commonly used in intermediate microeconomics):

Microeconomics by Robert S. Pindyck and Daniel L. Rubinfeld [probably the most

widely used intermediate micro text in the US]

Microeconomic Theory: Concepts and Connections (with Economic Applications),

South-Western [textbook used at MIT, but gets bad user review at amazon.com]

Microeconomic Theory: An Integrated Approach by Stephen A. Mathis and Janet

Koscianski [calculus based intermediate micro text from Prentice Hall]

Intermediate Microeconomics and Its Application by Walter Nicholson

Grading
100 points can be earned during the semester based on two exams and in-class
participation:

(1) Participation and quizzes (10)

(2) Exam 1 (40)

(3) Exam 2 (50)

Homework problems: Homework problems are essential to learning microeconomics

and preparing for success on the exams. Although homework problems will not be
handed in and graded for course credit, they will be assigned and frequently discussed in
class. The assigned readings guide the reader through problem solving exercises and, at
the end of each chapter, answers to these in-chapter exercises are provided. You should
master the techniques required to solve all in-chapter exercises.

Final semester grades will be based on the following scale: 100 to 93 points earn an A; 92
to 90 points an A-; 89-87 points a B+; 86 to 83 points a B; 82 to 75 points a B-; 74 to 70
points a C+; 69 to 65 points a C; 64 to 60 points a C-; 59 to 50 points a D; and 49 or
fewer points earn an F.

Course Plan
Note: the plan is tentative and subject to change, allowing us some flexibility to take
more time, as needed, to more fully deal with challenging material or more deeply
pursue particular interests of individual students.

Thursday, Jan 10 Chapter 1, Chapter 2+ first-day questionnaire

Thursday, Jan 17 Chapter 2

Thursday, Jan 24 Chapter 3

Thursday, Jan 31 Appendix to Chapter 3

Thursday, Feb 7 Exam 1 + special topics

Thursday, Feb 14 Return Exam, Chapter 4

Thursday, Feb 21 Appendix to Chapter 4

Thursday, Feb 28 Chapter 5

Thursday, March 6 Chapter 6

Thursday, March 13 NO CLASS, Spring Break

Thursday, March 20 Chapter 6, Chapter 7

Thursday, March 27 Chapter 7, Chapter 9

Thursday, April 3 Chapter 9, Chapter 10

Thursday, April 10 Chapter 10, Chapter 11

Thursday, April 17 Chapter 12, Chapter 13, Review for Exam 2

Thursday, April 24 Exam 2, Last Day of Class

Schedule Problems
If you have an emergency or a valid conflict and provide me with written documentation,
I will consider granting an extension or providing an alternative assignment. Otherwise, I
do not want to extend any deadlines or permit schedule changes. Late papers will be
penalized up to 10 percentage points per day. Papers that are several days late may not be
accepted at all. I want you to succeed in this class. Please stay organized and work well
ahead of deadline.

Incompletes
There will be no grades of incomplete awarded without appropriate documentation.

Scholastic Dishonesty
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on assignments or
examinations, plagiarizing (misrepresenting as your own work any part of work done by
another), submitting the same assignment, or substantially similar assignments to meet
the requirements of more than one course without the approval of all instructors,
depriving another student of necessary course materials, or interfering with another
student's work. If in doubt about the ethics of your actions, consult the Catalog to see the
University's policy. Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Students are responsible
for knowing what constitutes scholastic dishonesty and its consequences (see
http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/chapter49.html). If you have any doubts, contact me
before you turn in your assignments.

Accessibility (for students with disabilities)

If you have a condition that requires accommodation in this course, please speak with me
after class or in office hours during the first week of class. I will be happy to make
appropriate accommodations provided timely notice is received and the arrangement is
consistent with any recommendations from Disability Services, when applicable.
Disability Services can be reached at 883-2098. The syllabus and other course materials
can be made available in alternative formats.

Attendance Policy
There is no explicit attendance requirement for this course. However, if students expect
to do well, regular attendance is necessary. Assignments may change, and adjustments to
the exam schedule may occur. Students who miss deadlines or fail to complete an
assignment because they did not hear scheduling announcements in class will not be
excused. Please do not ask me for notes.

Disclaimer:
This syllabus is tentative and can be changed. All changes will be announced in class.