The American University in Cairo

Department of Economics
ECON 2011-02: Introduction to Microeconomics (Fall 2016)
Samer Atallah, PhD
Contact Information:
E-mail: satallah@aucegypt.edu (Please refer to email policy below)
Office Phone: +202 2615 3184
Office: Jameel Hall 1042
Office hours: MR 1:00 PM 2:00 PM
Instructors Information:
Basma Yassa
basmayassa@aucegypt.edu
Menan Omar
mo_auc@aucegypt.edu
Kareman Shoair
kareman@aucegypt.edu

U 12:00-2:00 PM
M 12:00-2:00 PM
R 1:00-3:00 PM

Jameel 1032
Jameel 1032
Jameel 1032

Regular Classes:
Times: MR 10:05 - 11:25
Location: Lectures are held in Mary Cross Hall. Sections are held in Jameel Hall CP03;
CP07; C109.
Course Description:
This is a three credit course covering: Fundamental economic concepts and methods of
economic analysis with emphasis on microeconomic issues. Analyzes basic principles of
market economics including resource allocation, opportunity cost, core elements of demand
and supply, market equilibrium, elasticity, pricing, market structure, and trade exchange.
Labor and capital markets, market efficiency, regulation, and social welfare implications.
Course Evaluations:
1. Midterm Exam #1: 25% on October 13th during class time
2. Midterm Exam #2: 25% on November 10th during class time
3. Final Exam: 35% during the Universitys final exams period
4. Assignments: 10%.
5. Quizzes: 5%
There are NO supplemental or make up exams or work. Please DO NOT ASK.
Exams will include quantitative questions.
If you miss any midterm exam due to a severe emergency, its weight will be added to
the final exam. This is conditional on providing appropriate documentation.
If you miss the final exam due to a severe emergency, your course grade will be
incomplete. This is conditional on providing appropriate documentation.
Quizzes will NOT be announced in advance and will take place during the first 10
minutes of the lecture.
IF YOU MISS ANY TWO EXAMS FOR ANY REASON, YOUR COURSE
GRADE WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY F

The following averages were the historical cut-off points for the course final grade:
A
89.5
A84.5
B+
79.5
B
75.5
B71.5
C+
67
C
63
C57
D
50
F
<50
Practice Assignments:
Students should do the assignments to their understanding of course material. Once we cover
a chapter, you are responsible for doing the practice problems listed below. Assignments are
due one week after they are assigned. Once the model answers are posted on blackboard, no
assignments will be accepted.
Classes:
Lecture sessions will include derivation and description of models as well as some
problem solving.
Class attendance and participation in discussion is mandatory. Any points covered in
class but not covered in the textbook are your responsibility.
PowerPoint slides are designed as a tool to guide class lectures NOT as a studying
reference.
If you are going to be late by more than 10 min, please dont come to class.
Usage of cell phone during class time is prohibited. If you use your cell phone
during class, you will be asked to leave.
Required Textbook:
Principles of Economics: Second Arab World Edition by Mankiw and Rashwan.
Blackboard:
This course utilizes Blackboard for course management and posting of relevant
materials. Students are thus expected to have access to a computer and to the internet.
There are a number of campus computer labs for students who might not have a
computer and/or access to the internet at home.
A discussion page will be made available for you to communicate with your
classmates. The purpose of this page is to let you debate the issues that we discuss in
class amongst each other outside of class time.
Additional reference material such as articles and reports related to the course
material will also be posted on Blackboard.

Email Policy:

Please limit your emails to precise and short questions. If you have detailed questions
regarding course material, please make use of my office hours. Before sending me an
email, please consult the course syllabus and Blackboard. (75% of the time you will find
your answer there!)
Any questions/emails pertaining to material found in the syllabus will be ignored.
Academic Integrity:
AUC values academic integrity. Therefore all students must understand the meaning
and consequences of cheating, plagiarism and other academic offences under the Code
of
Academic
Integrity
(see
http://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/integrity/code/Pages/default.aspx for more
information).

If you have a disability please contact the instructor to arrange a time to discuss your
situation.

Preliminary Course Outline:

R 1/9
M 5/9
R 8/9
M 19/9
R 22/9
M 26/9
R 29/9
M 10/10
R 13/10
M 17/10
R 20/10
M 24/10
R 27/10
M 31/10
R 3/11
M 7/11
R 10/11
M 14/11
R 17/11
M 21/11
M 28/11
R 1/12
M 5/12
R 8/12
R 15/12
Date TBD

Topic
Ten Principles of Economics
Thinking Like an Economist
The Market Forces of Supply and Demand
Elasticity and Its Application
Supply, Demand and Government Policies
Consumers, Producers and Markets
Government Policies: Taxation
The Costs of Taxation
Midterm Exam #1
Gains from Trade
Welfare Analysis of International Trade
Externalities
Public Goods and Common Resources
The Costs of Production I
The Costs of Production II
Review
Midterm Exam # 2
Firms in Competitive Markets I
Firms in Competitive Markets II
Monopoly
Oligopoly
Markets for the Factors of Production
The Theory of Consumer Choice I
The Theory of Consumer Choice II
Review
Final Exam

*L=lecture and S=Section

Ref
Type M&R
L
chap 1
L
chap 2
L
chap 4
S
chap 5
L
chap 6
L
chap 7
L
chap 6
L
chap 8
S
L
chap 3
L
chap 9
S
chap 10
S
chap 11
L
chap 13
L
chap 13
S
S
L
chap 14
L
chap 14
S
chap 15
L
chap 17
L
chap 18
L
chap 21
L
chap 21
S
S

Problems
2,4
8,12,13,17
6,7,10
7,9,10
7,11
10,11
4,8
9,10,11

4,9,10,12

5,8,11
8,10,11
1,4,6
4,5
7,12