Economics 373

MANAGERIAL ECONOMICS

Spring 2015
 
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USD Office

Coronado 207

Office Hours:

- TR 9:45 - 10:45 AM
(in OH 234)

- TR 3:00 - 4:00 PM
(in CO 207)

- W 3:30 - 4:30 PM
(in CO 207)

Phone: (858) 603-3873

FAX: (619) 260-4891

E-Mail: agin@SanDiego.edu

Syllabus

| Description | Objectives | Prerequisites | Grading | Academic Integrity | Text |

Description

The application of analytical techniques and economic principles to analyze typical problems encountered by managers. Topics include risk analysis, demand analysis, game theory, cost estimation, market structure, pricing decisions, and linear programming.

Objectives

The objectives of this course are to:

  • familiarize students with the microeconomic concepts used in the making of management decisions,
  • analyze the factors that affect the competitive environment of firms and industries,
  • examine various quantitative techniques that can be used to aid the decision making process, and
  • apply decision making tools to issues such as organizational design, negotiation, and auctions.
Prerequisites

ECON 101 (Principles of Microeconomics) - You should be familiar with supply and demand analysis, production and cost theory, and market structure.

BUS 216 (Statistics for Business and Economics) - You should be familiar with basic statistical concepts such probability, probability distributions, regression, and the use of spreadsheets.

It will also be helpful if you have taken MATH 14 (Survey of Calculus). There is a review of calculus in the appendix to Chapter 3.

Grading

There will be two tests during the semester (each worth 22% of your grade) and a final exam (also worth 22%) . Each test will include problem, short answer, and graphing questions.  If you miss a test during the semester and have a written excuse, you have two options:  (1) You can take a makeup test during the class period immediately following the scheduled test, or (2) the weight of the other exams will be increased appropriately, with the difficulty of each exam factored in. The final must be taken at the time indicated, so please make sure there are no conflicts.

In addition to the tests, there will be homework assignments and computer projects that will total 34% of your grade.  The computer projects will require the use of spreadsheets.

Academic Integrity

Ethical behavior is expected at all times. From the Undergraduate Bulletin: "Academic dishonesty is an affront to the integrity of scholarship at USD an a threat to the quality of learning. . . Violations of academic integrity include: a) unauthorized assistance on an examination; b) falsification or invention of data; c) unauthorized collaboration on an academic exercise; d) plagiarism; e) misappropriation of research materials; f) any unauthorized access to an instructor's files or computer account; or g) any other serious violation of academic integrity as established by the instructor. An act of dishonesty can lead to penalties in a course such as reduction of grade; withdrawal from the course; a requirement that all or part of a course be retaken; and a requirement that additional work be undertaken in connection with the course."

Text
Dominick Salvatore. Managerial Economics in a Global Economy,
8th Edition, Oxford University Press, 2015.

The study guide for this book is online and is free (!):

Study Guide