Introductory Microeconomics for Public Policy I

Lectures and Readings

  1. Intro, Supply and Demand
    • GLS, Chapters 1 and 2, skimming 2.5
    • multiple equilibria in the vanilla market, courtesy of NPR
  2. Supply and Demand and Policy
    • GLS, Chapter 3, but not 3.4 or 3.5
    • Priceline and consumer surplus
  3. Elasticity
    • GLS, Section 2.5
    • Consider elasticity of demand when analyzing this policy
  4. Consumer Behavior
    • GLS, Chapter 4
  5. Individual and Market Demand
    • GLS, Chapter 5. Omit income Engel curves from 5.1, and inferior goods and Giffen goods at the end of 5.3.
  6. Tax Incidence
    • limited coverage of 19.4
    • great policy example of sugary drinks
    • the corporate tax as yet another application of the policy importance of this topic
    • In class problem
  7. Midterm
  8. Producer Behavior
    • GLS, Chapter 6. Omit technological change.
  9. Costs
    • GLS, Chapter 7
  10. Supply in a Competitive Market
    • GLS, Chapter 8, but not 8.5
    • Supplemental
  11. Market Power and Monopoly
    • GLS, Chapter 9; omit Lerner Index
    • Helpful examples
  12. Externalities and Public Goods
    • GLS, Chapter 17, sections 17.1 and 17.2 (pages 651-671); Gruber, Chapter 7, pages 184-189; Rosen and Gayer, Chapter 4, pages 54-70
    • Two podcasts on public goods
      • Lighthouses, Autopsies, and the Federal Budget, [link]
      • How to Stop an Asteroid, [link]
  13. Social Insurance
    • Supplemental
      • See TED Radio Hour episode from Nov. 30, 2017 on transparency, which discusses information asymmetry and market failure
  14. Exam 2
    • Evening class will meet in Funger 103