ARE 201 Syllabus (First Half)
1 Administration & Grading
1.1 Structure of course
This semester-long course will be divided into two parts. The first half will be taught by Ethan Ligon; the second half by Larry Karp. The course grade will be determined by a simple average of the grades obtained in each of the two halves. Beyond this, the present syllabus concerns itself exclusively with the content and structure of the first half of the course.
1.2 Texts
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1.3 Office Hours
I will hold "drop-in" office hours on Mondays from 1-2p. These may sometimes be crowded this semester, as I'm also teaching a large undergraduate class. Thus, I encourage you to point your browser to http://are.berkeley.edu/~ligon/appointment.html to schedule a private appointment if at all necessary.
1.4 Grading
Your grade for the first half of the course will be based half on your performance on two problem sets, and half on your performance on an exam, to be administered mid-semester.
1.5 Study Groups
You are strongly encouraged to work with other students on the problem sets; for most students, this will be the best way to master the material for this course. You will, however, be required to turn in individual problem sets. And collaboration on the exam is, of course, verboten.
2 Topics & Readings
I'll mention main references in this (possibly evolving) syllabus. In addition to these, I'll sometimes make other articles or material available online.
Some broadly useful preliminary & background readings include
- \cite{Ligon07math}
- A review of some useful math. Use this if math camp was a blur.
- \cite{Friedman53}
- This is the closest thing the economics profession has to a summary of our methodological approach to applied empirical economics. You should be familiar with it.
2.1 Demand
2.1.1 Commodity Spaces and Feasible Sets
- \cite{Debreu59}, Chapter 2
2.1.2 Consumer Preferences
- \cite{Debreu59}, Chapter 4
- \cite{Jehle-Reny11}, Section 1.2
- \cite{MasColell-etal95} Chapters 1 & 2
2.1.3 Consumer Demand (the primal problem)
- \cite{Jehle-Reny11}, Sections 1.3–1.5
- \cite{MasColell-etal95} Sections 3A–D
2.1.4 Consumer Demand (the dual problem)
- \cite{MasColell-etal95} Sections 3E–G
2.1.6 Aggregation and Consumer Surplus
- \cite{MasColell-etal95} Chapter 4
- Altruism & Other-regarding Preferences
\cite{Becker91}
2.2 Production
2.2.1 Production Relations & The Firm's Problem
- \cite{Debreu59} Chapter 3
- \cite{MasColell-etal95} Sections 5A–D
- \cite{Jehle-Reny11}, Chapter 3
2.2.2 Aggregation and Producer Surplus
- \cite{MasColell-etal95} Sections 5E
2.3 Welfare & Equilibrium
2.3.1 Social Welfare Functions and Pareto Programs
- \cite{Debreu59} Chapters 5–6
- \cite{MasColell-etal95} Chapters 15–16
- \cite{Townsend87}
2.3.2 Time & Uncertainty
- Risk, Wagering, and Insurance
- \cite{Debreu59} Chapter 7
- \cite{MasColell-etal95} Sections 19A–E
- \cite{Jehle-Reny11}, Sections 2.4, 5.4
- \cite{Ligon08palgraves}
- Credit & Investment
- \cite{MasColell-etal95} Chapters 20A-D
- \cite{Deaton92}, Chapter 1