Beginner Economics

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Cursusdoel

This elementary course introduces students to some of the essentials in micro- and macroeconomics. This course especially targets those students who have no or limited knowledge (under two years) in the discipline of economics. Students with economics in their VWO exam program or IB Economics Higher Level are advised to take Introduction to Economics (UCSSCECO11).

After completing this course students are able to:
  • Read and understand simple economic texts and introductory textbooks (mid term test and end term test and participation)
  • ‘translate’ and ‘present’ general real-life issues into an economic problem (all assessments)
  • solve this economic problem by using the discplinary language and approach (e.g. graphs) used in the economic discipline, which means a.o. (mid term test, end term test and participation)
  • reason in terms of scarcity, opportunity costs, (marginal) cost-benefit and supply and demand (all assessments)
  • understand and apply the basic microeconomic principles: elasticity, consumer rationality, perfectly competitive supply and efficiency; (mid term test, econselfie/movie, participation)
  • recognize market imperfections and its consequences (mid term test, econselfie/movie, participation)
  • understand the factors that causes economies to grow, its relations and the effect of monetary policy (end term test, macro assignment, participation)
  • understand the determinants of short-term fluctuations in key economic variables and the options available to government policy makers for stabilizing the economy (end term test, macro assignment, participation)

Vakinhoudelijk

Economics covers the headlines in the news almost each and every day. For example, should Europe pursue further integration? Should countries protect their domestic industries in order to save employment and bring jobs back? How come that certain established retail stores are all of a sudden on the verge of bankruptcy? Should government start to invest more or continue with austerity policies? In order to follow this kind of news and have a somewhat better understanding of what’s happening in the world and national economy it makes sense to have an elementary knowledge of economics as a scientific discipline. Moreover, economics provides an approach on how individuals like you make choices. Should you consume this or that? Should companies produce more or less? The science of economics gives you a framework for understanding these kinds of decisions as well.

The Beginners Economics course is meant for students with no background in and (initially) no aspirations in economics but a good interest in general and economic issues. The level-0 course Beginner Economics introduces fundamental concepts, theories, models and disciplinary vocabulary that are used in economics as a scientific discipline. Focus is on mainstream economics – micro and macro. As introduction it will place the discipline of economics in the wider field of the social sciences and introduce some history of economic thought in order to have an understanding why economics as a discipline is close(r) to the sciences (than it is to humanities). In this beginners course mathematics (i.e. calculus) is completely stripped out. In the Beginners Course verbal explanation and graphical exposition are central in order to get properly acquainted with the discipline, the disciplinary vocabulary and some of the elementary theories and models to be visualized in graphs. As much as possible the connection to real-life is being made in order to develop critical thinking in economics from the zero level onwards.

Students with economics in their VWO exam program or IB Economics Higher Level are advised to continue with the Introduction to Economics (UCSSCECO11)
Format
The class meets twice each week for two hours. An online text-book is the base for class meetings.

Werkvormen

UCU ssc 1 course

Toetsing

Participation

Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75

Endterm Test

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

PET-file

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Niet verplicht

Midterm Test Microeconomics

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er is geen informatie over verplichte ingangseisen bekend.

Voorkennis

No economics background (or only for up to two years) is required for this course. With a secondary school final exam in economics, course [UCSSCECO11] Introduction to Economics should be more suitable. Please contact the course coordinator when in doubt.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Competenties

  • Internationale en interculturele oriëntatie
  • Kritisch lezen
  • Luisteren
  • Onderzoeksvaardigheden
  • Talen

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

Materiaal Omschrijving
BOEK http://www.core-econ.org/

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Coördinator

drs. E.M. van Sas E.M.vanSas@uu.nl

Docenten

drs. E.M. van Sas E.M.vanSas@uu.nl

Inschrijving

Let op: deze cursus is niet toegankelijk voor studenten van andere faculteiten, bijvakkers mogen zich dus niet inschrijven.

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