Introduction to Economics (2026/2027: Semester 2 – Spring)

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Cursusdoel

After completing this course students are able to:
  • Think conceptually as a micro-economist and as a macro-economist
  • Have an understanding of the main differences between different schools of thought in economics
  • Apply the relevant economic perspective to problems on the level of the individual actor, market(s), the economy(ies), and government(s).

Relationship between assessment and learning goals:

In this course, the final course grade is based on five elements:
  1. Participation and online tests (10%) this tests your knowledge of, and ability to apply economic jargon and knowledge.
  2. Macroeconomics test (30%): this tests your knowledge of, and ability to apply macroeconomics jargon and theories as well as your ability to analyze real-world macroeconomic events.
  3. Microeconomics test (30%): this tests your knowledge of, and ability to apply microeconomics jargon and theories as well as your ability to analyze real-world microeconomic events.
  4. Interim assessment (8% and 7%): these tests your understanding of basic concepts covered and your ability to apply and explain them in a different setting.
  5. Rethinking Economics assessment (15%): this tests your understanding of schools of thought different from the neoclassical one and your ability to apply their thinking to economic situations.

Vakinhoudelijk

Economists develop theories aiming to explain human behavior, especially – although not exclusively – when they operate in the context of markets and market economies. The course Introduction to Economics provides an introduction to the fundamentals of economics as a science. The course covers mainstream neoclassical and Keynesian micro- and macro-economics, as well as other schools of thought.
Microeconomics focuses on the functioning of a single market and the way governments could promote it. Economic phenomena are explained from the perspective of individual behavior in a market setting. When some goods cannot be produced by private firms and sold via the market, the government can take the initiative to provide these goods, e.g. public utilities and collective goods such as dikes, defense, and justice.
Macroeconomics explains the functioning of a set of interrelated markets at the national or the international level. Also in this perspective the potential role of government is introduced e.g. in keeping a system of markets stable or in reaching economic growth.

The last weeks in the course will be dedicated to the topic of "Rethinking Economics", covering a.o., but not exclusively, institutional economics, feminist economics, Marxist economics and econological economics.

Format
The class meets twice each week for two hours. A text-book accompanied with the online learning environment MyEconLab is the base for the course. The course manual clarifies the tasks the students must fulfill before, during, and after the scheduled meetings. Additional assignments are given in order to apply the theoretical concepts to real-life phenomena.

Werkvormen

UCU SSC 1 course

Toetsing

Participation and online tests

Verplicht | Weging 10% | ECTS 0,75

Macroeconomics test

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

Interim assessment 1

Verplicht | Weging 8% | ECTS 0,6

Interim assessment 2

Verplicht | Weging 7% | ECTS 0,53

Re-thinking Economics assessment

Verplicht | Weging 15% | ECTS 1,13

*midterm FEEDBACK*

Niet verplicht

Microeconomics test

Verplicht | Weging 30% | ECTS 2,25

Ingangseisen en voorkennis

Ingangseisen

Er is geen informatie over verplichte ingangseisen bekend.

Voorkennis

This course is aimed at students who have taken economics as an exams subject in high school. This includes: - Economics at VWO - An AP exam in Micro- and Macroeconomics - IB SL or HL economics - A level in economics. Students who have taken “Wirtschaft” as part of the German Abitur or who have taken “Sciences Économiques et Sociales” as part of the French Baccalaureate are recommended to take UCSSCECO01 Beginner Economics.

Voorkennis kan worden opgedaan met

Students who have never taken economics before or who did not take it as an exams subject should register for [UCSSCECO01] Beginner Economics.” If you have obtained another diploma, please contact the teacher to ask for advice on which course to take, UCSSCECO01 Beginner Economics or UCSSCECO11 Introduction to Economics.

Voertalen

  • Engels

Competenties

  • Academisch schrijven
  • Kritisch lezen
  • Luisteren
  • Onderzoeksvaardigheden

Cursusmomenten

Gerelateerde studies

Tentamens

Er is geen tentamenrooster beschikbaar voor deze cursus

Verplicht materiaal

  • READER
  • BOEK
    Economics Johan Sloman, Dean Garrat, Jon Guest, 11th edition, Pearson, 2022. Students will need to buy the edition including MyEconLab which has ISBN 9781292405421. If a student chooses to buy a second-hand copy of the book MyLab Economics will not be included and will need to be purchased separately. This can be done here: https://mlm.pearson.com/global/students/get-registered/index.html

Aanbevolen materiaal

Er is geen informatie over de aanbevolen literatuur bekend

Coördinator

dr. C.G. Ramos c.g.ramos@uu.nl

Docenten

dr. C.G. Ramos c.g.ramos@uu.nl
drs. K.R.L. Zwitserloot K.R.L.Zwitserloot1@uu.nl

Inschrijving

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

Naar OSIRIS-inschrijvingen
Permanente link naar de cursuspagina
Laat in de Cursus-Catalogus zien
Laat in MyTimetable zien