PPA 220A - F/00
APPLIED ECONOMIC ANALYSIS I
Professor Lund
COURSE SYLLABUS
| PURPOSES OF THE COURSE: | It is assumed that all
members of the class are potential future producers (and, perhaps
consumers) of policy analysis. The general purpose of the course,
then, is to enable you to develop economic analytic skills to be used
in the creation and use of policy analysis studies and recommendations.
Specifically, the course will:
(1) Enable you to learn fundamental economic terms, concepts, and analytical techniques and apply them to policy analysis. (2) Help you acquire the capacity for and habit of thinking in a structured, critical, and analytic way that examines and weighs the incremental beneficial and costly effects of choices, the "economic" way of thinking. |
| REQURED EFFORT: | "Dum nihil pateris, dum nihil proficis." No pain, no gain. For the course purposes to be accomplished, sufficient effort from both the student and the instructor must be forthcoming. On the part of the student it is expected that every class session will be attended (attentively), that a minimum of two to three hours of study outside of class will be engaged in for every in-class hour, and that full and responsible participation in group projects will occur. |
| EVALUATION: | The course grade is
based on the following elements:
|
| TEXTS: | The basic text for the
course is Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practice by David Weimer
and Aidan Vining. (W/V)
A supplemental microeconomics review text is used: Barron's EZ-101 Study Keys: Microeconomics, by J. Bruce Lindeman. (LN) |
| CLASS MEMBER EVALUATION: | Class member evaluation will be used for the group projects assigned in the course. Details of the evaluation process will be provided in a separate handout. |
| COMMUNICATION: | Students are invited
to discuss the course or any other matters of concern during office
hours held in Business 3020 at the following times: : MW 10-10:30
AM, M 5:30-6 PM; T 5-5:30 PM.
Phone: For 3020, 278-7078 and for the Economics Office, 278-6223. E-mail: pblund@csus.edu. Web site: www.csus.edu/indiv/l/lundp |
TOPICS AND READING ASSIGNMENTS
|
DATE |
TOPIC(S) |
ASSIGNMENT |
|
Aug. 28 |
Course Introduction; Policy Analysis Basics; Basic micro-economic concepts. | W/V 1,2,3
LN 1,2,3 |
|
Sept. 4 |
Demand / Supply Analysis | LN 4 |
|
11 |
Elasticity; Consumer Behavior; Production and Cost Analysis | LN 5,6,7 |
|
18 |
Firm Behavior: Perfect Competition | LN 8 |
|
25 |
EXAM
Imperfect Competition; Market Failure and the Government |
LN 9,11
W/V 4,5 |
|
Oct. 2 |
Market Failure and the Government | LN11
W/V 5 |
|
9 |
Market Failure and the Government; Government Failure | W/V 6,7,8 |
|
16 |
Correcting market Failure | W/V 9 |
|
23 |
EXAM
Issues in Policy Analysis |
W/V 3,10 |
|
30 |
Benefit-Cost Analysis | W/V 12 |
|
Nov. 6 |
Benefit-Cost Analysis | W/V 12,14 |
|
13 |
No Class - Preparation
of Group Benefit-Cost Critiques (Instructor in office for consultations.) |
|
|
20 |
Presentation of Benefit-Cost Critiques | |
|
27 |
No Class - Preparation
of Group Benefit-Cost Projects (Instructor in office for consultations.) |
|
|
Dec. 4 |
No Class - Preparation
of Group Benefit-Cost Projects (Instructor in office for consultations.) |
|
|
11 |
Presentation of Benefit-Cost Projects |
COPYRIGHT BY PETER B. LUND
(June, 2000)