EconS 301 – Intermediate Microeconomic Theory, Spring 2026

Syllabus

Introduction (January 13th)

Preferences and Utility (January 13th-January 20th) Link 1

Consumer Choice (January 22nd – January 27th) Link 1 Link 2

Substitution and Income effect (January 29th -February 3rd)

Measuring Welfare Changes (February 5th – February 10th)

Recitation – February 6th (Answer Key)

Choice Under Uncertainty (February 17th – February 19th)

Production Functions (February 24th – February 26th)

Cost Minimization (March 3rd – February 5th)

Monopoly (March 12th) Link 1 Link 2

Game Theory: Simultaneous-Move Games (March 31st – April 14th)

Recitation – Friday, March 27th

Game Theory: Sequential and Repeated Games (March 31st-April 14th)

Example and Exercise

Imperfect Competition (April 14th – April 16th)

Examples Market Share: Ex. 1 Ex. 2 Ex. 3

Examples Collusion: Ex 1.

Externalities and Public Goods (April 21st – April 30th)

Examples

Assignments

  • Homework #1 [Tuesday January 27th]
  • Homework #2 [Tuesday February 10th]
  • Homework #3 [Thursday February 26th]
  • Homework #4 [Thursday March 26th]
  • Homework #5 [Tuesday April 14th]
  • Homework #6 [Tuesday April 28th]

Quizzes

  • Quiz #1 [Thursday January 29th]
  • Quiz #2 [Thursday February 26th]
  • Quiz #3 [Thursday March 12th]
  • Quiz #4 [Thursday April 9th]
  • Quiz #5 [Thursday April 23rd]

Midterms

  • Midterm #1 – Thursday, February 12th [Recitation: Friday, February 6th]
  • Midterm #2 – Due on April 2nd [Recitation: Friday, March 27th]
  • Final Exam: Wednesday May 6th, 9:00am-11am, in class (CLAR 147).
  • Recitations are at 11:10am-12pm in CLAR 147.

Inferior vs Normal Goods

Giffen Goods

Risk

Monopoly

Game Theory

Prisoner’s Dilemma

Saturday Night Massacre

Split or Steal

The Chicken Game

Penalty Kick

Books

Cartels & Collusion

The Informant

Externalities

Tragedy of the Commons