MG431      Half Unit
Managerial Economics

This information is for the 2013/14 session.

Teacher responsible

Professor Luis Rayo NAB5.20.

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Management. This course is not available as an outside option.

Course content

A graduate-level introduction to the foundations of managerial economics. Topics include: 1. Economics as a theory of organisation. 2. Economic Agents: Rationality and the co-ordination powers of the market (Demand and supply and equilibrium: the determinants of consumers' and firms' market responses and the nature of non-strategic interaction). 3. Strategic interaction and dynamic competition 4. Uncertainty: behaviour and markets (the economic foundations of financial markets) 5. Information and efficiency.

Teaching

30 hours of seminars in the MT.

Students will be grouped into two streams. Both streams will cover the same content but will be taught separately. Each stream will have 1x3 hour lecture per week in the Michaelmas Term. Multiple review sessions will be offered throughout the term. Attendance is full optional.

Formative coursework

A problem set will be assigned on week 5 and is due on week 7. It will be marked for feedback purposes only.

Indicative reading

Main textbooks: S. Estrin et al, Microeconomics, Prentice Hall, 2008. Students can also consider D M Kreps, Microeconomics for Managers, W. W. Norton (2004); T van Zandt; Firms, Price and Markets, available online (2006). Saul Estrin et al., Microeconomics, Prentice Hall, 2008. B. Douglas Bernheim and Michael D. Whiston, Microeconomics, McGraw Hill, 2008.Reading lists will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.

Key facts

Department: Management

Total students 2012/13: 126

Average class size 2012/13: 63

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Commercial awareness
  • Specialist skills

Course survey results

(2010/11 - 2011/12 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 68.2%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.7

Materials (Q2.3)

2.4

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

2.4

Lectures (Q2.5)

2.6

Integration (Q2.6)

2.5

Contact (Q2.7)

2.3

Feedback (Q2.8)

2.4

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

44.5%

Maybe

40.6%

No

14.9%