EC4B6 Half Unit
Microeconomics for MSc F&E
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Dr Francesco Nava
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in Finance and Economics and MSc in Finance and Economics (Work Placement Pathway). This course is not available as an outside option to students on other programmes. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
How to apply: These courses are only available for MSc Finance and Economics students who have completed the entire EC400 course.
Deadline for application: Please apply as soon as possible after the opening of course selection for all courses.
For queries contact: Econ.msc@lse.ac.uk
Requisites
Pre-requisites:
Students must have completed EC400 before taking this course.
Course content
The aim of the course is to develop the basic tools for analysing problems of resource allocation used by economists working in research, government, and business. The course deals with positive and normative problems. It aims to include modern developments without being overly mathematical, and to develop a capacity to apply economic concepts to real-world problems. The course focuses on classical theories of market behaviour and strategic interaction. We begin by presenting decision theoretic foundations of choice behaviour, by analysing the optimisation problems faced by consumers and firms, and by modelling market interactions and the formation of prices in perfectly competitive markets. Then we study models of decision making under uncertainty and game theoretic solution concepts. Novel developments in these fields are also discussed in lectures.
Teaching
20 hours of lectures and 9 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
Formative assessment
Weekly problem sets and two marked assignments in AT which will contribute to the coursework mark.
Indicative reading
The course will draw on a variety of texts, the main ones being:
1. J G Riley, Essential Microeconomics, Cambridge.
2. J R Green, A Mas-Colell & M D Whinston, Microeconomic Theory, Oxford.
More detailed readings will be given at the beginning of the course.
Some notes will be provided where textbook coverage is inadequate.
Assessment
Exam (90%), duration: 120 Minutes, reading time: 15 minutes in the January exam period
Continuous assessment (10%)
This course is IRDAP-enabled, meaning that resit and deferred assessments will take place in August 2026.
Key facts
Department: Economics
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 19
Average class size 2024/25: 6
Controlled access 2024/25: YesCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.