Microeconomics II 2400-FIM1MII
Topics and concepts covered during the course:
● Technology 1 – factors of production, production function, short run vs. long run, factor productivity, isoquants, marginal rate of technical substitution (MRTS)
● Technology 2 – returns to scale, homogeneity, the elasticity of substitution, properties of production functions
● Costs 1 – accounting costs, economic costs, sunk costs, alternative costs, cost functions, short run vs. long run cost curves, costs and returns to scale, economies of scope
● Costs 2 – optimal choice: cost minimization, isocosts, conditional factor demand, expansion path, optimal division of production
● Profit maximization – profit function, profit maximization, duality
● Perfect competition – assumptions, optimal choice of a competitive firm (profit maximization, shutdown conditions (short and long run)), supply curve (short and long run), equilibrium and efficiency, producer surplus, elasticity of supply, industry supply, economic rent
● Imperfect competition – market power, markup pricing, Lerner index, downward-sloping demand curve
● Monopoly – assumptions, optimal choice of a monopolist, price elasticity of demand and marginal revenue of a monopolist, multiplant monopoly, social cost of monopoly, regulation, natural monopoly
● Monopolistic behavior – price discrimination: first-, second-, and third-degree, multimarket monopoly, peak-load pricing, two-part tariff, bundling, non-price strategies of capturing consumer surplus
● Factor markets – firm’s demand for inputs in competitive markets, labor supply, monopsony, economic rent (under monopsony or fixed input supply)
● Game theory 1 – basic concepts, simultaneous games, dominant and dominated strategies, pure and mixed strategies, Nash Equilibrium, Pareto efficiency, the Prisoner’s Dilemma, game variants
● Game theory 2 – sequential games, decision trees, information sets, sequential rationality, backward induction, subgame perfect Nash equilibrium (SPNE), reaction functions, auctions
● Oligopoly 1 – monopolistic competition, Cournot and Bertrand models (for homogeneous and heterogeneous goods)
● Oligopoly 2 – cartels and their stability, Stackelberg and price leadership models (for homogeneous and heterogeneous goods)
Estimated student workload: 6 ECTS × 25 h = 150 h
(K) - Contact hours (S) - Self-study hours
Lectures: 30 h (K) 0 h (S)
Tutorials: 30 h (K) 0 h (S)
Exam: 2 h (K) 0 h (S)
Consultations: 4 h (K) 0 h (S)
Preparation for tutorials: 0 h (K) 38 h (S)
Preparation for lectures: 0 h (K) 28 h (S)
Preparation for tutorials final test: 0 h (K) 9 h (S)
Preparation for final exam: 0 h (K) 9 h (S)
Total: 66 h (K) 84 h (S) = 150h
Type of course
Prerequisites (description)
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
Learning outcomes The aim of the course is to provide students with an understanding of intermediate supply-side microeconomic theory. Upon successful completion, students will be able to conduct theoretical and empirical market analysis based on a solid foundation in intermediate microeconomics.
After completing the course, the student:
KNOWLEDGE
● Has systematic knowledge of the main concepts and tools of producer theory and cost analysis.
● Understands the relationship between production, costs, and firm behavior under different market structures.
● Knows how to derive and interpret production, cost, and profit functions, and understands their duality.
● Understands the assumptions and efficiency properties of perfectly competitive markets.
● Has knowledge of the sources and consequences of market power, including monopoly and oligopoly behavior.
● Understands the basic principles of strategic interaction and their applications in firm competition (game theory).
SKILLS
● Can apply models of producer theory to analyze production and cost decisions in the short and long run.
● Is able to derive firms’ and industries’ supply functions under different market structures.
● Can analyze profit maximization and cost minimization problems using calculus and graphical methods.
● Can assess the effects of policy interventions or regulation on firm behavior and market outcomes.
● Is able to use basic game-theoretic models to analyze strategic interactions between firms.
● Can interpret equilibrium outcomes in terms of efficiency and welfare.
SOCIAL COMPETENCES
● Understands the importance of theoretical models in explaining firm and market behavior while recognizing their limitations.
● Is aware of the relevance of market structure and competition policy for social welfare.
● Can critically evaluate the applicability of standard microeconomic models to real-world market situations.
● Is prepared to further develop analytical and empirical skills in microeconomics and related fields.
Assessment criteria
Methods and criteria of evaluation 1. Passing the tutorials is required to be eligible for the exam.
1.1. The tutorial grade (score) consists of:
• Final written test – conducted during the last tutorial; consists of open-ended tasks to solve
• Class activities – determined by each instructor (e.g., entry tests, midterms, homework) and announced at the beginning of the term
1.2. The tutorial score is calculated as follows:
Tutorial Score = 0.7 × (final test percentage) + 0.3 × (class activities percentage)
1.3. To pass tutorials, a student must meet both conditions:
• Score at least 50% on the final test
• Achieve at least 50% of the total available points (tutorial score)
2. Completing the course requires passing the final written exam.
2.1. Passing the course requires scoring at least 50% on the final exam.
2.2. The final course score is calculated as:
0.7 x (percentage from the exam) + 0.3 x (percentage from the tutorials)
2.3 Both the final exam and re-exam are multiple-choice tests.
3. Other rules
3.1. Exams are scheduled according to the Faculty Regulations, particularly the exam and re-exam periods specified in the Academic Calendar of the Faculty.
3.2. All students take the tutorials final, the final exam (and the re-exam) on the same date. Alternative exam dates are not permitted, unless explicitly authorized by the Dean.
3.3. Missing the tutorial final or exam counts as a failure (resulting in an 'NK' grade – not classified).
3.4. Grades from previous academic years cannot be transferred (neither tutorial nor course grades).
3.5. There is only one opportunity to review the tutorial final and final exam, on a date set by the tutor / lecturer.
3.6. The course adheres to the Faculty’s “zero tolerance for cheating” policy.
3.7. Grading scale:
Percentage score & grade
<50-60) – 3
<60-70) – 3.5
<70-80) – 4
<80-90) – 4.5
<90-100> – 5
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: