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- 工学院，物質理工学院，環境・社会理工学院共通科目
- Liberal arts and basic science courses
- First-Year Courses
- School of Science
- School of Engineering
- School of Materials and Chemical Technology
- School of Computing
- School of Life Science and Technology
-
School of Environment and Society
- Department of Architecture and Building Engineering
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Department of Transdisciplinary Science and Engineering
- Department of Social and Human Sciences
- Department of Innovation Science
- Graduate major in Technology and Innovation Management
- Common courses
- Liberal arts and basic science courses
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Yamana Kazufumi
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- Day/Period(Room No.)
- Mon5-6(W541)
- Group
- -
- Course number
- LAH.S109
- Credits
- 1
- Academic year
- 2016
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- 2016/4/27
- Lecture notes updated
- 2017/2/16
- Language used
- Japanese
- Access Index
-
Course description and aims
>Course description
This course is open to everyone who is interested in Economics. The course is suitable for anyone who is major in another subject, but who wants to broaden their minds. The course is taught in a non-technical way, that is the course introduces the students to how economists think by using case studies. With actual applications, students will learn the practical know-how of economic anaysis without the need to learn a bunch of economic theories and complicated mathematical techniques. Within this course, we will study microeconomics, macroeconomics, and also econometrics. Microeconomics is the study of individuals and macroeconomics is the study of aggregates. We also study econometrics, which is the study of how to test the validity of theoretical hypothesis: the counterpart of an experimental method in natural science.
>Aims
Economics is a very useful tool to understand most things in daily life: that's why both specialists and non-specialists should gain a basic knowledge of economics. Thinking like an economist will be a nice guide to make better decisions and predictions, and get to the correct answers to questions that we always ask ourselves.
Student learning outcomes
Students can learn the intellectual framework to think like an economist about a range of issues. Specifically,
1) Know a set of simple analytical tools which economists frequently use.
2) Understand how the system works with a combination of the tools.
3) Suggest the simple solution when the system malfunctions.
This is what we call "thinking like an economist"
Keywords
Microeconomics, Game theory, Macroeconomics, Econometrics
Competencies that will be developed
| Specialist skills | ✔ Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
Class flow
Lecture(1hour)+Discussion(30min.)
Course schedule/Required learning
| Course schedule | Required learning | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Class guidance and introduction to the course | Mankiw(2014) Ch.1-3 Coyle(2009) |
| Class 2 | Microeconomics | Mankiw(2014) Ch. 4-7 Becker/Posner(2010) |
| Class 3 | Microeconomics | Adshade(2013) |
| Class 4 | Microeconomics: Game theory | Dixit/Nalebuff(1991) |
| Class 5 | Macroeconomics | Mankiw(2014) Ch.10 |
| Class 6 | Macroeconomics | Mankiw(2014) Ch.11 |
| Class 7 | Econometrics | Levitt/Dubner(2006) Levitt/Dubner(2011) |
| Class 8 | Econometrics | Levitt/Dubner(2006) Levitt/Dubner(2011) |
Textbook(s)
This lecture is self-contained and requires no textbook.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
>Course materials
PowerPoint slides are assigned to each topic and will be uploaded after the class. Students are expected to use these documents for review purposes.
>Reference
1) N.G. Mankiw; "Principles of Economics"; 7th edition 2014; South-Western College Pub
2) A.K. Dixit and B.J. Nalebuff; "Thinking strategically: the competitive edge in business, policitcs, and everyday life"; 1991; Norton
3) S.D. Levitt and S.J.Dubner; "Freakonomics"; 2006; Penguin Books
4) S.D. Levitt and S.J.Dubner; "Super Freakonomics"; 2010; Penguin Books
5) G.S. Becker and R.A. Posner; "Uncommon Sense: Economic Insights, from Marriage to Terrorism"; Reissue edition 2010; University of Chicago Press
6) M.Adshade; "Dollars and Sex: How Economics Influences Sex and Love"; 2013; Chronicle Books
7) D. Coyle; "The Soulful Science: What Economists Really Do and Why It Matters"; Revised edition 2009; Princeton University Press
Assessment criteria and methods
Attendance and activities in class: 30%
Final exam: 70%
Related courses
- LAH.S209 ： Economics B
- LAH.S310 ： Economics C
Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)
None required
