Econ 1 N Syllabus

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS

SYLLABUS

Course No. : Economics 1N

Course Title : Principles of Economics with Taxation and Land Reform

Credit : 3 units

Pre-requisites : None

Lecturer : AGBON, ADRIAN BOYETT D abagbon@gmail.com/abagbon@yahoo.com

Liberty of thoughts- blog

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is the mandated introduction to the principles of economics and the economics of taxation and land reform for undergraduate students. The course surveys the essential principles in one of two major branches of economics, microeconomics, the economics of decision making regarding the allocation of scarce resources at the level of individual decision makers: individuals, households and business firms. The second half of the course tackles the analyses of the economy as a whole.

The course begins with an introduction to the perspective and methods of economics. A crucial part of this introduction is the discussion of the mechanisms embodied in economic systems that allow economic units to address the problem of scarcity. The focus from thereon is on market systems with a brief detour on the role of government in predominantly market systems. Competitive markets are examined next with the use of the principles of supply and demand. In subsequent sessions, the underlying building blocks of consumer choice behavior and firm behavior in various market structures are studied. This is followed by a discussion of measurement and indicators of macroeconomic performance, basic models of short-run fluctuations and policy interventions, an introduction to growth theory and economic development, and ends with a look at selected topics in macroeconomic policy. Topics in the economics of taxation and land reform are discussed as applications of the relevant concepts in both the microeconomic and macroeconomic portions of the course.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

By the end of the course, the participant should be able to:

1.

appreciate the perspective and methodology of economics and their distinctive contributions to the study of social phenomena and the alleviation of the human condition;

2.

apply the tools of microeconomic analyses in the explaining the functioning of economic systems;

3.

apply the tools of macroeconomic analyses in explaining the functioning of economies, the prevalence of short-run fluctuations, and the prospects for economic growth;

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DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS

4.

utilize the lessons learned to make informed decisions in personal and public decision making.

COURSE OUTLINE

Specific Objectives

Content

Readings

Time

Allotment

1.

To introduce the course participant to the University of San Carlos Mission-Vision and the policies of the Department of Economics as applied to its graduate programs.

2.

To give an overview of course content and requirements.

Unit I. Introduction

1.

The University of San Carlos Mission-Vision, University, Department, Program and Classroom Policies.

2.

The Course Syllabus

1.

The USC Mission-Vision Statements

2.

Economics 1 Course Syllabus

1 HR

1.

To introduce the participant to the perspective of economics and economic methodology.

2.

To illustrate how the problem of scarcity leads to fundamental problems that economic

Unit II. The Perspective and Methodology of Economics

1. Limits, Alternatives and Choices (chapter 1)

2. The Market System and the Circular Flow (chapter 2)

(Chapter exam)

1. McConnell and Brue

2. Samuelson and Nordhaus (2005) CHP 1

3.Sicat (2003) CHP 1-2

2 HRS

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DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS UNIVERSITY OF SAN CARLOS

entities have to solve.

3.

To show how the concern for efficiency stems from the problem of scarcity.

1.

To compare and contrast the different ways economies may be organized to solve the problems of economic organization.

2.

To show how predominantly market systems solve the problems that arise from resource scarcity.

3.

To appreciate the roles that government plays in market systems.

Unit III. Markets and Government

1.

Economic Systems

2. Public Choice Theory and the Economics of Taxation (chapter 17)

3. The Rationale for Agrarian Reform (chapter 19)

(Chapter exam)

1. McConnell and Brue

2. Samuelson and Nordhaus (2005) CHP 2-4

3.Sicat (2003) CHP 4-7

5 HRS

1.

To learn the determinants of buyer and seller behavior