University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom:

1. Advanced Microeconomics: TA for Jim Jin (Fall 2011).
2. Intermediate Microeconomics: TA for Manfredi La Manna (Fall 2011).

Maastricht University, Netherlands:

1. Microeconomics: TA for Christian Kerckhoffs (Fall 2008, 2009, 2010).



The following topics are addressed in tutorials:

Part I: Supply and Demand (weeks 1-2)
Part II: Consumer Theory (weeks 2-3)
Part III: Producer Theory (weeks 3-4)
Part IV: Perfect Competition (week 5)
Part V: Market Power and Market Structure (weeks 6-7)

Part I (Tasks 1-2) introduces what is probably the most used model in economics: the supply-and-demand model. This model emphasizes the role that prices play in equating supply and demand. It can also be used to analyze the consequences of government interventions like quotas, taxes, price floors and price ceilings.

The supply-and-demand model treats both supply and demand as black boxes: it does not explain where they come from. Parts II (Tasks 3-4) and III (Tasks 5-7) of the course open up these black boxes by providing models of consumer and producer behavior. A consumer is modeled as an individual who chooses goods and services to satisfy his preferences as well as possible, subject to the constraint that he cannot spend more than his income. A producer tries to maximize his profits, taking also into account constraints dictated by his technological possibilities.

Part IV (Tasks 8-9) connects the choices made by consumers and producers by treating the market structure of perfect competition. In this market structure, both consumers and producers have no market power, i.e. they take goods prices as given. In this setting one of the most important results in economics can be derived, concerning the superiority of the market system in allocating resources. In many cases, however, firms do have market power.

Part V (Tasks 10-13) discusses the market structures of monopoly, oligopoly, and monopolistic competition. It shows how firms in these market structures can exploit their market power, for instance by using price discrimination. We will also have a quick sniff at game theory, a rapidly developing field of study. Game theory is all about strategic interaction between players: it is therefore not surprising that oligopoly models can typically be cast as game-theoretic applications.



2. Economics and Business: TA for Philipp Reiss (Fall 2007, 2008, 2009).



The following topics are addressed in tutorials: supply and demand analysis, perfect competition, monopoly, game theory, oligopoly, auction markets, agency theory, and elements of macroeconomics. Knowledge of basic mathematical concepts is a prerequisite.

NOTE: Tutorials are taught in English and students' evaluations are available upon request.

University of Toulouse, France:

1. Microeconomics: TA for Arnold Chassagnon and Francois Cochard (Fall 2006).

NOTE: Tutorials are taught in French.