評分

項目

比重

每周作業

10%

第一次期中考

20%

第二次期中考

30%

期未考

40%

課程日程表

課

課程單元

重要日期

1

美國經濟現況概觀

供給和需求

Overview of the Current U.S. Economy
Supply and Demand

2

供給和需求（續）與彈性

Supply and Demand (cont.) and Elasticity

作業1到期

3

輔導課1：簡單一階導數和基礎微積分

Tutorial 1: Simple First Derivatives and Basic Calculus

4

開始討論效用最大化及稀缺資源分配—例如：需求曲線背後的機制

Begin Utility Maximization and the Allocation of Scarce Resources - e.g. the Machinery Behind the Demand Curve

5

效用最大化（續）

個體需求與市場需求

Utility Maximization (cont.)
Individual Demand and Market Demand

作業2到期

6

醫療照護的成本—在不確定性下，供給/需求和效用的應用

The Cost of Medical Care - An Application of Demand/Supply and Utility Under Uncertainty

7

科技，成本及規模回報

Technology, Costs and Returns to Scale

8

科技，成本及規模回報（續）

Technology, Costs and Returns to Scale (cont.)

作業3到期

9

利潤最大化的基本邏輯

Basic Logic of Profit Maximization

作業4到期

第一次期中考（範圍至第8堂）

First Midterm (covers through Session 8)

10

競爭市場的利潤最大化

Profit Maximization in Competitive Markets

11

競爭市場的利潤最大化（續）

Profit Maximization in Competitive Markets (cont.)

作業5到期

12

壟斷的利潤最大化

Profit Maximization Under Monopoly

13

寡頭壟斷和壟斷性競爭

Oligopoly and Monopolistic Competition

作業6到期

14

淺談簡單賽局理論

A Taste of Simple Game Theory

第二次期中考（範圍至第12堂）

15

國際貿易與離岸外包

International Trade and Offshoring

16

綜論：貿易、科技與勞動市場

Pulling it Together - Trade, Technology and the Labor Market

作業7到期

17

課程總結

Course Wrap-up

18

期未考

Final Exam

課

課程單元

閱讀資料

1

美國經濟現況概觀

供給和需求

Overview of the Current U.S. economy

Supply and Demand

Freudenheim, Milt.〈公司限制許多退休人員的醫療保險〉"Companies Limit Health Coverage of Many Retirees." 《紐約時報》New York Times, February 3, 2004, Section A, Page 1.

Levy, Frank, and Richard J. Murnane. 〈有一份例行工作嗎？不會太久了〉"Got a Routine Job? Not for Long." 《華盛頓郵報周日觀點》Washington Post Sunday Outlook, July 4, 2004, Page 3.

課本第1章及附錄。

工具：試作〈供給與需求〉範例1.1及1.2。

2

供給和需求（續）與彈性

Supply and Demand (cont.) and Elasticity

課本130至149頁。

工具：試作〈供給與需求〉範例1.3至1.5。

Wessel, David. 〈停電的一課：自由市場同樣需要規則〉"A Lesson from the Blackout: Free Markets Also Need Rules." 《華爾街日報》Wall Street Journal, August 28, 2003, Page 1.

3

輔導課1：簡單一階導數和基礎微積分

Tutorial 1: Simple First Derivatives and Basic Calculus

4

開始討論效用最大化及稀缺資源分配—例如：需求曲線背後的機制

Begin Utility Maximization and the Allocation of Scarce Resources - e.g. the Machinery Behind the Demand Curve

課本第2章。

工具：試作〈消費者行為〉3個練習題。

5

效用最大化（續）

個體需求與市場需求

Utility Maximization (cont.)

Individual Demand and Market Demand

課本第3章及第4章126-130頁。

6

醫療照護的成本—在不確定性下，供給/需求和效用的應用

The Cost of Medical Care - An Application of Demand/Supply and Utility Under Uncertainty

課本503-509頁。

Newhouse, Joseph. 〈醫療照護的成本：多少福利損失？〉"Medical Care Costs: How Much Welfare Loss?" 《經濟觀點期刊》Journal of Economic Perspectives, 6, no. 3: 3-21.

7

科術，成本及規模回報

Technology, Costs and Returns to Scale

課本第5、6章。
工具：試作〈生產者行為〉的練習題3.1：成本

Autor, David, Frank Levy, and Richard J. Murnane. 〈樓上、樓下：大銀行兩層樓的電腦和技術〉"Upstairs, Downstairs: Computers and Skills on Two Floors of a Large Bank." 《工業及勞工關係評論》Industrial and Labor Relations Review, April 2002, pp. 432, ff.

8

科技，成本及規模回報（續）

Technology, Costs and Returns to Scale (cont.)

課本第5、6章。

工具：試作〈生產者行為〉的練習題3.1：成本

Autor, David, Frank Levy, and Richard J. Murnane. 〈樓上、樓下：大銀行兩層樓的電腦和技術〉"Upstairs, Downstairs: Computers and Skills on Two Floors of a Large Bank." 《工業及勞工關係評論》Industrial and Labor Relations Review, April 2002, pp. 432, ff.

9

利潤最大化的基本邏輯

Basic Logic of Profit Maximization

課本第7章。

工具：試作〈市場〉練習題4.2.1：需求與收益。

第一次期中考（範圍至第8堂）

First Midterm (covers through Session 8)

10

競爭市場的利潤最大化

Profit Maximization in Competitive Markets

課本第8、9章。

工具：試作〈市場〉練習題4.1.1：短期與長期平衡

11

競爭市場的利潤最大化（續）

Profit Maximization in Competitive Markets (cont.)

課本第8、9章。

工具：試作〈市場〉練習題4.1.1：短期與長期平衡

12

壟斷的利潤最大化

Profit Maximization Under Monopoly

課本第10章。

Shapiro, Carl, and Hal Varian.《資訊統領一切》 Information Rules. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press, 1998, chapter 7. ISBN: 087584863X.

Belson, Ken. 〈叫人吃驚的撤退，AT&T停止向消費者行銷〉"In Startling Retreat, AT&T to Stop Marketing to Consumers." 《紐約時報》New York Times, July 23, 2004.

Richtel, Matt. 〈Bells勝了一仗，不一定贏得戰爭〉"Bells Win Battle, Not Necessarily the War." 《紐約客》New York Times, July 23, 2004.

13

寡頭壟斷和壟斷性競爭

Oligopoly and Monopolistic Competition

課本第11章。

Maynard, Micheline. 〈達美航空機師願意減薪23%〉 "Pilots at Delta Offer to Take a 23% Cut in Wages." 《紐約時報》New York Times, July 22, 2004.

另外一個壟斷性競爭的例子，參見Palm Evolution網站的PDA和智慧型手機多加功能的進化。

14

淺談簡單賽局理論

A Taste of Simple Game Theory

課本第12章。

Ellison, Glenn, and Sara Fisher Ellison. 〈互聯網的搜尋、混亂及價格彈性〉"Search, Obfuscation, and Price Elasticites on the Internet." January 2001. (英語PDF)

第二次期中考（範圍至第12堂）

Second Midterm (covers through Session 12)

15

國際貿易與離岸外包

International Trade and Offshoring

Krugman, Paul R., and Maurice Obstfeld. 《國際經濟學：理論和政策》International Economics: Theory and Policy. Boston, MA: Addison Wesley, 2003, chapter 2, pp. 10-37. ISBN: 0321116399.

Boo, Katherine.〈印度來函：城內最好的工作〉"Letter from India: The Best Job in Town." 《紐約客》The New Yorker, July 5, 2004, pp. 54-69.

16

綜論：貿易、科技與勞動市場

Pulling it Together - Trade, Technology and the Labor Market

Uchitelle, Louis. 〈職位增加總是過工廠大門而不入〉"Surge in Jobs Mostly Bypasses the Factory Floor." 《紐約時報》New York Times, May 11, 2004.

17

課程複習

Course Wrap-up

18

期未考

Final Exam

摘要

周次

課程講稿

1

作為核心課程的基礎，個體經濟學由檢視美國收入分配一些趨勢作為開場，包括愈趨不平等的因素：教育的回報率提高、移民、最頂級的分配是勝者全拿等等。

接下來是供給、需求和彈性的標準內容。首先，學生要思考三種價值的計量：1生產者製造貨品的成本；2購買的價格；3對買家的價值（即是：很容易想像兩件貨品價格相同，但對買家的價值不同）。課程的其他部份的重點放在這三種計量的互動。

2

繼續〈供給、需求和彈性〉。Paul Joskow所描述的加州電力撤消管制史是個很好的例子。我認為Joskow的文章提出兩個理由（我數過的），說明這體制為何易出問題，甚至被巧取豪奪。其一是制度上反對訂定期貨合約，這使得整個州依賴現貨市場。其二是系統的政治本質使然：為了使消費者和公用事業等等有即時回報，這體系隱含地預設1990年代中期低電力批發價會永遠持續下去。一旦經濟複甦、批發價上漲，整個體系便不能維持。

3

效用最大化：標準討論前述的三種計量。

4

成本，科技與技術變遷：Autor、Levy與Murnane利用銀行的兩個後勤部門來說明電腦為何以及如何替代一些人的工作和輔助另一些人的工作。

5

開始討論利潤最大化的邏輯：標準討論前述三種計量。強調利潤最大化策略是由取決於市場結構。

6

完全競爭下的利潤最大化：標準內容。

7

壟斷下的利潤最大化：標準內容，強調在以前，壟斷往往源自供給面或規模經濟（或政府壟斷）；時至今天，壟斷可以源自需求面或網絡外部效應（例如微軟）。

也討論寡頭壟斷和壟斷性競爭的利潤最大化。過去只是簡略討論這兩個議題：寡頭壟斷的拗折需求曲線、用Palm Pilots和相關的PDA作為壟斷性競爭例子。現在我重新設計這部份課程，討論Cournot和Bertrand競爭，進而是Glen與Sarah Ellison最近的一篇文章研究網路零售商為應付競爭壓力，如何用手段讓顧客放棄低價改買高價商品。

8

賽局理論的簡短介紹。

討論過去十年間的金融過度擴張：強調正確的發明設計。Fuller與Jensen的文章認為CEO的期權開始時是好點子，但在1990年代的泡沫化時期，期權成為股票分析員的人質，他們設定過高的利潤預測誘使投資者買入。在這樣的環境下，無法達到設定的利潤最後會導致股價（以及CEO的財富）下跌到崩盤，進而導致要做假帳。

9

簡介公共財、外部效應等等：標準內容。（個體經濟學到此結束，接下來是規劃經濟學）

所有學生都需修讀規劃經濟學，這是一個跨領域的單元，一開始是用經濟學方式處理議題，後由非經濟學家討論具體的應用或問題。見11.202課程講稿。

10

期未考

1

As background for core courses, Microeconomics begins with a review of trends in the U.S. income distribution including factors in increasing inequality - the rising rate of return to education, immigration, winner-take-all markets at the top of the distribution, and so on.

The course then begins a standard discussion of supply, demand and elasticity. At the outset, students are asked to consider three measures of value - What a good costs the producer to make; What a good costs you to buy; and What a good is worth to you (i.e. it is easy to think of two goods that cost the same but are not worth the same to you). The remainder of the course will focus on the interactions of these three measures.

2

Continue supply, demand and elasticity. Use Paul Joskow's history of California electricity deregulation as a motivating example. Joskow's paper illuminates the two reasons (as I count them) why the system was vulnerable to problems including being ripped off. One was the rule against writing futures contracts which kept the state in the spot market. The second was the political nature of the system: in order to give immediate payoffs to consumers, utilities, etc. the system implicitly assumed that the low wholesale electricity prices of the mid-1990s would continue indefinitely. Once the economy recovered and wholesale prices rose, the system was unsustainable.

3

Utility Maximization - standard treatment, picking up on three measures of value above.

4

Costs, Technology and Technical Change: Autor, Levy and Murnane piece uses two back office departments in a bank to show how and why computers substituted for some human tasks and complemented others.

5

Begin logic of Profit Maximization - standard treatment, picking up on three measures of value above. Emphasize that the particular strategy of profit maximization depends on market structure.

6

Profit Maximization in Perfect Competition - standard treatment.

7

Profit Maximization in Monopoly - standard treatment emphasizing that in the past, monopoly has come largely from the supply side and economies of scale (or government monopoly) but now monopoly can come from the demand side and network externalities (e.g. Microsoft®).

Also Profit Maximization in Oligopoly and Monopolistic Competition. In the past, both topics have been treated very briefly - a kinked demand curve model in Oligopoly, a brief run-by of monopolistic competition using Palm Pilots and related pda's as an example. I am currently redesigning this section around Cournot and Bertrand Competition leading to a recent paper by Glen and Sarah Ellison on how web retailers survive competitive pressure using bait and switch techniques.

8

Short Introduction to Game Theory

Discussion of Financial Excesses of the Past Decade - emphasis is on the importance of correct inventive design. Fuller and Jensen paper argues that CEO options began from a good idea but in the 1990s bubble, the options became hostage to stock analysts who set extravagant earnings projections to keep investors buying. In this environment, failure to make an earnings projection could ultimately cause a stock price (and a CEO's wealth) to collapse and this ultimately forced cooking of the books.

9

Introduction to Public Goods, Externalities, etc. - standard treatment.
(Microeconomics Ends; Planning Economics Begins)

Planning Economics, required of all students, is a more multi-disciplined module which begins with an economic treatment of a subject and then presents a non-economist talking about a specific application/problem. See 11.202 for lecture notes.

10

Final Exam