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Economics & Statistics

 Summer term 2024 - 1 July 2024

ECONOMICS I -- Introduction to Economics, Microeconomics -- BIM 2nd semester Summer Term 2024

Basic Information

  • The assessment is a Learning Portfolio. Please klick here for more information about the Assessment and its parts.
    The tests take place at indicated dates at the end of Tuesday's classes = 9:30 (available until 10:00, work-time 20 minutes - first test in week 4)
    .
    Please download the Reader 2024
  • Please recall: We formed 6 houses for the house cup (Kahoots) and groupwork in Module exercises and around 10 teams of 3-4 students presenting a case study about one chapter.
  • Klick HERE for further information about the presentation
    - we'll discuss how to find academic literature: at the library databases like - EconLit, EconBiz at the ZBW, the OECD iLibrary, the Web of Science are also helpful. (VPN needed)!
    -> in order to prove that you used a literatur management system, you have to share your Zotero group with me
  •  What makes a good presentation? (to be dicussed in class)
  •  The evaluation (grade) of the presentation will focus especially on this and on the discussions you start and moderate during or after your presentation.
  •   If you want to present an Individual Assessment it has to be proposed not later than 31 May.

Interactive Participation

Preliminary schedule:

  

No week date: presentation Unit - topics (Preliminary Schedule) Additional information Material
-
all

Current public debates about economic Policy Issues

(will be updated in April)

New publication timeline: economic outlook in spring ...

´Policy Brief 1/2024
The Debt Brake after the Federal Constitutional Court Judgement: Increase Flexibility - Maintain Stability

On Nov 8 2023 the Council of Economic Experts published its annual report 2023/24:
Overcoming sluggish growth – investing in the future

Weitere Infos zum Thema (in German):
- Übersicht: Konjunkturprognosen für Deutschland - Die Vorhersagen der Wirtschaftsschätzer (Tagesschau)


IFO Economic Forecasts
(english)
Spring 2024

German Economy Paralyzed

1
1
2 April

 

Section I: Introduction

- 10 Principles of Economics (Mankiw) -> Reader ->

(In classs: Teamwork about Mankiws "Ten Principles of Economics" and part from B. Obama "The Audaciy of Hope" (p. 176-184) (also see the debate in the Economist)

Reader 2024

- Welcome.ppt
- "Basic Concepts"
- Economics @ Wikipedia
 
- Social market economy (explainity® explainer video)

2
1
3 April  

Basic Concepts of Economics
- Goals in Economics and Economic Policy
- Economic systems & Objectives of Economics / Economic Policy

Hierarchy of goals in market economies
- "Wall Street" @ Wikipedia

- See also the
quotations of T. Friedman
houses: 
Homework for next week ( -> see
table below)
3
2

9 April

(from today on we (houses) play a Kahoot quiz)

register to Kahoot using your (nick) name followed by the first letter of your house, e.g:
 Peter-G, Paula-F ...

9:30 example test in PC lab


Basic Concepts of Economics
- Goals in Economics and Economic Policy
- Economic systems and Objectives of Economics / Economic Policy


Begg & Ward
Chapter 1: Economics for Business

- EconLit

-> EconBiz.de -- Find Economic Literature (Service of ZBW) - Research skills:
  - Guided Walk - Video-Course - Academic-Career-Kit - Guides:
     + "Write your best paper" – a guide to academic writing
          for economics and business students (PDF-Guide)
     + Guidelines: Search and Evaluate Scholarly Literature
     + Guidelines: Citation (APA style) [pdf; 280 KB]

- OECD iLibrary: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/
- Web of Science: http://isiknowledge.com/wos

4
2

 

 

10 April


WSJ: German Industrial Production Beat Expectations in February

 

 

 

Begg & Ward
Chapter 1: Economics for Business

Literature Management System -> ZOTERO

- Zotero at SUuB, our library
- Links Link Uni Bremen, Studytools
- Quick start guide
- Zotero Tutorial (video)   Important: -> please install the Zotero app and the Zotero Connector for your browser !!

* => if you didn'd do up to now,
select your chapter ->

(Presentation of the) possibilities of the University Library: Econmics & Business Studies, Selected Resources - Faculty 1: International Business, Data Bases

Exercise: For your case study / presentation* you need to use - and quote correctly of course - different sources about the basic approaches / assumptions of Economics and esp. your topic. (see table below)
             They have to be academic sources!

5
3
16 April
no class
   
6
3
17 April   Section II: Understanding Markets  
- Chapter 2: Consumers in the Market Place

Presentations:

Topics of test 1 (preliminary): Introduction, basic questions, objectives (hierarchy of goals), 10 Principles of Economics (Mankiw), chapter 2 (Begg and Ward - as far as discussed) - you find an expample (pre-) test in AULIS
7
4
23 April

Test 1 (last 20 minutes
@HSB; pc-pool)

- Chapter 2: Consumers in the Market Place
       ->   ELASTICITIES
(1)

 

Important: The test can only be taken at the university (in the PC pool) (I'll take a participants list, you must bring your student ID), if you take it from another place, it doesn't count.
      Tests take place in the last 30 minutes of Tuesdays class = from 9:30-10:00 (test takes 20 minutes)
      Tests are open book but closed net - you won't have access to the internet (except AULIS) and use of any electronic devices is strictly forbidden!

8
4
24 April

presentation 2-1 (02.1 - 02.3)
NO presentation 2-2 (02.4-02.5 El)

- Chapter 2: Consumers in the Market Place
       ->   ELASTICITIES
(2)

- Chapter 3: Firms in the Market Place

Please recall that for today Mankiws: "Problems and Applications" are due (see table below)  
9
5
30 April - Chapter 3: Firms in the Market Place - "The Production Process"
see also the Excel file with some Figures from the book
 
10
5
(1 May)
no class
national holiday
 
11
6
7 May

presentation 3-1 (03.2 - 03.3)

Test 2

- Chapter 4: Markets in Action     Topics of test 2 (preliminary): (still) 10 Principles of Economics,
Begg & Ward chapter 2 to 3
(parts discussed in class up to 14 Nov)
12
6
8 May - Chapter 4: Markets in Action      
13
7
14 May
class is online!

Section III: Competition and Profitability

- Chapter 5: Market structure & Firm Performance (cont'd)
Competition, Monopoly and the public interest (welfare)

 

please recall that you have to prepare the self-test

14
7
15 May
class is online!

      [No presentation 3-2 (03.4 - 03.6)]
presentation 4

- Chapter 5: Market structure & Firm Performance (cont'd)
Perfect Competition

  Topics of test 3 (preliminary): Begg & Ward chapters 2 (only elasticity), 3, 4 and the parts of ch. 5 discussed in class up to now)
15
8
21 May

Test 3

- Chapter 5: Market structure & Firm Performance (cont'd)
Monopoly

   
16
8
22 May
presentation 5-1 (05.3 and 05.4)
presentation 5-2 (05.3 and 05.5)
- Chapter 5: Market structure & Firm Performance (cont'd)
Monopoly

 

17
9
28 May

- Chapter 5: Market structure & Firm Performance (cont'd)
Monopoly

Competition, Monopoly and the public interest (welfare)

Monopoly v. PC in a nutshell

and those who haven't had enough ...

to practise:
Economics 1 Micro-MIDterm-Exam_WS17_30min
Economics 1 Micro-FINAL-test_SoSe18_30min
<- Monopoly

18
9
29 May

Please register for the alternative approaches !

- Chapter 6. Strategic rivalry
-> Oligopoy and Game Theory

- Measuring the Well-Being of countries
- YouTube search "measurement of well-being of countries"

Is GDP really an apt measure of Welfare
...quality of life, sustainable development ...?

-> Measuring WELFARE & SUSTAINABILITY

(see below in the rows from 12 June on)

Topics of test 4:
Begg & Ward chapter 5: Market Structure, Performance, Profit and Welfare in PC and Monopoly.
Chapter 6: Oligopolies, Game Theory

19
10
4 June

Test 4

- Chapter 6. Strategic rivalry
-> Oligopoy and Game Theory

outlook:                  Section IV: Basics of MACROeconomics
- Chapter  9: An introduction to the Macro Economy

Movie "A beautiful Mind" about John F. Nash:     "the best result will come if everyone does what is best for himself ... and the group" (bar scene)
In memoriam: - 'Beautiful Mind' mathematician John Nash killed in crash

- The prisoner's Dilemma
- "Split or Steal" and "From Stealing to Trust"

Bundeskartellamt Ban on cartels - Control of abusive practices - Merger Control - Leniency Programme - Public procurement law - The Competition Register at the Bundeskartellamt
Do you like a coffee?

Examples: 1) Coffee? 2) Bundesliga 3) cars & steel 4) Deutsche Bahn AG to make changes to ticket sales ...

20
10
5 June

presentation 6

presentation 7

presentation 8

individual presentation: Smith and Marx

- Chapter 7. Growth strategies

- Chapter 8. Governing business


Information about the
-> Presentations and debates of one alternative economic approach by the houses in the last two weeks
 
21
11
11 June

presentation 9

individual presentation: Degrowth

Section IV: Basics of MACROeconomics

- Chapter  9: An introduction to the Macro Economy

German National Accounting @DeStatis:
- Important economic indicators & publications (links unfortunately destroyed by Destatis)

- current figures: National Accounts at a Glance (in German: "Wichtige Zusammenhänge im Überblick")

- Eurostat with National Accounts
- Source OECD & ILibrary - The OECD's Online Library of Statistical Databases, Books and Periodicals (accessible from the campus net - or via VPN)

22
11
12 June

LAST day to register for the alternative approaches !

presentation 3-2 (03.4 - 03.6)

presentation 10-1

Section IV: Basics of MACROeconomics

- Chapter  9: An introduction to the Macro Economy

- Chapter 10: Measuring Macroeconomic Variables and Policy Issues

*** Evaluation ***
please let me know, what you think about this class
(until 21 June)
- GDP to NNY and summary of National Income accounting
23
12
18 June Reading week

Now that we discussed National Accounting (GDP, ...) we'll ask ourselves:

Is GDP really an apt measure of Welfare
...quality of life, sustainable development ...?

-> Measuring WELFARE & SUSTAINABILITY

The German Statistical Office (DeStatis) publishes Environmental indicators and also an "Indicator Report - Sustainable Development in Germany" + "Indicator Report 2021: Sustainable Development in Germany"

24
12
19 June Reading week - How can countries measure the well-being of their citizens? (TED institute)   Topics of test 5:
- Review Microeconomics (all chapters) incl.
Chapter 6: Oligopolies, Game Theory
- Chapters 9 and 10 - Tagets of Economic Policy, GDP: The Circular Flow of Income; Measurement of GDP, other macroeconomic issues
25
13
25 June

individual presentation: Concerns about the Economy / EU elections

Test 5

Section IV: Basics of MACROeconomics

- Chapter  9: An introduction to the Macro Economy

"Monitoring economic performance, quality of life and sustainability" by the German Council of Economic Experts in association with the french Council of Economic Analysis - Joint Report 2010 requested by the Franco-German Ministerial Council to Chancellor Mrs. Angela Merkel and french President Nicolas Sarkozy (deutsche Übersetzung: Wirtschaftsleistung, Lebensqualität und Nachhaltigkeit: Ein umfassendes Indikatorensystem). This report (and request) was based on the ...

-> Report of the commission on the measurement of economic performance et social progress 2009
- Joseph Stiglitz - Problems with GDP as an Economic Barometer
- Amartya Sen: Beyond GDP, measures of welfare and sustainability (2/7 ..)
 

Sustainable Development Goals - United Nations Development Programme

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The 17 SDGs are integrated — they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability.

26
13
26 June

 *** Evaluation ***
please let me know, what you think about this class
(until 26 June)

Teamwork in class (10 minutes + 5 minutes presentation):
Current Macroeconomic situation
-
A+B
Joint Economic Forecast Spring 2024 (March)
-
C+D
Spring Report Council of Economic Experts (May)
-
E+F
ifo Economic Forecast Summer 2024
(June)

Presentations and Debates:

* Alfa: Economy of the Common Good

* Bravo: Doughnut Economics

* Charlie: Economics of Happiness

please upload your presentation - as usual - the day before up to 16:00 !

ECG Economy for the Common Good (GWÖ):
- What if the common good was the goal of the economy? | Christian Felber | TEDxVienna (basic idea up to minute 9:50)
- ECG webpage - have a look around
[in German: . Gemeinwohl-Matrix 5.0,]
- The Common Good Product: CGP instead of GDP
- The Common Good Matrix
- Companies in different countries

Doughnut Economics (Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist)
- Why it's time for 'Doughnut Economics' | Kate Raworth | TEDx
- more information on: www.kateraworth.com
- Re-Writing (Neo-Liberal) Economics

OECD: "Beyond GDP" Joseph E. STIGLITZ, Jean-Paul FITOUSSI and Martine DURAND

"Descentrar el producto interno bruto (PIB) - Bienestar, cuidados y tiempo" (Iliana Vaca Trigo y Camila Baron), también en ingles:
"Decentring GDP - Well-being, care and time" United Nations publication 2022

27
14
2 July

individual presentation: Consumer Theory

Test 6

- Chapter  9: An introduction to the Macro Economy:
Computing and discussing GDP

 

-> the AULIS group for the coming winter term 24/25 is open
=> you can register for a chapter (some chapters will have to be presented twice, we discuss this in the winter term)
(the class / webpage of last year, refers to another book - so the time schedule for our class in the coming winter term is not yet available - it will be updated in September)

Other Alternative Economic Approaches

Fridays, Economists, Scientists ... for Future: Facts + Statements of Scientists + Sketchnotes + Skeptical Science Global Warming & Climate Change Myths + The Consensus Handbook +
+ New Economics Foundation + (you can also check this list by ECG)

Degrowth – what's behind the economic theory and why does it matter right now?
Niko Paech: Grundzüge einer Postwachstumsökonomie

Economics of Happiness (Glücksforschung), e.g.:
Karlheinz Ruckriegel

and many more ideas and topics please !

Topics of test 6:
Alternative Economic Approaches
28
14
3 July  

Presentations and Debates:

* Delta Feminist economics

* Echo Green Growth

* Foxtrot Degrowth

please upload your presentation - as usual - the day before up to 16:00 !

Outlook: Macroeconomics and Economic Policy

More on Measuring Macroeconomic Variables and Policy Issues

 

 

The "Module Exercise" takes place every week <45-90 minutes every week integrated into our class> We formed 6 HOUSES which are assigned tasks for the next session and is expected to present the results (=prepared as joint homework)
The module exercise is part of your individual workload, it isn't marked and the lecturer won't deliver new information; he will only moderate the sessions. The tasks of the module exercise normally refer to the topics discussed in the last week(s). The numbers in the table below normally refer to the chapter in the textbook (Sloman: "End of chapter questions"). At the end of the module exercise there is room for general questions about the topics, terms, ... .

The exercises discussed in the module exercise are relevant for the tests.
If the students deliver results or approaches to the solution, we'll discuss the correct solution in class. If no approaches are presented, the task will not be discussed in class but nevertheless stay relevant for the tests.

Houses:

Date:

All students

Alfa
Bravo
Charlie
Delta
Echo
Foxtrott
 

Names of students:
please register in AULIS

Chaim
Lea
Marit
Hanne
Hanna
Hannah
Gwendolin
Younes

Luise
Jasper
Charlotte
Nele
Pauline
Antonia
Hannes
Anny

Pia
Semiha
Mireia
Mathis
Rune
Lenne
Jonathan
Andrea
Janice
Celine
Maresa
Jannika
Aldana
Doreen
Phuong
Viktoria
Selen
Komalpreet
Magid
Nancy
Sudenaz
Lara
Demir
Hevin
Ana
Dzhansu
Machkour
Yeabu
José
Bonita
Wiktoria
week 1

no tasks, but Mankiws "Principles" in class:

- name and describe your principles / text
- provide an _own_ example per principle

1-2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9-10
Obama-Text
week 2

Practise to use literature-databases (EconBiz, EconLit) properly: research 3-5 articles from academic journals
- either for your presentation topic
- _or_ for the topic given in your column:
= find them, check contents (abstract) and if it fits / is helpfull add it to your literature management system.

+ literature research: your chapter or
- Price Elasticity of demand

+ literature research: your chapter or
- Cartel prosecution (in Germany)

+ literature research: your chapter or
- market structures

+ literature research: your chapter or
- Covid and inflation

+ literature research: your chapter or
- (ukrainian) war and inflation

+ literature research: your chapter or
- alternative economic approaches

week 3
(17 April)
(no MÜ but class)            
week 4
(24 April)

Mankiw: "Problems and Applications":

15-16
 17 (one article)

  13-14
17 (one article)

10-12    
17 (one article)

7-9
   17 (one article)

4-6
   17 (one article)

1-3
   17 (one article)

week 5 (1 May)
(no MÜ , national holiday)            
week 6 ...
IN class: End of Chapter questions from Begg/Ward
(chapter 2)
-> all students: Exercise 1 and 2

-> all students:
Material/econs/Oil Is Hitting Its Highest Level in Months - WSJ 4.4.24

-> all students:
Material/econs/Oil Is Hitting Its Highest Level in Months - WSJ 4.4.24
-> all students:
Material/econs/Oil Is Hitting Its Highest Level in Months - WSJ 4.4.24
-> all students:
Material/econs/Oil Is Hitting Its Highest Level in Months - WSJ 4.4.24
-> all students:
Material/econs/Oil Is Hitting Its Highest Level in Months - WSJ 4.4.24
-> all students:
Material/econs/Oil Is Hitting Its Highest Level in Months - WSJ 4.4.24
Prepare for week 7 15 May Do the exam example provided and discussed last week in class (here and in AULIS > Tests > "Micro-Econs Self Test") -> all houses do the test
We discuss the results in class
-> all houses do the test
We discuss the results in class
-> all houses do the test
We discuss the results in class
-> all houses do the test
We discuss the results in class
-> all houses do the test
We discuss the results in class
-> all houses do the test
We discuss the results in class
week 7 15 May
(in class together)
End of Chapter questions from Begg/Ward
(chapter 3)
-> all students: Exercise 1 and 2
-> all students: Exercise 1 and 2 -> all students: Exercise 1 and 2 -> all students: Exercise 1 and 2 -> all students: Exercise 1 and 2 -> all students: Exercise 1 and 2 -> all students: Exercise 1 and 2
week 8
22 May
Due to a faculty meeting, the class ends at 16:00 -> all houses (= all students) are required to do the teamwork in the module exercise Chapter 5:
Questions 1-10
Excercises 1 and 2
Chapter 5:
Questions 1-10
Excercises 1 and 2
Chapter 5:
Questions 1-10
Excercises 1 and 2
Chapter 5:
Questions 1-10
Excercises 1 and 2
Chapter 5:
Questions 1-10
Excercises 1 and 2
Chapter 5:
Questions 1-10
Excercises 1 and 2
week 9
29 May
We'll discuss YOUR questions about the tasks of last week            

 


 
Hochschule Bremen
Fakultät Wirtschaftswissenschaften
VWL und Statistik