Economics & Statistics
Winter term 2023/24 - 22 January 2024
|
Economics & Statistics Winter term 2023/24 - 22 January 2024 |
ECONOMICS I -- Introduction to Economics, National Accounting
and Microeconomics -- EFA 3rd
semester WS
2023/24
|
Basic Information
Interactive Participation
Preliminary schedule: |
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| No | week | date: | presentation | Unit - topics (Preliminary Schedule) | Additional information | Material |
- |
all |
Outlook: Current public debates about economic Policy Issues |
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Overcoming sluggish growth – investing in the future Weitere Infos zum
Thema (in German): |
|
 |
1 |
1 |
17 Oct |
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) |
(ggf.
Einstieg auf Deutsch mit EFA-Themen: - eure Fragen - Studienkommission - Symposium - wer noch nicht hat, bitte an der unverbindlichen Vor-Abfrage für die Auslandsstandort 2024/25 teilnehmen, Danke). |
-
Welcome.ppt |
|
2 |
1 |
18 Oct | Basic
Concepts of Economics |
- 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 |
24 Oct | (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:
|
Basic
Concepts of Economics
|
Please recall that for today Mankiws: "Problems and Applications" are due (see table below) |
Recall our discussion from last semester:
Literature
Management
System -> ZOTERO |
4 |
2 |
25 Oct | Begg
& Ward Chapter 1: Economics for Business |
(Presentation of the) possibilities of the University Library: Econmics & Business Studies, Selected Resources - Faculty 1: International Business, Data Bases
* => if you didn'd do up to now, select your chapter |
- EconLit ->
EconBiz.de -- Find
Economic Literature (Service of ZBW)
- Research skills: -
OECD iLibrary: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/ |
|
5 |
3 |
31 Oct | no class |
regional holiday |
Important: The test can only be taken IN CLASS (I'll take a participants list, please bring your student ID), if you take it from another place, it doesn't count |
|
6 |
3 |
1 Nov |
|
Section
II: Understanding Markets
-
Chapter 2: Consumers in the Market Place -> ELASTICITIES (1) |
Topics of test 1 (preliminary): Introduction, basic questions, objectives (hierarchy of goals), 10 Principles of Economics, chapter 1 and 2 (as far as discussed) - you find an expample (pre-) test in AULIS | |
7 |
4 |
7 Nov |  Test 1 (last 20 minutes in class!!) |
-
Chapter 2: Consumers in the Market Place |
Presentations: |
|
8 |
4 |
8 Nov | presentation
2 |
- Chapter 3: Firms in the Market Place | - "The
Production Process" see also the Excel file with some Figures from the book |
|
9 |
5 |
14 Nov |
Individual Assessment From Silk Road to Belt and Road |
- Chapter 3: Firms in the Market Place | ||
10 |
5 |
15 Nov | - 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) |
||
11 |
6 |
21 Nov |
presentation 3 Test 2 |
- Chapter 4: Markets in Action | ||
12 |
6 |
22 Nov | Section III: Competition and Profitability - Chapter 5: Market
structure & Firm Performance (cont'd) |
|||
13 |
7 |
28 Nov |
presentation 4 |
- Chapter 5:
Market structure & Firm Performance (cont'd) |
||
14 |
7 |
29 Nov |
presentation 5 |
- Chapter 5:
Market structure & Firm Performance (cont'd) |
||
15 |
8 |
5 Dec |
Test 3 |
- Chapter 5:
Market structure & Firm Performance (cont'd) |
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) |
|
| 16 |
8 |
6 Dec |
Competition,
Monopoly and the public interest (welfare)
|
|
||
|
17 |
9 |
12 Dec |
presentation 6 |
- Chapter 6. Strategic
rivalry -> Oligopoy and Game Theory |
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 - "Split or Steal" and "From Stealing to Trust" |
Bundeskartellamt
- Control
of abusive practices - Ban
on cartels |
18 |
9 |
13 Dec | presentation 7 | - Chapter 7. Growth
strategies |
Examples: 1) do you like a coffee? 2) Bundesliga 3) cars & steel 4) Deutsche Bahn AG to make changes to ticket sales | |
19 |
10 |
19 Dec |
Test 4 |
- Chapter 8. Governing business | Information about the -> Presentations and debates of one alternative economic approach by the houses in January |
Topics
of test 4: Begg & Ward chapter 5: Market Structure, Performance, Profit and Welfare in PC and Monopoly. Chapter 6: Oligopolies, Game Theory |
20 |
10 |
20 Dec | Section IV: Basics of MACROeconomics - Chapter 9:
An introduction to the Macro Economy |
Some Videos "Fight
of the Century" / Fear
the boom and the bust - "Fear the Boom and Bust" a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem - Fight of the Century: Keynes vs. Hayek Round Two and more information like "The Tale of the Dueling Economists". Texts of the videos ... and why not enjoy: Deck the Halls with Macro Follies |
||
21 |
11 |
9 Jan |
12:00 |
- Chapter 10: Measuring Macroeconomic Variables and Policy Issues | German National
Accounting @DeStatis: |
- Eurostat
with National
Accounts |
22 |
11 |
10 Jan |
presentation 10 Individual Assessment „Economies and their political decisions“ |
- Chapter 10: Measuring Macroeconomic Variables and Policy Issues |
- current figures: National Accounts at a glance (in German: "Wichtige Zusammenhänge im Überblick") |
- GDP to NNY and summary of National Income accounting |
23 |
12 |
16 Jan | Reading week | Now that we discussed National Accounting (GDP, ...) we'll ask ourselves: |
Is
GDP really an apt measure of Welfare -> 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 |
17 Jan | Reading week | - How can countries measure the well-being of their citizens? (TED institute) | Topics
of test 5: Chapters 9 and 10 - Tagets of Economic Policy, GDP: The Circular Flow of Income; Measurement of GDP, other macroeconomic issues |
|
25 |
13 |
23 Jan |
presentation X - Austerity and ... trickle down Individual
Assessment „Economics of
Happiness" ***
Evaluation
*** Test 5 |
Presentations and Debates: * Charlie: Feminist Economics
please upload your presentation - as usual - the day before up to 16:00 ! |
"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 |
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 |
24 Jan | Presentations and Debates: * Alfa: Behavioral Economics * Bravo: Wellbeing Economy |
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) OECD: "Beyond GDP" Joseph E. STIGLITZ, Jean-Paul FITOUSSIand Martine DURAND "Descentrar
el producto interno bruto (PIB) - Bienestar, cuidados y tiempo"
( Iliana Vaca Trigo y Camila Baron), también en ingles: |
|
27 |
14 |
30 Jan |
Test 6 |
Presentations and Debates: * Delta Doughnut Economics * Echelon Post-Colonial Economics |
Other Alternative Economic Approaches Fridays, Economists,
Scientists ... for
Future: Facts
+ Statements
of Scientists + Sketchnotes
+ Skeptical Science
Global Warming & Climate Change Myths + The
Consensus Handbook + |
Degrowth
– what's behind the economic theory and why does it matter right
now? Economics of Happiness / Glücksforschung and many more ideas and topics please ! Topics of test 6:Alternative Economic Approaches |
28 |
14 |
31 Jan |
Outlook: Macroeconomics and Economic Policy | Fiscal and Monetary Policy: - Chapter 13: Expenditure
and Fiscal Policy - Chapter 14: Money,
Banking and Interest |
Main
Source : European Central Bank ECB,
Educational
Sources: - European Monetary Union explained - The European Centrag Bank (EU Parlament) - The History of the European (monetary) integration - European Integration (ECB presentation used in class) - Monetary Policy Instruments (TARGET 2 = Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer System) + Definitions of monetary aggregates - MFI information - Inflation Monitor - see also: Leitzins.info |
The "Module Exercise" takes place every week
<45-90 minutes every week integrated into our class> We formed 5
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 exam.
|
All students |
Alfa |
Bravo |
Charlie |
Delta |
Echelon |
|
| Names of students:
|
Eileen |
Amelie Lea Finja Ale Lamin Oscar |
Tom |
Cihan |
Gleb Mesud Tyron Umar Hoji Etienne |
|
| w1 - 17 Oct (in class) | Mankiws
"Principles" & - presentation in class: |
1-3 |
4-6 |
7-8 |
9-10 |
Obama
text |
please prepare for: w2 - 24 Oct
|
Mankiw:
"Problems and Applications" |
13-16 + No. 17 ONE example ! |
10-12
+ No. 17 ONE example ! |
4-6
+ No. 17 ONE example ! |
1-3
+ No. 17 ONE example ! |
7-9 + No. 17 ONE example ! |
|
National Holiday End
of Chapter questions from Begg/Ward |
2,3 |
4 |
5 |
6,7 |
8 |
| w4 - 8 Nov | No. 17 ONE example ! -> all students: Exercise 1 and 2 |
-> all students: Exercise 1 and 2 | No. 17 ONE example ! -> all students: Exercise 1 and 2 |
-> all students: Exercise 1 and 2 | -> all students: Exercise 1 and 2 | |
| w5 - 15 Nov | -> 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 | |
| w6 - 22 Nov | Question 2 Exercise 2 (a) |
Question 3 Exercise 2 (b) |
Question 6 Exercise 2 (c) |
Question 8 Exercise 2 (d) |
Question 9+10 Exercise 2 (e) |
|
| w7 - 29 Nov | End
of Chapter questions from Begg/Ward (chapter 5) |
Question 10 + Explain, what "creative destruction" is about | Questions 8 and 9 | Questions 6 and 7 | Questions 4 and 5 | Question 3, 1 and 2 |
| ... | ||||||
| NN | Review of old exams |
Review of old exams, e.g. the exam of Microeconomics WS 14/15 | ||||
| NN | YOUR questions |
Links:
Links:
- WIKIPEDIA,
the free Encyclopedia (english)
- Leo -
Online Dictionary
- odge.de: Online-German-English-Dictionary
Learning / Improving your English:
- See the tips on the web page of the "Fremdsprachenzentrum",
especially "Internet
Quellen", "Medien",
and "Englisch
in Bremen"
- Somewhat less actual are the English
Language Resources (ELR) web site of Hochschule Bremen (Bremen
university of applied sciences)
with many useful tips, among other things: "How
can I improve my English outside class?" (with tips for going out:
English Club ... and more).
- also useful a list of English radio stations: http://www.surfmusik.de/land/england.html
Quotations
form the book of Thomas
Friedman: "The World is flat":
- For some, particularly among the older generations, this was
an unwelcome transformation. Communism was a great system for making
everyone equally poor. In fact, there was no better system in the world
for that than Communism. Capitalism made people unequally rich,
and for some who were used to the plodding, limited, but secure Socialist lifestyle--where
a job, a house, an education, and a pension were all guaranteed, even if they
were meager--the fall of the Berlin wall was deeply unsettling. (p. 51/52)
- ... to some degree Mikhail Gorbachev's hapless efforts to reform something
that was unreformable brought communism to an end. But if I had to point to
one factor as first among equals, it was the information revolution that began
in the early- to mid-1980s. Totalitarian systems depend on a monopoly
of information and force, and too much information started to slip
through the Iron Curtain, thanks to the spread of fax machines, telephones,
and other modern tools of communication. (p 54)
-You
are visitor number:
"
On
September 28, the Joint Economic Forecast Autumn 2023
was published: