ECONOMICS I -- Microeconomics
and Sustainable Development -- IFA 1st semester
WS
2025/26
|
Further Information
Preliminary schedule: |
| No | week | date: | presentation | Unit - topics (Preliminary Schedule) | Prepare for today ++ activities | Material |
- |
all semester | all | Let's
talk about the real world / Economic Policy: The current situation of
the European/international and German state of the economy. What are the strategies and suggestions of different political parties, experts, and the public opinion? I'm looking forward to discussing with you! |
You
are expected to follow the economic news and debates.
- One possibility is Espresso, the daily news overview of the Economist - as a student, you can subscribe for free "Espresso gives me critical world updates in a quick 10 minute read. No more, no less" - "Listen anywhere - Easily fit Espresso into your day. Enjoy professionally read audio versions of articles." (both quotes from the web page linked above) |
- of course you can use other media, newpapers, podcasts ... (from reliable sources - excluding web searches, open webpages, blogs, videos ...) | |
- |
all |
Outlook: Current |
World EconomicsOutlook - IMF - April 2025: |
Creating new prospects for tomorrow – not squandering opportunities |
|
Further information:
|
| No | week | date: | presentation | Unit - topics (Preliminary Schedule) | Prepare for today ++ activities | Material |
1 |
1 |
14 Oct |
|
WHY Economics?
- 10 Principles
of Economics (Mankiw) |
Today _in_ class: Most important OBJECTIVE(s)
|
-
Welcome.ppt
|
2 |
1 |
16 Oct | Basic Concepts of Economics - Goals in Economics and Economic Policy - Economic systems & Objectives of Economics / Economic Policy |
Today _in_ class: Most important OBJECTIVE(s) |
- Hierarchy
of goals in market economies houses: |
|
3 |
2 |
21 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:
|
Please
recall that for today Mankiws:
"Problems and Applications" are due (see table below) Basic
Concepts of Economics
|
Watch the videos _before_ class -
Lets
look at one of our first models: The Production Possibility Frontier
(Curve) PPF |
General topic:
AI in our class Wall Street: |
4 |
2 |
23 Oct | Class cancelled due to illness Begg
& Ward
Section
II: Understanding Markets
* => if you didn'd do up to now, select your chapter für the presentation and register in AULIS |
Class cancelled due to illness
|
Important:
The tests can only be taken IN CLASS (in the PC pool)
- if you take it from another place, it doesn't count. (I'll
take a participants list, you must bring your PRINTED
student ID) |
|
5 |
3 |
28 Oct |
|
Class cancelled due to illness
-
Chapter 2: Consumers in the Market Place
|
Class cancelled due to illness
- read chapter 2.4 and 2.5 -
Ask an LLM for a brief definition of Elasticity of demand.
Insert your results into your frame in the team Miro board |
Presentations:
Literature and Academic Writing University Library: Econmics & Business Studies, Selected Resources - Faculty 1: International Business, Data Bases ... -
EconLit -
OECD iLibrary: http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/ Literature
Management
System -> ZOTERO |
6 |
3 |
30 Oct | -
Chapter 2: Consumers in the Market Place Today's schedule: |
--- " --- | Topics of test 1 (preliminary): Introduction, basic questions, objectives (hierarchy of goals), 10 Principles of Economics / Begg&Ward chapter 1 - you find an expample of a (pre-) test in AULIS | |
7 |
4 |
4 Nov | Today's
schedule: (8:30 - 11:45!!) - Chapter 3: Firms in the Market Place
|
|
Important:
The test can only be taken at the university (in our
classroom) (I'll take a participants list,
you must bring a photo ID
(as
the smarthone has to be switched of during the tests)),
if you take it from another place, it doesn't count. Tests take place in the first 30 minutes of Tuesdays class = from 8:30-9:00 (test takes 20 minutes) -> single questions require a MOUSE or touch pad - try the example! Tests are open book but closed net - you are not allowed to use any internet sources (except AULIS and Miro) or communication and the use of other any electronic devices is strictly forbidden! |
|
8 |
4 |
6 Nov | - Chapter 3: Firms in the Market Place |
|
- "The
Production Process" see also the Excel file with some Figures from the book |
|
9 |
5 |
11 Nov | - Chapter 3: Firms in the Market Place Information
about the: |
-
" - -> ALL HOUSES present a literature list !!! + tasks in the Miro board |
||
10 |
5 |
13 Nov | presentation 2 | - Chapter 4: Markets in Action |
|
Topics
of test 2 (preliminary): (still) 10 Principles of Economics,
Begg & Ward chapter 2 and 3 |
11 |
6 |
18 Nov |
Test 2 |
- Chapter 4: Markets in Action | - solve exercise 2 of chapter 4 (page 104/105) |
|
12 |
6 |
20 Nov | - Chapter 4:
Markets in Action Section III: Competition and Profitability - Chapter 5: Market
structure & Firm Performance |
|
Creating new prospects for tomorrow – not squandering opportunities |
|
13 |
7 |
25 Nov | - 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) | |
14 |
7 |
27 Nov |
No class, but we all meet at the Haus der Wissenschaft | |||
15 |
8 |
|
- Chapter 5:
Market structure & Firm Performance (cont'd) |
|
Let's practice the monopoy situation: Example of a final test (30 min) - task 2 |
|
| 16 |
8 |
4 Dec |
presentation 4 presentation 5 |
- Chapter 6.
Strategic rivalry |
|
Bundeskartellamt
- Control
of abusive practices - Ban
on cartels (Cartel prosecution) |
| 17 |
9 |
presentation 6 presentation 6 (team 2) |
- Chapter
6. Strategic rivalry - Chapter 7. Growth
strategies |
Information about the -> Presentations and debates of one alternative economic approach by the houses in January -> material in row 25 ff |
Examples: 1) do you like a coffee? 2) Bundesliga 3) cars & steel 4) Deutsche Bahn AG to make changes to ticket sales 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) |
|
18 |
9 |
11 Dec room change: EW 106 |
***
Evaluation
*** 14:00-15:00 |
- Chapter 8. Governing business |
You should start to watch the videos of chapter 9, as there are two for next week: |
Topics
of test 4: |
19 |
10 |
Test 4 presentation 8
***
Evaluation
*** |
Section IV: Basics of MACROeconomics - Chapter 9: An introduction to the Macro Economy WHY Economics? Review of Mankiw
principles 5-7 and 8-10 / 9.1 Business Cycle, uncertainty 9.2 Macroeconomic issues 9.3 The Circular Flow on Income |
Most important OBJECTIVE(s): -
Social market
economy (explainity® video) and from
the KAS
|
||
20 |
10 |
18 Dec | presentation 7 |
- Chapter 9: An introduction to the Macro Economy 9.4 National Income Determination & the business cycle - AD, AS, Macro Equilibrium |
|
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 |
6 Jan |
presentation 10 presentation X2: Markets and Platforms presentation X1: AI in Auditing |
We'll continue our discussion of:
Section IV: Basics of MACROeconomics - Chapter 9: An introduction to the Macro Economy - Chapter 10: Measuring Macroeconomic Variables and Policy Issues |
Creating new prospects for tomorrow – not squandering opportunities |
Further information:
|
22 |
11 |
8 Jan |
presentation 9 ***
Evaluation
*** |
- Chapter 10: Measuring Macroeconomic Variables and Policy Issues |
German National
Accounting @DeStatis: - Eurostat
with National
Accounts |
|
23 |
12 |
13 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 |
15 Jan | Reading week | - How can countries measure the well-being of their citizens? (TED institute) | Topics
of test 5: - 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 |
20 Jan | Test 5
|
please upload your presentation - as usual - the day before up to 16:00 !
Presentations and Debates: * Alfa: Economy of the Common Good (ECG) * Bravo: Feminist Economics * Charlie: Doughnut Economics
|
"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 Nach-haltigkeit: Ein umfassendes Indikatorensystem). This report was based on: -> Report
of the commission on the measurement of economic performance
and social progress 2009 Sustainable
Development Goals - United Nations
|
|
26 |
13 |
22 Jan |
Results of your Evaluation - Thank you to the 6 :-( participants ...! |
please upload your presentation - as usual - the day before up to 16:00 !
Presentation and Debate: * Delta: Degrowth (Postwachstumsökonomie)
|
ECG Economy
for the Common Good (GWÖ): 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 |
27 Jan | Test 6
IA South Corea |
please upload your presentation - as usual - the day before up to 16:00 !
* Echo Wellbeing Economy * Foxtrot Circular Economy |
|
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:- 10 Principles of Economics - review chapters 2-6 - Alternative Economic Approaches, esp. ECG and Doughnut |
28 |
14 |
29 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: Some Videos "Fight
of the Century" / Fear
the boom and the bust |
The "Module Exercise" takes place every week
<45-90 minutes every week integrated into our class> We formed six
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 |
Echo |
Foxtrot |
|
| Names of students:
|
- Luna - Liv - César - Valeria - Dilovan - Bara - Rowaida |
- Minh Anh - Valerie - Claudia - Setayesh - Lina - Lukasz |
- Selina - Sofiia - Mela - Elise - Jana - Tarek - Pamela |
- Thomas - Ben - Simon - Luis - Andris - Shadi - Phil |
- Sammy - Aliyar - Finn - Finn - Agit - Shawn - Sara Nur |
- Madoksas - Pascal - Nicholas - Patrick - Dennis - Anuel |
|
| week 1 | no tasks, but Mankiws "Principles" in class: - name
and describe your principles / text |
1-2 |
3-4 |
5-6 |
7-8 |
9-10 |
Obama-Text |
| week
2 |
Mankiw: "Problems and Applications": |
15-16 |
13-14
|
10-12
|
7-9
|
4-6
|
1-3 |
| week 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| week 4 | Practice
to use literature-databases (EconBiz,
or EconLit)
properly:
> either for your presentation topic |
+
literature research: your chapter or - Price Elasticity of demand |
+
literature research: your chapter or - Cartel prosecution (in Germany) |
+
literature research: your chapter or - the impact of market structures on prices and quality |
+
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
5 |
|||||||
| week 6 ... | -> all students: |
-> 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 | 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 y (in class together) |
-> 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 | 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 | We'll discuss YOUR questions about the tasks of last week |
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)
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