ECON 317, Microeconomic Analysis
College of Charleston | Dr. Walker
Spring 2026

LECTURE OUTLINE & ASSIGNMENTS
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Last updated on 3/31/26.

Lecture Topic
Ferguson
Microeconomic Analysis
Thaler
Misbehaving
Problem Sets, Other Readings & Materials
Introduction
Intro (pp. 1-7)
Problem Set 1
Part II:  Theory of production and cost Part II (pp. 105-106) Problem Set 2 (skip #7)
     Production with one variable input
          (short-run production)   
Ch. 6, but skip Sec. 6.3.e. Do problem on p. 129.
     Production with two variable inputs
          (long-run production)
Ch. 7, Secs. 7.2.c, 7.3.a,b, and 7.4.a,b,c
     Theory of cost Ch. 8, Secs. 8.2, 8.3.a,b,c,d, and 8.4.a,b,c
Part III:  Theory of the firm and market organization Part III (pp. 189-191) Problem Set 3 (skip #7)
     Pricing in perfectly competitive markets Ch. 9, Secs. 9.1 - 9.4
     Pricing in pure monopoly markets Ch. 10, Secs. 10.1, 10.4.c
     Exam 1
Date:  Thurs., Feb. 5
Covers:  Everything since beginning of class
   Oligopoly and monopolistic competition n/a Game theory & applications from lecture
Part I:  Theory of consumer behavior and demand Part I (pp. 9-10)
     Theory of utility and preference Ch. 1  (pp. 11-24) Problem Set 4 | solutions
     Modern consumer theory Ch. 2 (pp. 26-42) Problem Set 5 | solutions
     Income & substitution effects Ch. 3, Secs. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3
Income & substition effects, explained

Problem Set 6 | solutions
     In-kind transfers, school vouchers, gas tax/rebate Required:
Stossel:  School choice | SC op-eds on school choice
Gas tax/rebate graph
     Landcaster consumer theory
Preface +
Chs. 1-4, 7-9

Quiz 1  
Thurs., Mar. 26

     Miscellaneous readings Class size paper (not required) Required:
Comment on preference and indifference
Social media jam
Silent killer of relationships
Dying: the most economical way to go
Exam 2
Date:  Tues., Apr. 7
Covers:  Everything since Exam 1
Part V:  Theory of general equilibrium and economic welfare Part V (pp. 349-351)
      Theory of exchange Ch. 4, Secs. 4.1, 4.2
     Welfare economics & general equilibrium Ch. 15, Secs. 15.2, 15.3
Ch. 16
Chs. 12, 13,
17, 18, 28-30

Quiz 2 date:
TBA, April 16 or 21
     Externalities & Pigouvian taxes
     Public goods & Lindahl prices
TBA Lindahl prices example

(optional) Clarke tax; and a little about the Clarke tax
     Final Exam
Date:  Wednesday, April 29, 10:30-noon.
Coverage:  TBA (untested material since Exam 2 + comprehensive component)