Introduction to Economics, basic course, 8 credits

Main field of study

Course level

Advancement level

Course offered for

• Business and Economics Programme

Entry requirements

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of the course, the student should:
- be familiar with the basic issues and the basic assumptions of economics,
- have an understanding of the determinants of demand, supply and price in a market, and what can change them,
- have knowledge about a company's different production and cost relationships and how a company in perfect competition determines the production quantity that will maximise the profit,
- have knowledge about different economic growth theories and have some familiarity with the Swedish economic development in a long-term perspective,
- have knowledge of the function of the labour market, reasons for unemployment and some knowledge of employment policy,
- have a basic ability to apply economic models to analyse economic problems,
- have developed basic skills to interpret and apply graphical and simple mathematical analysis
- consciously be able to take an economic approach ("thinking like an economist") to various types of economic problems.

Course content

The course covers

- funamental concep in math
- the problem of scarcity and the concept of opportunity cost,
- the conditions of economic theory; the actors in the market and the rationality assumption,
- demand, supply and equilibrium price. Effects of different disturbances on the equilibrium,
- production theory,
- the company's short-term and long-term cost causations,
- profit maximisation and supply at perfect competition,
- the labour market, structural and conjunctural unemployment, employment policy,
- mathematical fundamental concepts, such as fractions and powers, percent, functions, equation systems, derivative, optimisation and graphical illustrations.

Teaching and working methods

The teaching is given in the form of a number of exercises and seminars. At these, assignments and problems that the student is expected to prepare in advance, independently or in groups, are discussed. In some exercise sessions, the student may be given time to work with assignments during scheduled time, partly under teacher supervision. A number of lectures are also held to help the student structure the course contents. Apart from this, the student independently studies the reading list and works with practical assignments and problems.

Examination

The course is examined through an individual written examination.

Grades

Other information

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Planning and implementation of a course must take its starting point in the wording of the syllabus. The course evaluation included in each course must therefore take up the question how well the course agrees with the syllabus. 

The course is carried out in such a way that both men´s and women´s experience and knowledge is made visible and developed.

Department