Course syllabus - Industrial Economics

Objectives

The aim of the course is to explore some recent developments in the field of Industrial Economics, using a rather formal (mathematical) analysis.

Learning outcomes

The course is compulsory in Economics and is also important to those who plan to study Industrial Economics, Game Theory or Microeconomics at advanced level.

Students will learn and train how to use standard mathematic tools (mainly calculus and optimization) to perform their own analysis in Industrial Economics, when they are confronted with similar issues in their profession.

Upon the successful completion of this course, students should be able to:

- explain and show how firms in oligopolistic environments choose prices (or outputs), under perfect and limited information, with and without entry
- explain and show that in modern industrial economics, market structure and performance are endogenously determined
- explain and show how costs and benefits should be fairly allocated among firms in cooperative situations
- explain and show the need for regulation and its consequences

Economists with solid knowledge in Industrial Economics are expected to have good work opportunities with high salaries and other fringe benefits. In a globalized economy, the successful students can work in the private sector, as analysts or advisors to pricing or other strategic problems and in the public sector as well, as analysts in competitive, regulatory or privatization issues.

Course content

The course covers the following topics: modern industry structure and performance; non-cooperative oligopoly models; cooperative games; product differentiation and monopolistic competition; non-linear pricing; limited and asymmetric information; regulation and deregulation.

Tuition

The course is organized as a series of lectures, seminars and some experiment. In seminars we solve various problems.

Specific requirements

Economics 60 credits (at least 45 credits finished when the course starts). At least 20 credits in Economics have to be on level G1F. TOEFL test result, minimum score 213(CBT), 550(PBT) or 79(iBT) or an IELTS test result with an overall band score of minimum 6,0 and no band score below 5,0. The English test is COMPULSORY for all applicants except citizens of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom and USA.

Examination

Examination (TEN1), 7.5 credits, marks Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding a disability has the opportunity to submit a request for supportive measures during written examinations or other forms of examination, in accordance with the Rules and Regulations for Examinations at First-cycle and Second-cycle Level at Mälardalen University (2020/1655). It is the examiner who takes decisions on any supportive measures, based on what kind of certificate is issued, and in that case which measures are to be applied.

Suspicions of attempting to deceive in examinations (cheating) are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance, and are examined by the University’s Disciplinary Board. If the Disciplinary Board considers the student to be guilty of a disciplinary offence, the Board will take a decision on disciplinary action, which will be a warning or suspension.

Grade

Pass with distinction, Pass, Fail

Interim Regulations and Other Regulations

Students are strongly requested to repeat and refresh their mathematical background (mainly calculus) before the course starts.

All ECTS marks apply: A, B, C, D, E, F.