MA3600 – Basic Economics

 

 

 

MA3600 – Basic Economics
Course Information
Semester
6
Course Code
MA3600
Course Name
Basic Economics
Credit Value
2
Pre-requisites
None
Core/Optional
Core for Mechanical Engineering Undergraduates

Hourly Breakdown

Theory
20
Small Group Activities
10
Practical
Assignment
Independent Learning
70

Course Aim

To impart the concepts and frameworks of procurement management and to develop students’ analytical and decision-making skills related to procurement management.

Intended Learning Outcomes

  • describe the key ideas that define the economic way of thinking.
  • analyse how demand and supply determine prices.
  • explain the relationship between a firm’s output and costs.
  • analyse the impact of government interventions in markets.
  • analyse the effect of international trade on the microeconomics of organizations.

Course Content (Only main topics & subtopics)

  • Basic Economic Concepts: Scarcity, thinking on the margin; opportunity cost; the power of trade; comparative advantage; production possibilities frontier.
  • Allocation of Resources: Demand; supply; demand and supply shifters; equilibrium; elasticity; price ceilings and floors; the labour market.
  • Costs and Production: Profits and losses; how much should a firm produce; production function.
  • Government and the Macroeconomy: Public goods and private goods; concept of environment; GDP; unemployment; inflation; the role of investment banking; and the importance of production development.
  • International Trade and Globalization: Trade between countries; growth of globalization; the role of free trade; multinational companies; foreign exchange and balance of payments stability.

Teaching/Learning Methods

  • Lectures
  • Student Based Activities

Assessment Strategy

Continuous Assessment 40% Final Assessment 60%
Small Group Activities: 20%
Quizzes: 20%
Theory: 60%
Practical: –
Other: –

Recommended Reading

  • Cowen, T. & Tabarrok, A. (2015). Modern Principles of Economics, 3rd Edition, Worth Publishers, New York.
  • Mankiw, N.G. (2021). Principles of Economics. Pearson Education, 9th Edition, Cengage, UK.
  • Mateer, D., Koppock, L. and O’Roark, B. (2016). Essentials of Economics. Norton & Co.
  • Parkin, M. (2010). Macroeconomics. Pearson Education, UK.