Every winter semester
7 Credit points
For information on the duration of the modul, refer to the courses of study in which the module is used.
Non-official translation of the module descriptions. Only the German version is legally binding.
Students are introduced to Homo Oeconomicus and the profit-maximizing firm, the two central agents in most of economic analysis. Building on these, students are given two kinds of competencies: First, they are given an understanding of the consequences of economic interaction of these agents, for, among other things, the kinds of demand functions firm might be facing, for the kind of supply functions consumers might be facing, for societal welfare, and, finally, for the possibility to improve societal welfare through intervention from the state. Second, they are given a consistent way to think and reason about many economic problems for the purpose of analysis and policy advice, even about those outside the scope of this module.
Microeconomics 1A: Individual Decision Making
The first part deals with individual decision making by consumers and producers. Consumer choice: consumption set, competitive budget, preference relation and utility, the utility maximization problem, demand function, aggregate demand. Production: productions sets, production and cost functions, profit maximization and cost minimization, aggregation, efficient production.
Microeconomics 1B: Equilibria and Optimality
The second part deals with Walras equilibria and Pareto optima. Definition of Pareto optima and competitive equilibria. Pure exchange economy : the Edgeworth box. General versus partial equilibrium. The first and the second fundamental theorems of welfare economics. First order conditions for Pareto optima. The basic equations of equilibria, existence of equilibria.
Books: Mas-Colell, A., Whinston, M.D., Green, J., Microeconomic Theory, Oxford University Press, 1995. Chapters 1-5, 10 and 15-18.
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Module structure: 1 bPr 1
The module examination consists of a portfolio of midterm (seventh / eighth week of classes, in case of blocked course: contents of the first half of the course) and Final (each 90-minute exam, or 20-minute oral exam), such that the grade for the module is awarded by the teacher of the course, a 90 to 180-minute exam or a 15 to 25-minute oral exam.
If a "Portfolio" is offered for retake, it consists of two elements. The first element covers the contents of the first seven/eight weeks of classes/contents or the first half of the course and the other element covers contents from the eighth/ninth week of classes/contents or the second half of the course (each 90-minute exam, or 20-minute oral exam), such that the grade for the module is awarded by the teacher of the course.
| Degree programme | Profile | Recommended start 3 | Duration | Mandatory option 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematical Economics / Master of Science [FsB vom 28.02.2025] | Mathematics | 1. o. 2. | one semester | Compulsory optional subject |
| Mathematical Economics / Master of Science [FsB vom 28.02.2025] | Economics | 1. o. 2. | one semester | Obligation |
| Mathematical Economics / Master of Science [FsB vom 28.02.2025] | Finance | 1. | one semester | Compulsory optional subject |
| Quantitative Economics / Master of Science [FsB vom 15.02.2013 mit Änderungen vom 01.07.2015 und 31.03.2023] | 1. | one semester | Obligation | |
| Quantitative Economics / Master of Science [FsB vom 15.02.2013 mit Änderungen vom 01.07.2015 und 31.03.2023] | International Track | 1. | one semester | Obligation |
| Mathematical Economics / Master of Science [FsB vom 16.09.2019 mit Änderungen vom 15.11.2022, 01.03.2024 und 10.12.2024] | Mathematics | 1. o. 2. | one semester | Compulsory optional subject |
| Mathematical Economics / Master of Science [FsB vom 16.09.2019 mit Änderungen vom 15.11.2022, 01.03.2024 und 10.12.2024] | Economics | 1. o. 2. | one semester | Obligation |
| Mathematical Economics / Master of Science [FsB vom 16.09.2019 mit Änderungen vom 15.11.2022, 01.03.2024 und 10.12.2024] | Finance | 1. | one semester | Compulsory optional subject |
| Mathematical Economics / Master of Science [FsB vom 15.02.2013 mit Berichtigungen vom 04.11.2013,15.01.2015 und 15.10.2019 und Änderungen vom 15.01.2014, 15.12.2014, 01.04.2016, 15.05.2017, 01.03.2019 und 16.09.2019] | Finance | 1. | one semester | Compulsory optional subject |
| Mathematical Economics / Master of Science [FsB vom 15.02.2013 mit Berichtigungen vom 04.11.2013,15.01.2015 und 15.10.2019 und Änderungen vom 15.01.2014, 15.12.2014, 01.04.2016, 15.05.2017, 01.03.2019 und 16.09.2019] | Mathematics | 1. o. 2. | one semester | Compulsory optional subject |
| Mathematical Economics / Master of Science [FsB vom 15.02.2013 mit Berichtigungen vom 04.11.2013,15.01.2015 und 15.10.2019 und Änderungen vom 15.01.2014, 15.12.2014, 01.04.2016, 15.05.2017, 01.03.2019 und 16.09.2019] | Economics | 1. o. 2. | one semester | Obligation |
The system can perform an automatic check for completeness for this module.