Aggiornato A.A. 2014-2015
Module II - Microeconomics
Academic Year 2013-2014
The course provides a basic overview of fundamental microeconomic questions in the contemporary economic debate. It is divided in two parts: the first one proposes some basic game theoretical tools to analyze relevant firms’ decisions in markets for production. The second part investigates how information influences economic decisions and outcomes, with particular attention to the financial aspects of firm’s activities. Topics include moral hazard and adverse selection in static frameworks. Each model’s result will be discussed in the light of relevant economic examples.
Course programme
Week 1 & 2
Strategic decision: Game Theory
Normal form games: Nash equilibrium
Application 1: Cournot Oligopoly
Application 2: Bertrand Oligopoly with imperfect substitutes
Application 3: Bertrand Oligopoly with a homogeneous good
Application 4: Edgeworth Duopoly
References: Gibbons Chp. 1 (Exclude par 1.1.C, 1.2.C, 1.2.D), Theorems and Proofs can be skipped. Supplementary material available on-line
Week 3
Extensive form games: Subgame Perfect Nash Equilibrium
Application1: Stackelberg Oligopoly
Application 2: Diamond-Dybvig economy
Application 3: Entry games
References: Gibbons Chp. 2 (Exclude par 2.1.C, 2.1.D, 2.2.C, 2.2.D, 2.3), Theorems and Proofs can be skipped.
Week 4
Subgame Perfect Nash Equilibrium in mixed strategies
Monopoly with a unique price: positive and normative analysis
Price discrimination in a monopolistic industry
Introduction to Principal-Agent models
Price discrimination by a monopolist: the case of symmetric information
References: Salaniè: Introduction, Chp.2 par. 2.2. McAfee: par. 1-2.1
Week 5
Monopoly pricing: the textbook case without discrimination
Price discrimination by a monopolist: the case of asymmetric information
Again on price discrimination: two-part tariff
References: Salaniè: Introduction, Chp.2 par. 2.2. McAfee: par. 1-2.1; Tirole chp.3 until par. 3.3.1.4 (exclude 3.2).
Textbook References
Gibbons R., (1992) “A primer in Game Theory”, Harvester Wheatsheaf.
Salaniè B., (2005) "The Economics of Contratcs. A primer", MIT Press.
Tirole, J. (1997) "The Theory of Industrial Organization", MIT Press.
Preston McAfee (2006), Lectures on pricing, California Institute of Technology, freely downloadable online
Supplementary readings
Dixit A. and Nalebuff B., (1991) Thinking Strategically: The Competitive Edge in Business, Politics and Everyday Life, Norton.
Van Zandt T. (2012), Firms Prices and Markets, freely downloadable online.
Additional supplementary readings will be indicated as the course goes on. The course instructor will provide indications to download the articles, and the pdf of the article whenever possible.
As a general reference for any prerequisite in microeconomics: Varian H. (2010) Intermediate Microeconomics, 8° edition, W. W. Norton & Company.
Prof.ssa Lucia Leonelli
