Program Overview

ECON 130: Microeconomic Principles

Course Description

This course is an introduction to economic principles and their application to issues facing households, businesses, and government in the New Zealand economy and the international economic environment.

Course Details

• Dates: 24 February 2025 to 22 June 2025
• Starts: Trimester 1
• Fees:
  • NZ$962.40 for domestic students
  • NZ$4,427.55 for international students
• Lecture start times: Thursday 2.10pm
• Campus: Kelburn
• Estimated workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.8 hours per week for 17 weeks
• Points: 15

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: None
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: None

Taught by

The School of Economics and Finance — Wellington School of Business and Government

Disclaimer

This course outline may be subject to change.

Key Dates

Important dates, including mid-trimester teaching breaks, can be found on the University's key dates calendar. Assessment dates will be announced once the course has begun.

About this Course

This course is intended as a first course in microeconomics, exposing students to economic concepts, frameworks, and simple models. It prepares students for further study in ECON and FINA courses. Analysis of these models may require knowledge of elementary mathematics, such as graphing lines and algebra.

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Explain and assess the key principles of economics.
2. Explain and analyse the optimal choice of a consumer.
3. Explain and analyse the optimal production plan of a firm.
4. Identify an equilibrium and analyse the main influences on equilibrium prices and quantities.
5. Solve and comment on simple games.
6. Explain and address the implications of imperfect competition in markets.
7. Explain the basic concepts of finance.

How this Course is Taught

This course is optimised for face-to-face delivery on campus. All lectures will be recorded and available for two weeks.

Assessment

• IN PERSON Test 1: 35%
• Assignment: 35%
• IN PERSON Test 2: 30%

Lecture Times and Rooms

• 24 February 2025 to 13 April 2025
• 28 April 2025 to 1 June 2025

What You'll Need to Get

For in-person tutorials, please bring a device with internet access, such as a laptop or tablet, to fully participate in activities. If you do not have access to such a device, you can opt to join a Zoom tutorial and attend from one of the campus computer labs.

Course Options

There are two course options available:

1. Offering 24 Feb to 22 Jun, 2.10pm on Thursday, Kelburn, Trimester 1, CRN 8721
2. Offering 17 Nov to 21 Dec, 2.40pm on Monday, 2.40pm on Tuesday, 2.40pm on Thursday, Pipitea, Trimester 3, CRN 8827