Teaching plan for the course unit

 

 

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General information

 

Course unit name: Microeconomics II

Course unit code: 366722

Academic year: 2025-2026

Coordinator: Alexandrina Petrova Stoyanova

Department: Department of Economics

Credits: 6

Single program: S

 

 

Estimated learning time

Total number of hours 150

 

Face-to-face and/or online activities

60

 

-  Lecture with practical component

Face-to-face

 

60

Supervised project

40

Independent learning

50

 

 

Competences / Learning outcomes to be gained during study

 

   -

Ability to work in a team (capacity to collaborate with others and contribute to a common project, capacity to work in cross-disciplinary and multicultural teams).

   -

Capacity to adapt to dynamic environments.

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Capacity to take decisions from an economic perspective.

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Ability to produce critical analyses of economic theories and models.

Learning objectives

 

Referring to knowledge

  • Examine the structure and behaviour of non-competitive markets, focusing on firms with price-setting power.
  • Identify and critically assess the various forms and implications of market power through the analysis of real-world cases.

 

 

Teaching blocks

 

1. Introduction and course objectives

2. Monopoly

2.1. Characteristics of monopoly markets

2.2. Monopoly equilibrium

2.3. Natural monopoly

2.4. Regulation of monopolies

2.5. Extensions: Multi plant monopolies, multiproduct firms; durable goods, and network externalities

3. Price discrimination

3.1. First-, second- and third-degree price discrimination

3.2. Joint sales

4. Imperfect competition models (I)

4.1. Oligopolies: models with homogeneous products (Cournot, Stackelberg, Bertrand)

4.2. Dominant firm model

4.3. Collusion

5. Imperfect competition models (II). Oligopolies: models with differentiated products

5.1. The differentiated Bertrand model

5.2. Horizontal differentiation (Hotelling, Salop)

5.3. Vertical differentiation (quality-based competition)

 

 

Teaching methods and general organization

 

This subject is taught through two main types of activity, following the teaching model adopted by the Faculty of Economics and Business.

a) In-class activities which combine theoretical explanations with practical components. These sessions are devoted to presenting key theoretical concepts and analytical tools, solving problems, and carrying out active-learning activities.

b) Independent study, which involves reviewing class notes, reading complementary materials, completing exercises, and preparing for continuous assessment tests and the final examination.

 

 

Official assessment of learning outcomes

 

The main method of evaluation for this subject is continuous assessment.

Specific details regarding the organization of continuous assessment—including the number and type of tests, exams and other activities, the grading criteria, and the format of the questions— are published in the course outline on the Virtual Campus at the start of the semester. Students failing to submit one or more of the continuous assessment activities are automatically transferred to the single assessment system and must sit a final examination.

Students who do not obtain a pass grade are entitled to a repeat assessment, scheduled by the Academic Council. This takes the same format as the single assessment examination.

 

Examination-based assessment

The single assessment consists of a final examination worth 100% of the overall grade. The detailed format and requirements for this examination are published on the Virtual Campus at the beginning of the academic year.

Students who do not obtain a pass grade are entitled to a repeat assessment, set by the Academic Council, which follows the same format as the single assessment examination.

 

 

Reading and study resources

Check availability in Cercabib

Book

Cabral, L. (2000). Economía Industrial (2a ed.). McGraw-Hill.

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

Tirole, J. (1990). La Teoría de la Organización Industrial. Editorial Ariel.

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

Shy, O. (1998). Industrial organization: Theory and Applications. MIT Press.

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

Pepall, L; Richardson, D.; Norman, G. (2006). Organización Industrial: Teoría y Práctica Contemporáneas. Thomson Ed.

Catāleg UB  Enllaç

Pindyck, R.; Rubinfeld, D. (2013). Microeconomía (8a ed.). Pearson Prentice Hall.

Catāleg UB  Enllaç