📖 Textbook and Readings

Economics - particularly microeconomics - is less a body of knowledge than a way of thinking about and analyzing the world. The goal of economics is to “think like an economist.”

Like learning any skill, it takes extensive practice to learn this new way of thinking. Even if you feel you already understand the concepts from lecture, reading the textbook provides practice both with the models and language of economics. Students come to this class from a wide variety of backgrounds. If you don’t have a background in economics, then coming to section and reinforcing what you learn by doing the suggested readings in the textbook will be very helpful.

Because Bruce’s lectures and slides are the authoritative references for the class, students with stronger backgrounds in economics will not need to do the reading. Here is what Bruce writes in the syllabus:

• You should consider the textbook to be most useful as a reference, or as an additional source of review for material we have presented in class. You will not be responsible-on problem sets or exams-for material in the book that we have not covered in class.

Different students have different learning styles. We try to provide multiple options so that you will have resources available that work for you.

One thing to bear in mind is that microeconomics can be deceptively hard. Students often feel that they understand it and then try to do the homework only to find that the homework is “frustrating,” “unclear,” or “unfair.” If this happens to you, make sure to do the reading and come to section. You will find that the homework suddenly makes much more sense and feels more manageable! Doing this is the best way to make sure that you are well prepared for the exams.

❔How do I find which pages to read if I am using the etext?
✔ I suggest ignoring the page numbers in the syllabus and just using the chapter and section numbers. When the reading in the syllabus says “Section 3.1,” it means “Section 1 of Chapter 3.”