Courses Exchange Display 2015-2016

Course Description To PDF
Course title Introduction into the Information Society
Course code EBC2018
ECTS credits 6,5
Assessment Whole/Half Grades
Period
Period Start End Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1 31-8-2015 23-10-2015 X/E X/E
Level Intermediate
Coordinator Elias Tsakas
For more information: e.tsakas@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Language of instruction English
Goals
The objective of this course is to understand the impact of information on the economy and society. After having learned basic theory on oligopolistic markets and the economics of (asymmetric) information, this knowledge is applied to analyse markets that are characterized by factors related to information, such as: infrastructure, standardization, compatibility, intellectual property rights and patenting, versioning, switching costs and lock-in, consumptive externalities (network effects), and reputation.
Description
The course consists of an extension of the microeconomics topics that have been discussed in the first year microeconomics course (EBC1011) such as basic game theory, industrial organisation, and issues on asymmetric information. In addition, the theories learned are immediately applied to markets that are characterized by properties that are specific for the information society. In the discussions, next to the economic aspects, also legal and policy aspects will be addressed.
Literature
An intermediate microeconomics textbook like, for example,
Perloff J.M. (2012) . Microeconomics, Pearson
Next to this a accompanying textbook concentrated on the information society like, for example
Shapiro, C. and H.R. Varion (1999), Information Rules, A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy, Harvard Business School Press, Boston

In addition a couple of articles will be studied.
Prerequisites
Knowledge and understanding of introductory microeconomics, comparable to course first-year Microeconomics, which is based on the first half of
Perloff, J.M. (2012), Microeconomics, Pearson, Addison Wesley, Boston.
an advanced level of English
Teaching methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) PBL / Presentation / Assignment
Assessment methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) Final Paper / Participation / Written Exam
Evaluation in previous academic year For the complete evaluation of this course please click "here"
This course belongs to the following programmes / specialisations
Bachelor Economics and Business Economics Specialisation Economics and Management of Information Year 2 Compulsory Courses
SBE Exchange Bachelor Bachelor Exchange Courses
SBE Exchange Master Bachelor Exchange Courses
SBE Non Degree Courses Bachelor Courses