Courses Bachelor Display 2022-2023

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 5-9-2022 21-10-2022 X X
Level Intermediate
Coordinator Stefan Terstiege
For more information: s.terstiege@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
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) USED IN THIS COURSE IS WITH RESERVATION. A RE-EMERGENCE OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND NEW COUNTERMEASURES BY THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT MIGHT FORCE COORDINATORS TO CHANGE THE TEACHING AND ASSESSMENT METHODS USED. THE MOST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEACHING/ASSESSMENT METHOD(S) WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE COURSE SYLLABUS.

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
The textbooks for this course are usually:
* Bonnano, G. (2015). Game Theory. Open access textbook.
* Perloff, J.M. Microeconomics. Pearson Addison Wesley. The edition will be stated in the syllabus.
* Shapiro, C. & Varian, H. (1998). Information Rules: A Strategic Guide to the Network Economy. Harvard Business School Press.
In addition, several academic articles will be studied.
Prerequisites
It is expected that the students who take this course have a solid knowledge in microeconomics at the level of having passed the first-year course Microeconomics (EBC1010). It is also expected that the students have prior knowledge of basic calculus and statistics, corresponding to familiarity with the topics covered in Quantitative Methods I (EBC1006) and Quantitative Methods II (EBC1034).
Teaching methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) PBL / Presentation / Assignment
Assessment methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) Written Exam / Presentation
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 - Economics and Management of Information Year 2 Compulsory Course(s)
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SBE Exchange Master Bachelor Exchange Courses
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