316-330 Organisations, Economics and Incentives

316-202 Intermediate Microeconomics.

This subject is concerned with the economics of asymmetric information, when agents may have private knowledge, take hidden actions, and attempt to manipulate the knowledge, information and incentives of others. Using game theory and information economics it will cover the main techniques and results of principal-agent theory and contract theory. It will introduce students to the principles of economic design in asymmetric information environments. These tools will be applied to a variety of topics and case studies, performance incentives, regulation, government procurement, structure of insurance markets, monopoly behaviour, agricultural contracts and share cropping.

• High level of development: problem solving.

• Moderate level of development: application of theory to practice; interpretation and analysis; critical thinking; evaluation of data and other information.

• Some level of development: statistical reasoning; receptiveness to alternative ideas.

A 2-hour end-of-semester exam (80%) and assignments totalling not more than 2000 words (20%).