NTU Course
Overview

Economics in the News: Micro Behavior

Offered in 114-1

  • Serial Number

    16996

  • Course Number

    ECON2031

  • Course Identifier

    303 22090

  • No Class

  • 3 Credits

  • A56* / Elective

    No Target Students / DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

      A56*

    • No Target Students

      • Elective

    • DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

  • JOSEPH TAO-YI WANG
  • Fri 7, 8, 9

  • 社科和碩講堂

  • Type 2

  • 324 Student Quota

    NTU 274 + non-NTU 50

  • No Specialization Program

  • English
  • NTU COOL
  • Core Capabilities and Curriculum Planning
  • Notes
    No Target Students The course is conducted in English。。A56*:Civil Awareness and Social Analysis , Mathematics and Computer Science area . This course is also categorized as Liberal Education Course . DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS The course is conducted in English。

  • NTU Enrollment Status

    Enrolled
    0/274
    Other Depts
    0/200
    Remaining
    0
    Registered
    0
  • Course Description
    https://homepage.ntu.edu.tw/~josephw/news_principles_micro_25F.htm This is an interdisciplinary course combining media and economics to train students to evaluate news articles and think like an economist. This course analyzes micro behavior and focuses on microeconomics. For students with no prior knowledge in economics, this is a flipped course requiring them to first watch Principles of Economics I videos on NTU OCW (https://ocw.aca.ntu.edu.tw/ntu-ocw/ocw/cou/110S109) and apply principles learned from the videos to news articles assigned. Students majoring in economics can take this as a capstone course and bring all the economics they have learned to analyze interesting economic questions found in the news. This is an interdisciplinary course combining news media and principles of economics. For students with no prior knowledge in economics, this is a flipped course in which you first watch videos at NTU OCW (https://ocw.aca.ntu.edu.tw/ntu-ocw/ocw/cou/110S109) and then apply principles of economics to news articles assigned. Students majoring in economics may also take this as a capstone course and bring everything they have learned to bear on interesting economic questions found in the news. This course analyzes micro behavior and focuses on microeconomics.
  • Course Objective
    After taking the course, you are expected to: 1. Recall basic principles of (micro-)economics. 2. Analyze assigned news articles with economic principles. 3. Uncover interesting news articles and come up with economic questions about them.
  • Course Requirement
    For students with no prior knowledge in economics, this is a flipped course requiring them to first watch Principles of Economics I videos on NTU OCW (https://ocw.aca.ntu.edu.tw/ntu-ocw/ocw/cou/110S109) and apply principles learned from the videos to news articles assigned. Students majoring in economics can take this as a capstone course and bring all the economics they have learned to analyze interesting economic questions found in the news.
  • Expected weekly study hours before and/or after class
    3-10 hours, depending on the background in economics. Students are expected to read assigned news articles before class (and ask LLM to translate if necessary), actively participate and answer questions via Slido in class, and join group discussions led by the TAs. After class, students are expected to search for interesting news articles and come up with economic questions about them.
  • Office Hour
    Fri13:40 - 14:20
    before class or by email appointment
  • Designated Reading
    1. News articles listed at https://homepage.ntu.edu.tw/~josephw/news_principles_micro_25F.htm 2. Mankiw, Principles of Economics, 10th ed., Cengage, 2024.
  • References
    NTU OCW (https://ocw.aca.ntu.edu.tw/ntu-ocw/ocw/cou/110S109)
  • Grading
    14%

    Classroom Participation

    Answer in-class quizzes and actively participate in TA sessions to receive weekly credit. (See the participation rubrics in the syllabus)

    6%

    Exam-Giving Contest

    Form groups of 3 to propose exam questions based on news articles you find interesting and provide suggested answers. The winning team(s) get to see their questions in the actual exam.

    40%

    Midterm Exam

    10/17 in-class written exam, focusing on Markets in the News.

    40%

    Final Exam

    12/12 in-class written exam, focusing on Competition in the News. (Note: If you score higher in the final exam, it will count as 70% and the midterm as 10%.)

  • Adjustment methods for students
  • Make-up Class Information
  • Course Schedule
    9/5Week 1Markets in the News of 2022: [Review Ten Principles of Economics (Mankiw, Ch.1)] 1. In Russia, They Noticed a Rise in the Price of Bulletproof Vests by Thousands of Percent (gamingdeputy.com, 2022/10/1) 2. In Russia After the Mobilization Soared Prices for Bulletproof Vests (Google Translated of Moscow Times, 2022/9/30) 3. Mandatory Service Key to Bolstering the Military (Taipei Times, 2022/10/10) 4. India Restricts Wheat Flour Exports to Ease Record Local Prices (Guardian, 2022/8/26)
    9/12Week 2Markets in the News of 2024: [Review PPF/Gains from Trade (Mankiw, Ch.2-3)] 1. 「班班喝鮮乳」政策倉促，採購價低於行情、缺冷鏈配套成「班班保久乳」、重擊羊奶產業 (上下游, 2024/9/30) 2. 政院：班班有鮮乳政策 持續協商滿足學校需求 (中央社, 2022/10/17) 3. 班班有鮮奶政策突襲，羊乳業者措手不及，訂單驟減2至5成，產業如遭斷頭刀(上下游, 2024/10/1) 4. 北運受阻菜價又高漲 農糧署估5日運輸恢復正常 (中央社, 2024/10/4) 5. 山陀兒颱風過後菜價再漲！高麗菜「這價格」婆媽一問嚇到不敢買 (TVBS, 2024/10/4) 6. 你最近花了多少錢看演唱會？娛樂通膨跟SXSW有甚麼關係？ (TAICCA, 2024/5/30)
    9/19Week 3Markets in the News of 2021: [Review Supply and Demand (Mankiw, Ch.4)] 1. S. Korean drivers panic buy urea after China tightens supply (Reuters, 2021/11/5) 2. Seoul looking to tap into industrial urea stockpile for diesel cars (Korea Herald, 2021/11/4) 3. China to ship 18,700 tons of urea to South Korea (Korea Herald, 2021/11/10) 4. Taiwan plans to introduce carbon pricing mechanism by 2023 (via NTU library) (CNA, 2021/10/13) 5. Notability blinks on charging users more, grandfathers in existing users (2021/11/3) 6. COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan - After first case reported (Wikipedia) 7. Face mask price drops as government weighs in, factories return to work (China Post, 2020/1/31)
    9/26Week 4Markets in the News of 2020: [Review Elasticity/Intervention (Mankiw, Ch.5-6)] 1. [投書]YouBike 2.0 試辦後，台灣公共自行車要邁向什麼樣的未來? (報導者2020/9/16) 2. 向山旅館再開說明會，邵族人拒出席表達強烈反對 (環境資訊中心2020/10/30) 3. 雲林豬價下跌，張麗善向中央喊話重視養豬產業 (中央社2020-09-22) 4. 學者質疑：政府都說沒影響，幹嘛訂豬價下限 (聯合報2020/9/18) 5. 日本開放美萊豬，進口量不增反降 (自由時報2020/10/27) 6. 7月豬肉進口量暴增1.5倍，農委會：遞延效應 (農傳媒2020/08/12) 7. Overtourism a blessing and curse for Taiwan’s outlying islands (Taiwan News, 2020/08/01)
    10/3Week 5Markets in the News of 2019: [Review Welfare/Taxation/Trade (Mankiw, Ch.7-9)] 1. 不只物價變貴 非洲豬瘟對中國衝擊全方位 (中央社2019/10/24) 2. 猪价行情提前上涨！四季度活猪价将会突破2016年的历史高点 (猪价格网2019-06-28) 3. 惡性通膨來了？中國10月豬肉價格狂飆近2倍 物價全面上漲 (信傳媒2019/10/31) 4. 中國豬價狂漲 中小學午餐費調漲或換菜 (中央社2019/11/1) 5. Gold sales likely to decline 50% on Dhanteras (via Mint) (India Times, 2019/10/9) 6. Inside Wisconsin’s Disastrous $4.5 Billion Deal with Foxconn (Bloomberg, 2019/2/6)
    10/10Week 6National Holiday (no class) - Markets in the News of 2018 (watch video online): [Review Externalities and Public Goods and Common Resource (Mankiw, Ch.10-11)] 1. Venezuela raises minimum wage 3,000% and lots of workers get fired (Bloomberg, 2018/09/14) 2. Chinese economy slowing faster than expected, worst yet to come (南華早報, 2018/10/31) 3. Argentina says exports soyoil to China for first time in 3 years (Reuters, 2018/8/28) 4. EU to offer billions of funding for electric battery plants (Financial Times, 2018/10/14) 5. Canada passed a carbon tax that will give most Canadians more money (Guardian, 2018/10/26) 6. Sask. environment minister says Ottawa’s carbon tax change mirrors province’s approach (CBC, 2018/8/1)
    10/17Week 7Midterm Exam (Markets in the News of 2025)
    10/24Week 8National Holiday (no class)
    10/31Week 9[10/31] Competition in the News of 2024: [Review Cost of Production (Mankiw, Ch.14)] 1. 外送員喊漲薪＝漲運費? 平台收費沒告訴你的事 (News Lab, PTS, 2024/11/20) 2. 外送費將調漲至60元起跳? 8成消費者不買單，交通部急澄清 (Yahoo, 2024/10/15) 3. High Market Share Delays Uber Eats, foodpanda Merger: Expert (TVBS, 2024/12/10) 4. 基本工資一漲，失業率、通膨都變高? 數據打臉「慣老闆」 (遠見雜誌, 2023/9/13) 5. 慶祝中華隊12強奪金！50家冠軍優惠總整理 星巴克、虎航買一送一 (NOW News, 2024/11/25) 6. US Justice Department accuses RealPage of driving up rents (Reuters, 8/24/2024)
    11/7Week 10Competition in the News of 2022: [Review Competitive Markets (Mankiw, Ch.15)] 1. How Will America Deal with Three Way Nuclear Deterrence (via NTU library) (Economist, 2022/11/29) 2. How disappointed Taylor Swift fans explain Ticketmaster’s monopoly (Vox, 022/11/21) 3. South Korea’s Education Success Faltering (Bloomberg, Taipei Times, 2022/11/15) 4. The Guilt of a South Korean Cram School Mogul (Korea Hereld, 2017/09/09) 5. Why Workers Just Won’t Stop Quitting (BBC, 2022/08/19)
    11/14Week 11Competition in the News of 2021: [Monopoly/Monopolistic Competition (Ch.16-17)] 1. Q3’21 Was a Record Quarter for Foldable Smartphones, Samsung Enjoys a 93% Share per DSCC Report (DSCC, 2020/12/31) 2. Taiwan Mobile to take over Taiwan Star to boost 5G (Taipei Times, 2021/12/31) 3. 台灣大哥大併台灣之星開啟電信新時代，業者分析：低價吃到飽將消失 (中央社, 2022/1/3) 4. 上一篇文章談到找工作刷題的問題... (洪士灝臉書, 2021/12/29) 5. The Presidential Election of National iDaiwan University Revisited 6. Walmart Draws Anger In China Over Xinjiang (Wall Street Journal, 2021/12/28)
    11/21Week 12University Athlete Holiday (no class) - Competition in the News of 2018 (watch video online): [Review Oligopoly (Mankiw, Ch.18)] 1. 主計總處透露高薪密碼：考研究所/進大公司/考台電(via NTU library) (經濟日報 12/30/2018) 2. Pacific trade pact takes off with tariffs cut in six nations (Reuters, 2018/12/29) 3. Kery 買 Tesla 昂貴電動車的祕技：開 Uber (via YouTube) (癮科技2018/12/26) 4. 台大校長遴選2關3輪投票，不是小學生選班長 (聯合報1/31/2018)
    11/28Week 13Competition in the News of 2020: [Factor/Labor Markets (Mankiw, Ch.19-20)] 1. National health insurance premium rate raised to 5.17% (via NTU library) (CNA, 2020/12/31) 2. How Premium of Taiwan NHI is Calculated (Taiwan NHI, updated 2023/11/20) 3. The Pandemic Is a Prisoner’s Dilemma Game (New York Times, 2020/12/20) 4. Giga-Sweatshop Meets Corporate Overlords: An Exclusive Look Into How Tesla China Runs its Shanghai Gigafactory 3 (Pingwest.com, 2020/9/16) (link no longer works)
    12/5Week 14Competition in the News of 2019: [Review Frontiers of Economics (Mankiw, Ch.23)] 1. What has gone wrong at MotherCare? (BBC, 2018/11/5) 2. Why airlines are rushing to add premium economy seats: Revenue from upgraded meals and wider seats rivals business class for profits (Financial Times, 2019/11/29) 3. 深度評論：台灣薪資停滯的成因與解方 (蘋果日報2019/12/17) 4. 破2000元的5G資費，你會埋單嗎？用囚徒困境，看懂為何台灣5G標金會飆破天價 (商業週刊2019/12/30) 5. 5G競價規則出爐！3.5GHz頻段27區段底價9億元，需求超過27加價3% (風傳媒2019/10/16)
    12/12Week 15Final Exam (Competition in the News of 2025)
    [Optional]Week 16Competition in the News of 2017: 1. Free rides boost Kaohsiung MRT traffic by 10 percent (Taipei Times, 12/2/2017) 2. 高捷冬季免費傳捷報！今尖峰運量增21％、比首日加倍 (自由時報2017-12-04) 3. 超商雙雄對決科技型態店 (via NTU Library) (經濟日報2017/12/10) 4. Student Collusion in Professor J’s Exam Question Contests (in-class event) 5. Chunghwa keeps low-cost 4G plan in blow to peers (Taipei Times, 2017/3/2) 6. 電信低價吃到飽打死不退 NCC：要勇敢 (中央社 2017/12/28) 7. Your Uber Car Creates Congestion. Should You Pay a Fee to Ride? (NY Times, 2017/12/26) Competition in the News of 2016: 1. The Taiwanese see themselves as Taiwanese, not as Chinese (Washington Post, 1/2/2017) 2. Shipping Alliances Shore Up Industry, Unsettle Customers (Wall Street Journal, 1/3/2017) 3. Ex-Google employee alleges unequal pay (USA TODAY, 7/21/2015) 4. Tech firms shell out to hire and hoard talent (Economist, 11/5/2016) Markets in the News of 2017 1. Taiwan to levy duty on online purchases over NT$2,000 (Taiwan News, 2017/05/24) 2. Busman’s holiday: London’s buses are losing passengers (Economist, 10/19/2017) 3. 尖叫聲 94 分貝！嬤帶5孫租屋 遭投訴迫搬 (TVBS, 2017/10/26) 4. 自費醫療 取消收費天花板 (via NTU Library) (聯合報2017-10-15) Markets in the News of 2016: 1. 風數據》YouBike收費多5元 趕走了哪些人？ (風傳媒2016/7/18) 2. 蔬菜搶收供應量暴增 今菜價跌一成 (蘋果日報2016/9/27) 3. 台大農場畜產品漲價 牛奶、羊奶漲一成多 (蘋果日報2015/09/01) 4. The 58 Billion Hidden Cost of the Flu on the US Economy (CNBC, 2016/10/28) 5. 讀書能多活兩年？耶魯大學發現讀書與長壽之間的聯繫 (端聞2016/08/12) 6. 中國金牌數銳減變「小三」 原因竟是... (蘋果日報2016/8/17)