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ECON-S431

Graduate microeconomics II

academic year
2026-2027

Course teacher(s)

Luca Paolo MERLINO (Coordinator)

ECTS credits

5

Language(s) of instruction

english

Course content

We will analyze environments in which some of the main assumptions underlying the two welfare theorems of general equilibrium are not satisfied: mainly information asymmetries and externalities. The purpose is to introduce and apply concepts or tools from information economics, decision under uncertainty, contract theory, network economies and mechanism.

Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)

At the end of the course, the students will be able to :

  • Chose the appropriate tools to engage in applied or more fundamental work in microeconomics and its applications.

  • Analyze environments in which some of the main assumptions underlying

  • Understand by modeling an issue what would be the effects

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures, problem sets. There could be also invited speakers.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

[M] MasColell, Andreu, Whinston, Michael and Green, Jerry (1995). Microeconomic Theory, Oxford University Press.
[F] Fudenberg, Drew and Tirole, Jean (1993) Game Theory, MIT Press.
[L] Laffont, Jean-Jacques (1995). The Economics of Uncertainty and Information, The MIT Press.
[H] Harris, Milton (1987). Dynamic Economic Analysis, Oxford University Press.
[J] Jackson, M. O. (2008). Social and economic networks (Vol. 3). Princeton: Princeton university press.

Contribution to the teaching profile

The course contributes to the developments of the following skills :

  • Comprehensively assess potential solutions using economic, financial and other criteria as relevant to the situation at hand.

  • Solve complex problems arising in economic, financial and public policy contexts to transfer knowledge in realistic solutions to operationalize solutions.

Other information

Contacts

luca.paolo.merlino@ulb.be

Campus

Solbosch

Evaluation

Method(s) of evaluation

  • Practice work
  • written examination

Practice work

written examination

  • Open question with developed answer

Problems sets and a final written exam.  The instructor reserves the right to invite any student to an additional oral examination in order to verify their personal understanding of the content of the submitted examination, particularly where inconsistencies identified in the examination prevent the instructor from properly assessing the student's level of proficiency in the knowledge and skills targeted by the course.

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

Depending on the availability either:
1) Final written exam : 80%
2) Continuous assessments : 20%
or:
1) Final written exam : 100%

Language(s) of evaluation

  • english

Programmes