ECON 431: Undergraduate Industrial Organization
ECON 431 is a course in industrial organization, the study of firms in markets. This field analyzes the acquisition and use of market power by firms, strategic interactions among firms, and the role of government competition policy. We will approach this subject from both theoretical and applied perspectives. Course assignments will include occasional problem sets, a midterm and final, as well as a multi-week competitive strategy game: teams of students will compete across a number of simulated markets, making decisions about pricing, manufacturing capacity, and entry / exit.
ECON 632: Graduate Industrial Organization
ECON 632 will explore both theoretical and empirical analyses of firm behavior in markets. The main emphasis is on how firms compete with one another, and secondary emphasis is placed on organizational behavior and how firms interact with consumers. Topics will likely include: price discrimination, oligopoly theory with and without differentiated products, strategic trade, mergers, markets with imperfectly informed participants, entry deterrence, predation, collusive behavior, cartel behavior, research and development competition, and the sale or rental of durable goods. Students will be expected to critically evaluate recent research in IO, make in-class presentations, and formulate a research proposal relevant to the material studied in the course.
Course materials are available on CTools (student access only).
