Syllabus for B.A. (Hons.

) Economics under CBCS Gauhati University

(To be effective from 2019-20 session)

Gauhati University offers BA (Hons) in Economics. Moreover, Economics can be taken

up as one of the Disciplines in BA (Regular) and BSc (Regular) Programmes.

The template of the BA (Hons) programme is given below.

Course Structure for B.A. (Hons.) Economics:

There are a total of fourteen economics core courses that students are required to
take across six semesters. All the core courses are compulsory. In addition to core
courses in economics, a student of B.A. (Hons.) Economics will choose four
Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) Courses. The Discipline Specific Elective (DSE)
Courses are offered in the fifth and sixth semesters and two such courses will be
selected by a student from a set of courses specified for each of these semesters
(Groups I and II in the attached table). It is recommended that each college should
offer at least three Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) Courses in the fifth and sixth
semesters to allow the students some minimal element of choice.

The syllabi for the Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) Courses are
provisional and subject to revision.

Contact Hours: Each course has 5 lectures and 1 tutorial (per group) per week. The
size of a tutorial group is 8-10 students.

Note on Course Readings: The nature of several of the courses is such that only
selected readings can be specified in advance. Reading lists should be updated and
topic-wise readings should be specified at regular intervals, ideally on an annual
basis.

Eligibility for Admission into BA Hons Economics: Given the quantitative

requirements of the program, only students who have passed mathematics at the
Class XII level are eligible foradmission. [However not to deprive student who are
currently at Higher Secondary level without Mathematics as one of the subjects and
who have been considering opting for Economics (Major/Honours) course this
eligibility criterion will be in force only from the third year of implementation of
this syllabus. This was unanimously agreed upon in the meeting of the Under-
Graduate Committee of Courses and Studies in Economics of Gauhati University
held on 25/5/18]

1
 Course Template - BA Honours in Economics

Ability
Enhancement Skill Elective: Elective:
Semester CORE COURSE Compulsory Enhancement Discipline Generic
Course Course (SEC) Specific DSE (GE) #
(AECC)
ECO HC 1016 English/MIL
I ECO HG 1016
Communication
ECO HC 1026
ECO HC 2016 Environmental
II ECO HG 2016
ECO HC 2026 Science

ECO HC 3016
III ECO HC 3026 ECO SE 3014 ECO HG 3016
ECO HC 3036
ECO HC 4016
IV ECO HC 4026 ECO SE 4014 ECO HG 4016
ECO HC 4036
ECO HC 5016 ECO HE 5016 *
V /ECO HE 5026
ECO HC 5026 /ECO HE 5036
ECO HC 6016 ECO HE 6016 *
VI /ECO HE 6026
ECO HC 6026 /ECO HE 6036

2
 Course Nomenclature for B.A. (Hons.) Economics

Semester-I Semester-II
Core Course 1 Core Course 3
ECO-HC-1016: Introductory Microeconomics ECO-HC-2016: Introductory Macroeconomics
Core Course 2 Core Course 4
ECO-HC-1026: Mathematical Methods for Economics-I ECO-HC-2026: Mathematical Methods for Economics-II
Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC)-I Ability Enhancement Compulsory Course (AECC)-II
Generic Elective (GE) Generic Elective (GE)
ECO-HG-1016: Principles of Microeconomics I ECO-HG-2016: Principles of Microeconomics II

Semester-III Semester-IV
Core Course 5 Core Course 8
ECO-HC-3016: Intermediate Microeconomics-I ECO-HC-4016: Intermediate Microeconomics-II
Core Course 6 Core Course 9
ECO-HC-3026: Intermediate Macroeconomics-I ECO-HC-4026:Intermediate Macroeconomics-II
Core Course 7 Core Course 10
ECO-HC-3036: Statistical Methods for Economics ECO-HC-4036: Introductory Econometrics
Skill Enhancement Course (SEC)-I Skill Enhancement Course (SEC)-II
ECO-SE-3014: Data Collection and Presentation ECO-SE-4014: Data Analysis
Generic Elective (GE) Generic Elective (GE)
ECO-HG-3016: Principles of Macroeconomics I ECO-HG-4016: Principles of Macroeconomics II

Semester-V Semester-VI
Core Course 11 Core Course 13
ECO-HC-5016: Indian Economy-I ECO-HC-6016: Indian Economy-II
Core Course 12 Core Course 14
ECO-HC-5026: Development Economics-I ECO-HC-6026: Development Economics-II

Group-I (Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) Courses) (Any Two) Group-II (Discipline Specific Elective (DSE) Courses) (Any Two)
(i) ECO-HE-5016: Economics of Health and Education (iv) ECO-HE-6016: Environmental Economics
(ii) ECO-HE-5026: Money and Financial Markets (v) ECO-HE-6026: International Economics
(iii) ECO-HE-5036: Public Finance (vi) ECO-HE-6036: The Economy of Assam

3
 FIRST SEMESTER CORE

ECO-HC-1016: INTRODUCTORY MICROECONOMICS

Course Description

This course is designed to expose the students to the basic principles of microeconomic
theory. The emphasis will be on thinking like an economist and the course will illustrate
how microeconomic concepts can be applied to analyze real-life situations.

Course Outline

1. Exploring the subject matter of Economics

Why study economics? Scope and method of economics; the economic problem: scarcity
and choice; the question of what to produce, how to produce and how to distribute output;
science of economics; the basic competitive model; prices, property rights and profits;
incentives and information; rationing; opportunity sets; economic systems; reading and
working with graphs.

2. Supply and Demand: How Markets Work, Markets andWelfare

Markets and competition; determinants of individual demand/supply; demand/supply
schedule and demand/supply curve; market versus individual demand/supply; shifts in the
demand/supply curve, demand and supply together; how prices allocate resources;
elasticity and its application; controls on prices; taxes and the costs of taxation; consumer
surplus; producer surplus and the efficiency of the markets.

3. The Households
The consumption decision - budget constraint, consumption and income/price changes,
demand for all other goods and price changes; description of preferences (representing
preferences with indifference curves); properties of indifference curves; consumer‘s
optimum choice; income and substitution effects; labour supply and savings decision -
choice between leisure and consumption.

4. The Firm and Perfect Market Structure

Behaviour of profit maximizing firms and the production process; short run costs and
output decisions; costs and output in the long run.

5. Imperfect Market Structure

Monopoly and anti-trust policy; government policies towards competition; imperfect
competition.

6. Input Markets
Labour and land markets - basic concepts (derived demand, productivity of an input,
marginal productivity of labour, marginal revenue product); demand for labour; input
demand curves; shifts in input demand curves; competitive labour markets; and labour
markets and public policy.
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 Readings

1. Karl E. Case and Ray C. Fair, Principles of Economics, Pearson Education Inc.,
8th Edition, 2007.
2. N.GregoryMankiw,Economics:PrinciplesandApplications,IndiaeditionbySouth
Western, a part of Cengage Learning, Cengage Learning India Private Limited, 4 th
edition,2007.
3. Joseph E. Stiglitz and Carl E. Walsh, Economics, W.W. Norton & Company,Inc.,
New York, International Student Edition, 4th Edition,2007.

ECO-HC-1026: MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN ECONOMICS–I

Course Description
This is the first of a compulsory two-course sequence. The objective of this sequence is to
transmit the body of basic mathematics that enables the study of economic theory at the
undergraduate level, specifically the courses on microeconomic theory, macroeconomic
theory, statistics and econometrics set out in this syllabus. In this course, particular
economic models are not the ends, but the means for illustrating the method of applying
mathematical techniques to economic theory in general. The level of sophistication at
which the material is to be taught is indicated by the contents of the prescribed textbook.

Course Outline

1. Preliminaries
Sets and set operations, relations and functions, number system

2. Functions of one real variable

Elementary types of functions: quadratic, polynomial, power, exponential, logarithmic, convex,
quasi-convex and concave functions, limit and continuity of functions

3. Differential calculus
Differentiation of a function, Basic rules of differentiation, partial and total differentiation, second
and higher order derivatives for single variable, economic applications of differentiation

4. Single variable optimization

Local and global optima: geometric characterization, characterization using calculus: tests for
maximization and minimization, applications: profit maximization, cost minimization, revenue
maximization

5. Integration of functions
Meaning and significance of integration, basic rules of integration, significance of a constant after
integration, applications: derivations of total functions (total cost, total revenue, consumption and
5
saving functions) from marginal functions, consumer’s surplus and producer’s surplus, problems
relating to investment and capital formation

Readings:
1. K. Sydsaeter and P. Hammond, Mathematics for Economic Analysis, Pearson Educational
Asia: Delhi, 2002
2. Chiang A.C. and K. Wainwright, Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics, McGraw
Hill International Edition
3. Baruah S.N., Basic Mathematics and its Economic Applications, MacMillan

SECOND SEMESTER CORE

ECO-HC-2016: INTRODUCTORY MACROECONOMICS

Course Description

This course aims to introduce the students to the basic concepts of Macroeconomics.
Macroeconomics deals with the aggregate economy. This course discusses the
preliminary concepts associated with the determination and measurement of aggregate
macroeconomic variable like savings, investment, GDP, money, inflation, and the balance
ofpayments.

Course Outline

1. Introduction to Macroeconomics and National IncomeAccounting

Basic issues studied in macroeconomics; measurement of gross domestic product;
income, expenditure and the circular flow; real versus nominal GDP; price indices;
national income accounting for an open economy; balance of payments: current and
capital accounts.

2. Money
Functions of money; quantity theory of money; determination of money supply and
demand; credit creation; tools of monetary policy.

3. Inflation
Inflation and its social costs; hyperinflation.

4. The Closed Economy in the ShortRun

Classical and Keynesian systems; simple Keynesian model of income determination; IS-
LM model; fiscal and monetary multipliers.

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 Readings:

1. Dornbusch, Fischer and Startz, Macroeconomics, McGraw Hill, 11th edition,2010.

2. N. Gregory Mankiw. Macroeconomics, Worth Publishers, 7th edition,2010.
3. OlivierBlanchard,Macroeconomics,PearsonEducation,Inc.,5thedition,2009.
4. RichardT.Froyen,Macroeconomics,PearsonEducationAsia,2ndedition,2005.
5. Andrew B. Abel and Ben S. Bernanke, Macroeconomics, Pearson Education,Inc.,
7th edition,2011.

ECO-HC-2026: MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN ECONOMICS - II

Course Description
This course is the second part of a compulsory two-course sequence. This part is to be
taught in Semester II following the first part in Semester I. The objective of this sequence
is to transmit the body of basic mathematics that enables the study of economic theory at
the undergraduate level, specifically the courses on microeconomic theory,
macroeconomic theory, statistics and econometrics set out in this Syllabus. In this course,
particular economic models are not the ends, but the means for illustrating the method of
applying mathematical techniques to economic theory in general. The level of
sophistication at which the material is to be taught is indicated by the contents of the
prescribedtextbook.

Course Outline

1. Linear algebra
Matrix: various types of matrices, vector and vector space-concept, matrix operations: addition,
subtraction and multiplication; rank, norm and trace of a matrix, introduction to the concept of
determinants and their properties, non-singularity of matrix, matrix inversion, solutions of
simultaneous equations by using matrix inversion and Cramer’s rule, simple market model and
national income model

2. Functions of several real variables

Homogeneous and homothetic functions: concepts, Differentiable functions: concepts, Implicit
Function Theorem and applications

3. Multi-variable optimization
Unconstrained optimization: geometric characterization, characterization using calculus and
applications: price discrimination and multi-plant firm; constrained optimization with equality
constraints, Lagrange multiplier, applications: consumer’s equilibrium and producer’s equilibrium

4. Differential equation
Meaning, first order differential equation, application to market model

7
5. Difference equation
First order difference equation, Cob-Web market model

Readings:
1. K. Sydsaeter and P. Hammond, Mathematics for Economic Analysis, Pearson Educational
Asia: Delhi, 2002
2. Chiang A.C. and K. Wainwright, Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics, McGraw
Hill International Edition
3. Baruah S.N., Basic Mathematics and its Economic Applications, MacMillan

THIRD SEMESTER CORE

ECO-HC-3016: INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMICS - I

Course Description
The course is designed to provide a sound training in microeconomic theory to formally
analyze the behaviour of individual agents. Since students are already familiar with the
quantitative techniques in the previous semesters, mathematical tools are used to facilitate
understanding of the basic concepts. This course looks at the behaviour of the consumer
and the producer and also covers the behaviour of a competitive firm.

Course Outline

1. ConsumerTheory
Preference; utility; budget constraint; choice; demand; Slutsky equation; buying and
selling; choice under risk and inter-temporal choice; revealed preference.

2. Production, Costs and PerfectCompetition

Technology; isoquants; production with one and more variable inputs; returns to scale;
short run and long run costs; cost curves in the short run and long run; review of perfect
competition.

Readings:

1. Hal R. Varian, Intermediate Microeconomics, a Modern Approach, W.W. Norton

and Company/Affiliated East-West Press (India), 8th edition, 2010. The workbook
by Varian and Bergstrom may be used forproblems.
2. C. Snyder and W. Nicholson, Fundamentals of Microeconomics, Cengage
Learning (India),2010.
3. B. Douglas Bernheim and Michael D. Whinston, Microeconomics, Tata McGraw-
Hill (India),2009.

8
 ECO-HC-3026: INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMICS - I

Course Description

This course introduces the students to formal modeling of a macro-economy in terms of

analytical tools. It discusses various alternative theories of output and employment
determination in a closed economy in the short run as well as medium run, and the role of
policy in this context. It also introduces the students to various theoretical issues related
to an openeconomy.

Course Outline

1. Aggregate Demand and Aggregate SupplyCurves

Derivation of aggregate demand and aggregate and supply curves; interaction of
aggregate demand and supply.

2. Inflation, Unemployment andExpectations

Phillips curve; adaptive and rational expectations; policy ineffectiveness debate.

3. Open Economy Models

Short-run open economy models; Mundell-Fleming model; exchange rate determination;
purchasing power parity; asset market approach; Dornbusch's overshooting model;
monetary approach to balance of payments; international financial markets.

Readings:

1. Dornbusch, Fischer and Startz, Macroeconomics, McGraw Hill, 11th edition,2010.

2. N. Gregory Mankiw. Macroeconomics, Worth Publishers, 7th edition,2010.
3. Olivier Blanchard, Macroeconomics, Pearson Education, Inc., 5th edition,2009.
4. Steven M. Sheffrin, Rational Expectations, Cambridge University Press,
2ndedition,1996.
5. Andrew B. Abel and Ben S. Bernanke, Macroeconomics, Pearson Education,Inc.,
7th edition,2011.
6. Errol D‘Souza, Macroeconomics, Pearson Education,2009
7. Paul R. Krugman, Maurice Obstfeld and Marc Melitz, International Economics,
Pearson Education Asia, 9th edition,2012.

9
 ECO-HC-3036: STATISTICAL METHODS FOR ECONOMICS

Course Description
This is a course on statistical methods for economics. It begins with some basic concepts and
terminology that are fundamental to statistical analysis and inference. It then develops the notion
of probability, followed by probability distributions of discrete and continuous random variables
and of joint distributions. This is followed by a discussion on sampling techniques used to collect
survey data. The course introduces the notion of sampling distributions that act as a bridge
between probability theory and statistical inference. The semester concludes with some topics in
statistical inference that include point and interval estimation.

Course Outline

1. Introduction and Overview

The distinction between populations and samples and between population parameters and
sample statistics; the use of measures of location and variation to describe and summarize
data; moments – basic concepts and types.

2. Elementary Probability Theory

Sample spaces and events; probability axioms and properties; addition and multiplication theorem
of probability, counting techniques; conditional probability and Bayes’ rule; independence of
events.

3. Random Variables and Probability Distributions

Defining random variables; probability distributions; expected values of random variables and of
functions of random variables; properties of commonly used discrete and continuous distributions
(uniform, binomial, poisson and normal random variables).

4. Random Sampling and Jointly Distributed Random Variables

Density and distribution functions for jointly distributed random variables- basic concepts;
covariance and correlation coefficients.

5. Sampling
Principal steps in a sample survey; methods of sampling; Sampling techniques- random, stratified
random, multi-stage random and systematic random sampling; the role of sampling theory;
properties of random samples.

Readings:
1. Jay L. Devore, Probability and Statistics for Engineers, Cengage Learning, 2010.
2. John E. Freund, Mathematical Statistics, Prentice Hall, 1992.
3. Richard J. Larsen and Morris L. Marx, An Introduction to Mathematical Statistics and its
Applications, Prentice Hall, 2011.
4. William G. Cochran, Sampling Techniques, John Wiley, 2007.

10
 FOURTH SEMESTER CORE

ECO-HC-4016: INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMICS - II

Course Description

This course is a sequel to Intermediate Microeconomics I. The emphasis will be on

giving conceptual clarity to the student coupled with the use of mathematical tools and
reasoning. It covers general equilibrium and welfare, imperfect markets and topics under
information economics.

Unit 1: General Equilibrium, Efficiency and Welfare

a) Exchange Economy, Consumption Allocation and Pareto Optimality; Edgeworth Box and
Contract Curve; Equilibrium and Efficiency under Pure Exchange.
b) Pareto Efficiency with production: Concepts of PPF, Social Indifference Curves and
Resource Allocation.
c) Perfect Competition, Pareto Efficiency and Market Failure (Externalities and Public
Goods), Property Right and Coase Theorem.

Unit 2: Market Structure and Game Theory

a) Monopoly, Pricing with Market Power; Degree of Monopoly, Price Discrimination-
Different Degrees; Multi-plant Monopoly, Peak-Load Pricing.
b) Monopolistic competition; Product Differentiation; Perceived and Proportionate Demand
Curves; Price-Output Determination.
c) Oligopoly and Game Theory (Two Person Zero Sum Game, Basic ideas and examples of
non zero sum games, Prisoner’s Dilemma), Applications of Game Theory in Oligopolistic
Markets (Cournot Equilibrium, Bertrand Equilibrium, Stackleberg Equilibrium).

Unit 3: Markets with Asymmetric Information

Information Asymmetry, Adverse Selection, Moral Hazard, Signaling and Screening.

Readings:
1. Dominick Salvatore, Micro Economics – Theory and Applications, OUP.
2. Koutsoyiannis. A, Modern Micro-Economics, ELBS/Macmillan.
3. Hal Varian, Microeconomic Analysis, Third Edition, Selected Chapters, W.W. Norton and
Company.
4. C. Snyder and W. Nicholson, Fundamentals of Micro Economics, Cengage Learning
(India).
5. G.S. Maddala and Ellen Miller, Micro Economic Theory and Application, Tata McGraw
Hill.
6. R.R. Barthwal, Micro Economic Analysis, Wiley Eastern Limited.
7. Martin J. Osbrne, An Introduction to Game Theory, OUP, New Delhi.
8. Hugh Gravelle and Ray Rees, Micro Economics, Pearson Education.

11
 ECO-HC-4026: INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMICS - II

Course Description

This course is a sequel to Intermediate Macroeconomics I. In this course, the students are
introduced to the long run dynamic issues like growth and technical progress. It also
provides the micro-foundations to the various aggregative concepts used in the previous
course.

Course Outline

1. Economic Growth
Harrod-Domar model; Solow model; golden rule; technological progress and elements
of endogenousgrowth.

2. Microeconomic Foundations
a. Consumption: Keynesian consumption function; Fisher‘s theory of optimal
intertemporal choice; life-cycle and permanent income hypotheses; rational
expectations and random-walk of consumptionexpenditure.
b. Investment: determinants of business fixed investment; residential investment and
inventoryinvestment.
c. Demand formoney.

3. Fiscal and MonetaryPolicy

Active or passive; monetary policy objectives and targets; rules versus discretion: time
consistency; the government budget constraint; government debt and Ricardian
equivalence.

4. Schools of Macroeconomic Thoughts

Classicals; Keynesians; New-Classicals and New-Keynesians.

Readings:

1. Dornbusch, Fischer and Startz, Macroeconomics, McGraw Hill, 11th edition,2010.

2. N. Gregory Mankiw. Macroeconomics, Worth Publishers, 7th edition,2010.
3. Olivier Blanchard, Macroeconomics, Pearson Education, Inc., 5th edition,2009.
4. Andrew B. Abel and Ben S. Bernanke, Macroeconomics, Pearson Education,Inc.,
7th edition,2011.
5. Robert J. Gordon, Macroeconomics, Prentice-Hall India Limited,2011.

12
 ECO-HC-4036: INTRODUCTORY ECONOMETRICS

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to basic econometric concepts and

techniques. It covers statistical concepts of hypothesis testing, estimation and diagnostic
testing of simple and multiple regression models. The course also covers the
consequences of and tests for misspecification of regressionmodels.

Course Outline

1. Statistical Background
Normal distribution; chi-sq, t- and F-distributions; estimation of parameters;
properties of estimators; testing of hypotheses: defining statistical hypotheses;
distributions of test statistics; testing hypotheses related to population parameters; Type I
and Type II errors; power of a test; tests for comparing parameters from two samples.

2. Simple Linear Regression Model: Two VariableCase

Estimation of model by method of ordinary least squares; properties of estimators; Gauss-
Markov theorem; goodness of fit; tests of hypotheses; scaling and units of measurement;
confidence intervals; forecasting.

3. Multiple Linear RegressionModel

Estimation of parameters; properties of OLS estimators; goodness of fit - R2 and
adjusted R2; partial regression coefficients; testing hypotheses – individual and joint;
functional forms of regression models; qualitative (dummy) independent variables.

4. Violations of Classical Assumptions: Consequences, Detection andRemedies

Multicollinearity; heteroscedasticity; serial correlation.

5. SpecificationAnalysis
Omission of a relevant variable; inclusion of irrelevant variable; tests of specification
errors.

Readings

1. D.N.Gujarati and D.C.Porter,EssentialsofEconometrics,McGrawHill,4th

edition, International Edition,2009.
2. Christopher Dougherty, Introduction to Econometrics, Oxford University Press,3rd
edition,Indianedition,2007

13
 FIFTH SEMESTER CORE

ECO-HC-5016: INDIAN ECONOMY-I

Course Description
Using appropriate analytical frameworks, this course reviews major trends in economic
indicators and policy debates in India in the post-Independence period, with particular
emphasis on paradigm shifts and turning points. Given the rapid changes taking place
in India, the reading list will have to be updated annually.

Course Outline
1. Economic Development since Independence
Major features of the economy at independence; growth and development under different
policy regimes—goals, constraints, institutions and policy framework; an assessment of
performance—sustainability and regional contrasts; structural change, savings and
investment.

2. Population and HumanDevelopment

Demographic trends and issues; education; health and malnutrition.

3. Growth and Distribution

Trends and policies in poverty; inequality and unemployment.

4. International Comparisons
With China, Pakistan, Banglade3sh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Vietnam

Readings:

1. Jean Dreze and Amartya Sen, Jean Dreze and Amartya Sen, 2013. An Uncertain
Glory: India and its Contradictions, Princeton UniversityPress.
2. Pulapre Balakrishnan, 2007, The Recovery of India: Economic Growth in the
Nehru Era, Economic and Political Weekly, November.
3. Rakesh Mohan, 2008,―Growth Record ofIndianEconomy:1950-2008.AStory of
Sustained Savings and Investment, Economic and Political Weekly,May.
4. S.L. Shetty, 2007,―India‘sSavingsPerformancesincethe Advent of Planning,in
K.L. Krishna and A. Vaidyanathan, editors, Institutions and Markets in India’s
Development.
5. Himanshu, 2010, Towards New Poverty Lines for India, Economic and
Political Weekly,January.
6. Jean Dreze and Angus Deaton, 2009, Food and Nutrition in India: Facts
and Intepretations, Economic and Political Weekly,February.
7. Himanshu. 2011, ―Employment Trends inIndia: A Re-examination,
Economicand Political Weekly, September.
8. Rama Baruetal, 2010, ―Inequities in Access to Health Services in India: Caste,
Class and Region, Economic and Political Weekly,September.

14
9. Geeta G.Kingdon, 2007,―TheProgress of School Education in India, Oxford
Review of Economic Policy.
10. J.B.G.Tilak, 2007,―Post Elementary Education, Poverty and Development in
India, International Journal of Educationa lDevelopment.
11. T. Dyson,2008,―India‘sDemographic Transition and its Consequences for
Development ǁin Uma Kapila, editor, Indian Economy Since Independence,
19thedition, Academic Foundation.
12. Kaushik Basu, 2009,―ChinaandIndia:IdiosyncraticPaths to High Growth,
Economic and Political Weekly, September.
13. K.James,2008, ―Glorifying Malthus: Current Debate on Demographic Dividend
in Indiaǁ, Economic and Political Weekly,June.
14. Reetika Khera, 2011,―India‘sPublicDistributionSystem: Utilisation and Impact
Journal of Development Studies.
15. Aniruddha Krishna and Devendra Bajpai, 2011,―Lineal Spread and Radial
Dissipation: Experiencing Growth in Rural India, 1992-2005, Economic and
PoliticalWeekly,September.

15
 ECO-HC-5026: DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS-I

Course Description

This is the first part of a two-part course on economic development. The course begins
with a discussion of alternative conceptions of development and their justification. It then
proceeds to aggregate models of growth and cross-national comparisons of the growth
experience that can help evaluate these models. The axiomatic basis for inequality
measurement is used to develop measures of inequality and connections between growth
and inequality are explored. The course ends by linking political institutions to growth
and inequality by discussing the role of the state in economic development and the
informational and incentive problems that affect stategovernance.

Course Outline

1. Conceptions of Development
Alternative measures of development, documenting the international variation in these
measures, comparing development trajectories across nations and within them.

2. Growth Models and Empirics

The Harrod-Domar model, the Solow model and its variants, endogenous growth models
and evidence on the determinants of growth.

3. Poverty and Inequality: Definitions, Measures andMechanisms

Inequality axioms; a comparison of commonly used inequality measures; connections
between inequality and development; poverty measurement; characteristics of the poor;
mechanisms that generate poverty traps and path dependence of growth processes.

4. Political Institutions and the Functioning of the State

The determinants of democracy; alternative institutional trajectories and their relationship
with economic performance; within-country differences in the functioning of state
institutions; state ownership and regulation; government failures and corruption.

Readings

1. Debraj Ray, Development Economics, Oxford University Press,2009.

2. ParthaDasgupta, Economics, A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University
Press,2007.
3. Abhijit Banerjee, Roland Benabou and DilipMookerjee, Understanding
Poverty, Oxford University Press,2006.
4. KaushikBasu, The Oxford Companion to Economics in India, OUP,2007.
5. AmartyaSen, Development as Freedom, OUP,2000.
6. DaronAcemoglu and James Robinson, Economic Origins of Dictatorship and
Democracy, Cambridge University Press,2006.
7. Robert Putnam, Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy,
Princeton University Press,1994
16
 SIXTH SEMESTER CORE

ECO-HC-6016: INDIAN ECONOMY-II

Course Description
This course examines sector-specific polices and their impact in shaping trends in key
economic indicators in India. It highlights major policy debates and evaluates the Indian
empirical evidence. Given the rapid changes taking place in the country, the reading list
will have to be updated annually.

Course Outline

1. Macroeconomic Policies and Their Impact

Fiscal Policy; trade and investment policy; financial and monetary policies; labour
regulation.

2. Policies and Performance in Agriculture

Growth; productivity; agrarian structure and technology; capital formation; trade; pricing
and procurement.

3. Policies and Performance in Industry

Growth; productivity; diversification; small scale industries; public sector; competition
policy; foreign investment.

4. Trends and Performance inServices

Readings:

1. Shankar Acharya, 2010,―MacroeconomicPerformanceandPolicies 2000-8,ǁin

Shankar Acharya and Rakesh Mohan, editors, India’s Economy: Performances
and Challenges: Development and Participation, Oxford UniversityPress.
2. Rakesh Mohan, 2010,―India‘sFinancial Sector and Monetary Policy Reforms,ǁin
Shankar Acharya and Rakesh Mohan, editors, India’s Economy:Performances
and Challenges: Development and Participation, Oxford UniversityPress.
3. Pulapre Balakrishnan, Ramesh Golait and Pankaj Kumar, 2008,―Agricultural
Growth in India Since 1991, RBI DEAP Study no.27.
4. B.N. Goldarand S.C. Aggarwal, 2005,―Trade Liberalisation and Price-Cost
Margin in Indian Industries, The Developing Economics,September.
5. P. Goldberg,A.Khandelwal, N.Pavcnikand P.Topalova, 2009,―Trade
Liberalisation and New Imported Inputs, American Economic Review, Papers
and Proceedings,May.
6. KunalSen, 2010,―Trade,Foreign Direct Investment and Industrial
Transformation in India, ïn Premachandra Athukorala, editor, The Rise of Asia,
Routledge.
7. A.Ahsan, C.Pages and T. Roy, 2008,―Legislation, Enforcement and Adjudication
17
 in Indian Labour Markets: Origins, Consequences and the Way Forward, in D.
Mazumdar and S. Sarkar, editors, Globalization, Labour Markets and Inequality
in India, Routledge.
8. Dipak Mazumdar and Sandeep Sarkar, 2009,―The Employment Problem in India
and the Phenomenon of the ‗Missing Middleǁ, Indian Journal of Labour
Economics.
9. J. Dennis Rajakumar, 2011,―Sizeand Growth of Private Corporate Sector in
Indian Manufacturing, Economic and Political Weekly,April.
10. Ramesh Chand, 2010, ―Understanding the Nature and Causes of Food Inflation,ǁ
Economic and Political Weekly, February.
1. Bishwanath Goldar, 2011,―Organised Manufacturing Employment: Continuing
the Debate, Economic and Political Weekly,April.

18
 ECO-HC-6026: DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS-II

Course Description

This is the second module of the economic development sequence. It begins with basic
demographic concepts and their evolution during the process of development. The
structure of markets and contracts is linked to the particular problems of enforcement
experienced in poor countries. The governance of communities and organizations is
studied and this is then linked to questions of sustainable growth. The course ends with
reflections on the role of globalization and increased international dependence on the
process of development.

Course Outline

1. Demography and Development

Demographic concepts; birth and death rates, age structure, fertility and mortality;
demographic transitions during the process of development; gender bias in preferences
and outcomes and evidence on unequal treatment within households; connections between
income, mortality, fertility choices and human capital accumulation;migration.

2. Land, Labor and Credit Markets

The distribution of land ownership; land reform and its effects on productivity;
contractual relationships between tenants and landlords; land acquisition; nutrition and
labor productivity; informational problems and credit contracts; microfinance; inter-
linkages between rural factormarkets.

3. Individuals, Communities and Collective Outcomes

Individual behavior in social environments, multiple social equilibria; governance in
organizations and in communities; individual responses to organizational inefficiency.

4. Environment and Sustainable Development

Defining sustainability for renewable resources; a brief history of environmental change;
common-pool resources; environmental externalities and state regulation of the
environment; economic activity and climate change.

5. Globalization
Globalization in historical perspective; the economics and politics of multilateral
agreements; trade, production patterns and world inequality; financial instability in a
globalized world.

Readings

1. Debraj Ray, Development Economics, Oxford University Press,2009.

2. Partha Dasgupta, Economics, A Very Short Introduction, Oxford University Press,
2007.

19
3. Abhijit Banerjee,Roland Benabou and Dilip Mookerjee, Understanding Poverty,
Oxford University Press, 2006.
4. Thomas Schelling, Micromotives and Macrobehavior, W. W. Norton,1978.
5. Albert O. Hirschman, Exit, Voice and Loyalty: Responses to Decline in Firms,
Organizations and States, Harvard University Press,1970.
6. Raghuram Rajan, Fault Lines: How Hidden Fractures Still Threaten the World
Economy,2010.
7. Elinor Ostrom, Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective
Action, Cambridge University Press,1990.
8. Dani Rodrik, The Globalization Paradox: Why Global Markets, States and
Democracy Can’t Coexist, Oxford University Press,2011.
9. Michael D. Bordo, Alan M. Taylor and Jeffrey G. Williamson (ed.), Globalization in
Historical Perspective, University of Chicago Press,2003.

20
 DISCIPLINE SPECIFIC ELECTIVE (DSE) PAPERS:
(Any Two per Semester)

FIFTH SEMESTER DSE

ECO-HE-5016: ECONOMICS OF HEALTH AND EDUCATION

Course Description
The importance of education and health in improving well-being is reflected in their
inclusion among the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the United Nations
member states, which include among other goals, achieving universal primary education,
reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and combating diseases. This course
provides a microeconomic framework to analyze, among other things, individual choice
in the demand for health and education, government intervention and aspects of inequity
and discrimination in both sectors. It also gives an overview of health and education in
India.

Course Outline

1. Role of Health and Education in Human Development

Importance in poverty alleviation; health and education outcomes and their relationship
with macroeconomic performance.

2. Microeconomic Foundations of Health Economics

Demand for health; uncertainty and health insurance market; alternative insurance
mechanisms; market failure and rationale for public intervention; equity and inequality.

3. Evaluation of Health Programs

Costing, cost effectiveness and cost-benefit analysis; burden of disease.

4. Health Sector in India: An Overview

Health outcomes; health systems; health financing.

5. Education: Investment in Human Capital

Rate of return to education: private and social; quality of education; signaling or human
capital; theories of discrimination; gender and caste discrimination in India.

6. Education Sector in India: An Overview

Literacy rates, school participation, school quality measures.

Readings:

1. William, Jack, Principles of Health Economics for Developing Countries, World

21
 Bank Institute Development Studies, 1999.
2. World Development Report, Investing in Health, The World Bank,1993.
3. Ronald G., Ehrenberg and Robert S., Smith, Modern Labor Economics: Theory
and Public Policy, Addison Wesley,2005.

ECO-HE-5026: MONEY AND FINANCIAL MARKETS

Course Description
This course exposes students to the theory and functioning of the monetary and financial
sectors of the economy. It highlights the organization, structure and role of financial
markets and institutions. It also discusses interest rates, monetary management and
instruments of monetary control. Financial and banking sector reforms and monetary
policy with special reference to India are also covered.

Course Outline
1. Money
Concept, functions of money; concept of money supply and its measurement; money multiplier
theory, RBI’s approach to money supply.

2. Financial Institutions, Markets, Instruments and Financial Innovations

Meaning and types of financial institutions, nature and role of financial institutions;
financial markets: definitions and types-money market and capital market, their characteristics and
functions, call money market, treasury bill market, commercial bill market including commercial
paper and certificates of deposits, government securities market, primary and secondary market for
securities, financial sector reforms in India, financial derivatives –meaning, types ,distinctive
features of financial derivatives and its benefits.

3. Interest Rates
Determination; sources of interest rate differentials; theories of term structure of
interest rates; interest rates in India.

4. Banking System
Meaning and types; Functions of Commercial banks, process of credit creation and its limitations,
Balance sheet of Commercial banks, portfolio management-meaning and objective of portfolio
management, theories of portfolio management; banking sector reforms in India.

5. Central Banking and Monetary Policy

Functions of central bank; monetary policy-objectives, indicators and instruments of monetary
control; monetary management in an open economy; current monetary policy of India.

22
Readings
1. F. S. Mishkin and S. G. Eakins, Financial Markets and Institutions, Pearson Education, 6th
edition, 2009.
2. F. J. Fabozzi, F. Modigliani, F. J. Jones, M. G. Ferri, Foundations of Financial Markets and
Institutions, Pearson Education, 3rd edition, 2009.
3. M. R. Baye and D. W. Jansen, Money, Banking and Financial Markets, AITBS,1996.
4. Rakesh Mohan, Growth with Financial Stability- Central Banking in an Emerging
Market, Oxford University Press, 2011.
5. L. M. Bhole and J. Mahukud, Financial Institutions and Markets, Tata McGraw Hill, 5th
edition, 2011.
6. M. Y. Khan, Indian Financial System, Tata McGraw Hill, 7th edition, 2011.
7. N. Jadhav, Monetary Policy, Financial Stability and Central Banking in India,
Macmillan, 2006.
8. R.B.I. – Report of the Working Group: Money Supply Analytics and Methodology
of Compilation, 1998.
9. R.B.I. Bulletin, Annual Report and Report on Currency and Finance (latest).
10. Sampat Mukherjee, Macro Economics: Global Text,
11. S.B.Gupta, Monetary Economics: Institutions, Theory and Policy, S.Chand and Company Ltd.,
2003.
12. M.L.Jinghan, Money, Banking, International Trade and Public Finance, Vrinda Publications.
13. Bharati V Pathak, Indian Financial System: Markets, Institutional and services, Pearson
Education India,3rd edition,2011.

ECO-HE-5036: PUBLIC FINANCE

Course Description
This course is a non-technical overview of government finances with special reference to India.
The course does not require any prior knowledge of economics. It will look into the efficiency
and equity aspects of taxation of the centre, states and the local governments and the issues of
fiscal federalism and decentralisation in India. The course will be useful for students aiming
towards careers in the government sector, policy analysis, business and journalism.

Course Outline
Part 1: Theory
1. Normative Theory of Public Finance –Nature and Scope: Allocation Function, Distribution
Function and Stabilization Function. Coordinating the functions.
2. Public Goods and their characteristics. Free Rider Problem and Market Failure, Externalities vis-
à-vis Public Good.
3. Direct and Indirect Tax. Concepts of taxation: tax rate, buoyancy & elasticity of a tax.
Proportional, Progressive and Regressive Taxation. Benefit Principle and Ability to Pay Theory.

Part 2: Issues from Indian Public Finance

4. Fiscal Policies: Definition and Objectives. Instruments of Fiscal Policy.Adopting Monetary

23
Policy to complement Fiscal Policy: The Indian Experience.
5. Indian Tax System. Direct Taxes: Income Tax, Corporate Tax, Customs Duty etc. Reforms in the
Indirect Tax Structure: Goods and Service Tax.
6. Structure of the Public Budget. Types of Deficits and their significance: Revenue Deficit, Fiscal
Deficit and Primary Deficit
7. Fiscal Federalism in India: Principles of Fiscal Devolution, Horizontal and Vertical Fiscal
Balance. Federal Finance and the Finance Commission.
8. State and Local Finances. The State Subjects and its Budget. Fiscal decentralization: Role of
Municipalities and Gaon Panchayats.

Readings
1. Musgrave, R.A. and P.B. Musgrave, Public Finance in Theory and Practice, Mc-Graw
Hill, 1989.
2. Mahesh Purohit , “Value Added Tax: Experience of India and Other Countries”, Gayatri
Publications, 2007.
3. KaushikBasu, and A. Maertens (ed.), The Oxford Companion to Economics in India,
Oxford University Press,2007.
4. M.M Sury, Government Budgeting in India, Commonwealth Publishers, 1990.
5. Shankar Acharya, “Thirty years of tax reform” in India, Economic and Political Weekly,
May 2005.
6. Government of India, Report of the 13th Finance Commission.
7. Economic Survey, Government of India (latest).
8. State Finances: A Study of Budgets, Reserve Bank of India (latest).

24
 SIXTH SEMESTER DSE
(Any Two per Semester)

ECO-HE-6016: ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS

Course Description
This course focuses on economic causes of environmental problems. In particular, economic
principles are applied to environmental questions and their management through various
economic institutions, economic incentives and other instruments and policies. Economic
implications of environmental policy are also addressed as well as valuation of environmental
quality, quantification of environmental damages, tools for evaluation of environmental
projects such as cost-benefit analysis and environmental impact assessments. Selected topics
on international environmental problems are also discussed.

Course Outline

1. Introduction
Basic concepts: Environment, Ecology, Economy and the ecosystem. Definition and scope of
environmental economics, why study environmental economics.Interaction between the
environment and the economy, environmental economics and ecological economics, environmental
economics and resource economics.Review of microeconomics and welfare economics: the utility
function, social choice mechanism, the compensation Principle and social welfare function
(concepts only).

2. The Theory of Externalities

Pareto optimality or Pareto efficiency, Externalities: meaning and types of externality, market
failure: meaning, market failure in the presence of externalities; market failure and public goods, is
environment a public good? Property rights and the coase theorem.

3. The Design and Implementation of Environmental Policy

Environmental Policies: an overview; Nonmarket and market based instruments of Environmental
Policy: command and control (CAC) approach, economic instruments like pigovian taxes and
effluent fees, tradable permits and mixed instruments. Monitoring and Enforcement: What is
monitoring and enforcement? Penalties, cost of abatement. Damages from pollution. Incentives to
sources to comply with environmental regulations.

4. International Environmental Problems

Nature of environmental problems: transboundary pollution –Climate change, global warming,
ozone depletion and bio-diversity loss; Trade and environment: pollution haven hypothesis.

5. Measuring the Benefits of Environmental Improvements

Non-Market values: use and non-use values and optional value, measurement methods: Direct
method-contingent valuation and indirect method-hedonic pricing methods, value of statistical life;
their applications and limitations.

25
6. Sustainable Development
Conventional development model: a critique, Alternative approach: Sustainable Development and
its origin, objectives of Sustainable Development, Approaches to Sustainable Development: weak
sustainability, strong sustainability, Safe minimum standard approach, ecological perspective and
social perspective, Rules and indicators of Sustainable Development.

Readings:

1. Charles Kolstad, Intermediate Environmental Economics, Oxford University Press,

2nd edition, 2010.
2. Robert N. Stavins (ed.), Economics of the Environment: Selected Readings, W.W.
Norton, 5th edition, 2005.
3. Roger Perman, Yue Ma, James McGilvray and Michael Common, Natural Resource and
Environmental Economics, Pearson Education/Addison Wesley, 3rd edition, 2003.
4. Maureen L. Cropper and Wallace E. Oates, 1992, ―Environmental Economics: A
Survey, ǁ Journal of Economic Literature, Volume 30:675-740.
5. Subhashini Muthukrishnan, Economics of Environment, PHI Learning Private Limited,
2nd edition, 2015.
6. Bhattacharyya R, Environmental Economics, Oxford University Press.
7. Nick Hanley, Jason F. Shogren and Ben White, Introduction to Environmental Economics,
Oxford University Press.
8. Gautam Purkayastha, Environmental Economics: Theory ,Problems and Solutions, Kalyani
Publishers , Reprinted 2016

ECO-HE-6026: INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS

Course Description

This course develops a systematic exposition of models that try to explain the composition,
direction and consequences of international trade, and the determinants and effects of trade
policy. It then builds on the models of open economy macroeconomics developed in courses
08 and 12, focusing on national policies as well as international monetary systems. It concludes
with an analytical account of the causes and consequences of the rapid expansion of
international financial flows in recent years. Although the course is based on abstract theoretical
models, students will also be exposed to real-world examples and case studies.

Course Outline

1. Introduction
What is international economics about?, subject matter of International Economics, An overview of
world trade- its changing pattern.

2. Theories of International Trade

The Ricardian theory- comparative advantage, Heckscher-Ohlin model, specific factors model,
new trade theories- Leontief Paradox, factor-intensity reversal, international trade in the context of

26
economies of scale and imperfect competition, technological gap and product cycle theories; the
Locational theory international trade; multinational enterprises and international trade.

3. Trade Policy
Instruments of trade policy- tariff and quota- partial equilibrium analysis; political economy of
trade policy- free trade vs. protection; controversies in trade policy.

4. International Macroeconomic Policy

Fixed versus flexible exchange rates; international monetary systems- Gold Standard,
interwar period, Bretton-Woods system, European Monetary system; financial globalization and
financial crises.

Readings:
1. Paul Krugman, Maurice Obstfeld, and Marc Melitz, International Economics: Theory and
Policy, Addison-Wesley (Pearson Education Indian Edition), 9 edition, 2012.
2. Dominick Salvatore, International Economics: Trade and Finance, John Wiley International
Student Edition, 10th edition, 2011.

ECO-HE-6036: THE ECONOMY OF ASSAM

Course Description
This course will provide students an idea of evolution of the Assam Economy from the colonial
period to the contemporary time. The course is expected to help students to better appreciate the
challenges and opportunities of the economy of Assam in the present context.

Course Outline
1. Changes and Evolution of the Economy in the Economic under Colonial Rule (1837 -
1947):
Imposition of Land Revenue and Its Impact, Prohibition of Opium Production and State Takeover
of Opium Trade, Inflow of Colonial Investment in Plantation, Mining and Other Industries.
Development of Water Transport and Railways, In-migration of Population and its Impact on
the Economy: Shock of Partition and its Impact

2. Growth Trends and Sectoral Composition in the Post-Independence Period:

Population growth trends before and after 1971, Trends in Demographic Parameters, Population
Density, Sex Ratio, Life Expectancy and Infant Mortality Rate– Work Force and Labour Force
Participation, Occupational Distribution.
Trends in Per Capita NSDP in comparison with trends in all-India Per Capita Income – Trends in
Other Indicators of Development in Comparison with all-India standard; Literacy Rate,
Enrolment Ratio and Forest Cover – Inter-community differences in Development Attainments.

3. Sectoral Status and Prospects:

Infrastructure: State of Road, Rail and Air Connectivity within and out of the State; Potentials and
27
 Limitation of Waterways Development; Status of Power and Telecommunication, Financial
System and Inclusion;
Agriculture: Land Holding Patterns, Land Tenure and Land Reforms, Cropping Pattern,
Production and Productivity of Principal Crop –Diversification of the Rural Economy to
Horticulture, Fishery, Livestock and Non-farm activities – Prospects and Challenges of the
Sector.
Industry: State of the Tea Industry and Role of Small Tea Growers, State of Hydrocarbon Industry.
Other Emerging Industries– Traditional Handloom Handicraft and their Prospect; Service
Sector: Size and Composition.

4. State Finances:
Public Finance in Assam and the emerging challenges. Trends and composition of revenue receipt
and its implications. State taxes in Assam and the impact of GST. Strategies to enhance
Revenue Receipt.
Composition of Public Expenditure and its implications. The Assam FRBM Act: Its
implementation and outcome. Fiscal Devolution to local bodies.

5. Assam Economy in its Neighborhood – Mutual inter-dependence with neighboring States –

Stakes of Assam in the Act East Policy

Readings:
Atul Goswami "Assam's Industrial Development: Urgency of New Direction", Economic and
Political Weekly 1981
Department of Economics, Gauhati University, “Identity Aspirations, Developmental Backlogs and
Governance Issues in Northeast India” Maliyata Offset Press, Mirza, 2016
Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Assam, “Economic Survey Assam” [recent
issues] https://des.assam.gov.in/information-services/economic-survey-assam
Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Assam, “Statistical Handbook of Assam”
2018 or later addition
Guha, Amalendu, Planter’s Raj to Swaraj, Second Edition (paperback)
India Brand Equity Foundation “About Assam: Tourism, Industries In Assam, Agriculture,
Economy & Geography”, June 2020, https://www.ibef.org/states/assam.aspx
J B Ganguli, "Economic Conditions and Change in North-East India" in A.P. Singha (ed) Changing
North East India, Ludhiana: Gagan Publishers, 1986
J N Sarma, “Problems of Economic Development in Assam" Economic and Political Weekly, Vol.
1, No. 7, Pp. 281+283-286.
Planning and Development Department, Government of Assam “Assam Human Development
Report 2014”

28
 FIRST SEMESTER GE

ECO-HG-1016: Principles of Microeconomics–I

Course Description

This course intends to expose the student to the basic principles in Microeconomic
Theory and illustrate with applications.

Course Outline

1. Introduction
a. Problem of scarcity and choice: scarcity, choice and opportunity cost; production
possibility frontier; economic systems.
b. Demand and supply: law of demand, determinants of demand, shifts of demand versus
movements along a demand curve, market demand, law of supply, determinants of
supply, shifts of supply versus movements along a supply curve, market supply, market
equilibrium.
c. Applications of demand and supply: price rationing, price floors, consumer surplus,
producer surplus.
d. Elasticity: price elasticity of demand, calculating elasticity, determinants of price
elasticity, other elasticities.

2. Consumer Theory
Budget constraint, concept of utility, diminishing marginal utility, Diamond-water
paradox, income and substitution effects; consumer choice: indifference curves,
derivation of demand curve from indifference curve and budget constraint.

3. Production and Costs

a. Production: behavior of profit maximizing firms, production process, production
functions, law of variable proportions, choice of technology, isoquant and isocost lines,
cost minimizing equilibrium condition.
b. Costs: costs in the short run, costs in the long run, revenue and profit maximizations,
minimizing losses, short run industry supply curve, economies and diseconomies of
scale, long run adjustments.

4. Perfect Competition
a. Assumptions: theory of a firm under perfect competition, demand and revenue;
equilibrium of the firm in the short run and long run; long run industry supply curve:
increasing, decreasing and constant cost industries.
b. Welfare: allocative efficiency under perfect competition.

Readings:

Case, Karl E. & Ray C. Fair, Principles of Economics, Pearson Education, Inc., 8th
29
 edition, 2007.

SECOND SEMESTER GE

ECO-HG-2016: Principles of Microeconomics–II

Course Description

This is a sequel to Principles of Microeconomics covered in the first semester.

Course Outline

1. Market Structures
a. Theory of a Monopoly Firm
Concept of imperfect competition; short run and long run price and output decisions of
a monopoly firm; concept of a supply curve under monopoly; comparison of perfect
competition and monopoly, social cost of monopoly, price discrimination; remedies for
monopoly: Antitrust laws, natural monopoly.
b. Imperfect Competition
Monopolistic competition: Assumptions, short run and long run price and output
determinations under monopolistic competition,
Oligopoly: assumptions, overview of different oligopoly models, contestable markets.

2. Factor pricing
Demand for a factor input in a competitive factor market, supply of inputs to a firm,
market supply of inputs, equilibrium in a competitive factor market. Factor markets
with monopsony power.

3. Market Failure
Efficiency of perfect competition, Sources of market failure.
Externalities and market failure, public goods and market failure, markets with
asymmetric information (Ideas only)

Readings:

Case, Karl E. & Ray C. Fair, Principles of Economics, Pearson Education, Inc., 8th
edition, 2007.

Pindyck, R.S, Rubinfield, B.L and Mehta, P.L, Microeconomics, Pearson, 7 th edition

30
 THIRD SEMESTER GE

ECO-HG-3016: Principles of Macroeconomics–I

Course Description

This course introduces students to the basic concepts in Macroeconomics. Macroeconomics

deals with the aggregate economy. In this course the students are introduced to the
definition, measurement of the macroeconomic variables like GDP, consumption, savings,
investment and balance of payments. The course also discusses various theories of
determining GDP in the short run.

Course Outline

1. Introduction
What is macroeconomics? Macroeconomic issues in an economy.

2. National Income Accounting

Concepts of Income, Domestic Income and National Income; GDP and NDP at Market
Price and Factor Cost, measurement of national income and related aggregates; nominal and
real income;

3. Determination of GDP
Actual and potential GDP; aggregate expenditure; consumption function; investment
function; equilibrium GDP; concepts of MPS, APS, MPC, APC; autonomous expenditure;
Concept of multiplier.

4. National Income Determination with Government Intervention and Foreign

Trade
Fiscal Policy: impact of changes in government expenditure and taxes; net exports function;
net exports and equilibrium national income.

5. Money in a Modern Economy

Concept of money in a modern economy; monetary aggregates; demand for money;
quantity theory of money; liquidity preference and rate of interest; money supply and credit
creation; monetary policy.

Readings:

1. Case, Karl E. & Ray C. Fair, Principles of Economics, Pearson Education, Inc.,
8th edition,2007.
2. Sikdar, Shoumyen, Principles of Macroeconomics, 2nd Edition, Oxford University
Press,India

31
 FOURTH SEMESTER GE

ECO-HG-4016: Principles of Macroeconomics–II

Course Description

This is a sequel to Principles of Macroeconomics–I. It analyses various theories of

determination of National Income in greater detail. It also introduces students to concept of
inflation, its relationship with unemployment and some basic concepts in an open economy.

Course Outline

1. IS-LM Analysis
Derivations of the IS and LM functions; IS-LM and aggregate demand; shifts in the
AD curve.

2. GDP and Price Level in Short Run and Long Run

Aggregate demand and aggregate supply; multiplier Analysis with AD curve and
changes in price levels; aggregate supply in the SR and LR.

3. Inflation and Unemployment

Concept of inflation; determinants of inflation; relationship between inflation and
unemployment: Phillips Curve in short run and long run.

4. Balance of Payments and Exchange Rate

Balance of payments: current account and capital account; market for foreign
exchange; determination of exchange rate.

Readings:

1. Case, Karl E. & Ray C. Fair, Principles of Economics, Pearson Education, Inc.,
8th edition,2007.
2. Sikdar, Shoumyen, Principles of Macroeconomics, 2nd Edition, Oxford University
Press,India

32
 THIRD SEMESTER SE
ECO-SE-3014: Data Collection and Presentation

Course Description:

This course helps students in understanding use of data, presentation of data using computer
softwares like MS-Excel. Students will be involved practically to preparation of
questionnaires/interview schedules, collection of both primary and secondary data and its
presentation. Students will also be asked to prepare a report on collected data and will be
evaluated accordingly.

Course Outline:

1. Use of Data
Use of data in social sciences; types and sources of data; data collection methods. Population
census versus sample surveys. Random sampling.

2. Questionnaires and Schedules

Meaning; how to prepare a questionnaire and interview schedule; use of questionnaire and
interview schedule for data collection.

3. Presentation of Data
Data presentation in tabular formats; use of diagrams for data presentation; creating charts
and diagrams in MS-Excel – bar, line, pie, scatter, radar, bubble diagrams, population
pyramids.

Readings

1. S P Gupta, Statistical Methods, S Chand.

2. Webtech Solutions Inc., Mastering Microsoft Excel Functions and Formulas

33
 FOURTH SEMESTER SE
ECO-SE-4014: Data Analysis

Course Description:

This course discusses how data can be summarized and analysed for drawing statistical
inferences. The students will be introduced to important data sources that are available and will
also be trained in the use of statistical softwares like SPSS/PSPP to analyse data.

Course Outline:

1. Data entry in softwares like MS-Excel, SPSS/PSPP

2. Univariate frequency distributions. Measures of central tendency: mean, median and

mode; arithmetic, geometric and harmonic mean. Measures of dispersion: range, mean
deviation and standard deviation, skewness and kurtosis.

3. Bivariate frequency distribution. Correlation and regression. Rank correlation.

4. Estimation of population parameters from sample data. Unbiased estimators for

population mean and variance.

Readings:

1. P.H. Karmel and M. Polasek (1978), Applied Statistics for Economists, 4th edition,
Pitman.
2. M.R. Spiegel (2003), Theory and Problems of Probability and Statistics (Schaum
Series).

34