ADVANCED MICROECONOMICS

This is a second-year doctoral course. Content is useful both for those who will pursue theoretical research and for those who will work in applied and empirical areas.

This course offers an introduction to three advanced topics in microeconomics: decision theory, cognition in game theory, social choice. The goal of the course is building up skills in economic modeling.

You must have successfully completed the first-year requirements for the doctoral program in Economics, including the comprehensive exam in Microeconomics. In particular, you are expected to be familiar with contents analog to Chapters 1-5 and 7-8 of Jehle and Reny (2011), Advanced Microeconomic Theory, third edition. Familiarity with formal reasoning is necessary to fully benefit from the class.

The course is arranged in three blocks of equal length:
a) decision theory;
b) social choice;
c) cognition in game theory.

Main references:
a1) I. Gilboa (2009), Theory of Decision under Uncertainty, Cambridge University Press. (Chapters 7, 9, 10–11, 13, 15–16, 18)
a2) Mas-Colell, M.D. Whinston, J.R. Green (1995), Microeconomic Theory, Oxford University Press. (Chapters 1, 3, 6)

b1) David Austen-Smith, Jeffrey S. Banks (1999), Positive Political Theory I. University of Michigan Press (Chapters 2, 4).
b2) Moulin, H. (1988). Axioms of Cooperative Decision Making (Econometric Society Monographs). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Chapters 10–11).
b3) Lecture notes

c) An updated list of papers is made avaialble on the course Moodle-page.

Grading is comparative. It is based on four components: a) problems sets in Decision Theory (25\%); b) presentations in Cognition in Game Theory (25\%); c) problem sets in Social Choice (25\%); d) dedicated work in one field chosen by the student (25\%). Note that 75\% of the grading is based on work common to the whole class.

There will be fifteen meetings of 1h30’ each, or paired meetings of 3h15’ with a 15’ break. Each topic takes one third of the course, and each instructor is paired with one topic: Bastianello covers Decision Theory, Dotti covers Social Choice, and LiCalzi covers Cognition in Game Theory.

For more information and updates, trust only the class Moodle page.

Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding support services and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). If you have a disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters) please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.

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