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M.Com Semester I: Core course in Economics
Paper I
Economics for Business Decisions
Preamble
This course is designed to equip the students with basic tools of economic theory and its practical
applications. The course aims at familiarising the students with the understanding of the econ omic
aspects of current affairs and thereby prepares them to analyse the market behaviour with
economic way of thinking. In addition to providing an insight into application of economic princ iples UNIVERSITY OF MUMBAI
Syllabus for M.Com
Programme
Core course in Economics
Semester I & II
(Choice Based Credit System with effect from the
Academic year 2016 -17)
2016 – 2017
in business decisions, it also intends to widen analytical ability of the students and to provide them a
foundation for further study of economics. In order to make the study practical oriented, the paper
requires discussion of s ome cases involving t he use of concepts of business economics .
Paper I
Economics for Business Decisions
Unit I: Basic principles in Business Economics : (5 lectures)
Meaning and scope of Business Economics – twin principles of s carcity and efficiency; incremental
and Marginal principle; profit maximisation principle; market economy and invisible hand;
production possibility frontier; Opportunity cost - accounting profit and economic profit; market
failure, externality, public goo ds and economic role of Government
Unit II: Demand and Supply analysis: (10 lectures)
• Determinants of demand – market demand function - theory of attributes, snob appeal,
band wagon and Veblen effect and demand function. Law of supply- elasticity of
supply
• Applications of elasticity of demand and supply to economic issues : Paradox of
bumper harvest - tax on price and quantity - minimum floor and maximum ceilings :
minimum wages controversy and Administered price control
• The theory of consumer choice - Consumer preference and budget constraint -
equilibrium position of tangency with the help of Indifference curve analysis - effect
of changes in price and income on consumer equilibrium
Unit III: Production decisions and Cost analysis : (5 lectures)
• Production function - short run and long run - Law of variable proportion, returns to
scale, scale economies, scope economies- least cost factor combination for a given
output - Expansion path and Multiproduct firm - cost reduction through experience -
learning curve
• Economic analysis of Cost: Classification of costs, short run and long run cost
functions.
Unit IV: Market structure analysis : : (10 lectures)
• Difference between perfectly and imperfectly competitive markets -Perfect competition and
Monopoly as limiting cases of market imperfections - Sources of market power - profi t
maximisation of simple and discriminating monopolist - methods of measuring monopoly
power - Public policy towards monopoly power
• Different forms of imperfect competition - Monopolistic competition and Oligopoly -
Strategic decision making in oligopoly markets - collusive and non collusive oligopoly-
colliding oligopoly : rivalry among few, price war and kinked demand curve - collusive
oligopoly models of price leadership and cartel - basic concepts of game theory - Using
Game theory to analyse strategic decisions - application of model of prisoner’s dilemma
in market decisions
Suggested Readings:
Core Readings
1. Salvatore, D.: Managerial Economics in a global economy (Thomson South
Western Singapore, 2001)
2. Frank Robert.H, Bernanke. Ben S., Principles of Economics (Tata McGraw Hill (ed.3)
3. Gregory Mankiw., Principles of Economics, Thomson South western (2002
reprint)
4. Samuelson & Nordhas.: Economics (Tata McGraw Hills, New Delhi, 2002)
5. Hirchey .M., Managerial Economics, Thomson South western (2003)
6. Mehta, P.L.: Managerial Economics – Analysis, Problem and Cases (S. Chand &
Sons, N. Delhi, 2000)
Additional Readings
1. Koutsyiannis, A., Modern Microeconomics, Macmillan Press Ltd (1998 Reprint).
2. Varian, Micro -Economic Analysis (ed. 3), Norton, 1992.
3. Dean, Joel: Managerial Economics (Prentice Hall of India, N. Delhi, 2002)
4. Gupta, G.S.: Managerial Economics (Tata McGraw Hill, N. Delhi, 1997)
5. Sen Anindya, Micro -Economics: Theory and Applications, Oxford University
Press, New Delhi, 1999.
Current Readings
Economic and Political Weekly
Indian Economic Review
Financial Dailies
M.Com. Core Course in Economics Semester – II
Paper II : Macroeconomic concepts and applications
Preamble
The heavily application-oriented nature of macroeconomics subject is introduced in order to enable
the post graduate students to grasp fully the theoretical rationale behind policies at the country as
well as corporate level. This paper helps the students to receive a firm grounding on the basic
macroeconomic concepts that strengthen analysis of crucial economic policies. Students are expected to regularly read suggested current readings and related articles in the dailies and journals
are analysed class rooms.
Unit– I (5 lectures )
Aggregate Income and its dimensions: National income aggregates - and measurement; - GNP, GDP,
NDP, Real and nominal income con cepts, measures of inflation and price indices - GDP deflator, -
Nominal and real interest rates - PPP income and HDI
Unit- II (5 lectures )
Keynesian concepts of Aggregate Demand (ADF), Aggregate Supply (ASF), Interaction of ADF and
ASF and determination of real income; Inflationary gap Policy trade - off between Inflation and unemployment – Phillips’ curve – short run and long run -
Unit - III
(10 lectures )
The IS -LM model: Equilibrium in goods and money market; Monetary and real influences on IS -LM
curves, Economic fluctuations and Stabilisatio n policies in IS-LM framework - Transmission
mechanism and the crowding out effect; composition of output and policy mix, IS -LM in India
Unit - IV (10 lect ures )
International aspects of Macroeconomic policy: Balance of payments disequilibrium of an open
economy - corrective policy measures - Expenditure changing policies and expenditure switching
policies BOP adjustments through monetary and fiscal policies -The Mundell -Fleming model -
Devaluation, revaluation as expenditure switching policies - effectiveness of devaluation and J -
curve effect
Suggested readings
1) Dornbusch. R, Fisher.S., Macroeconomics, Tata McGraw -Hill 9th edition
2) D’Souza Errol., Macroeconomics, Pearson Education 2008
3) Gupta G.S., Macroeconomics Theory and Applications, Tata McGraw -Hill, New Delhi 2001
4) Dwivedi D.N., Macroeconomics theory and policy, Tata McGraw -Hill, New Delhi 2001
Current Readings
Economic and Political Weekly
Indian Economic Review
Financial Dailies