Chevron Left
Back to Principles of Economics: Microeconomics - Down to Business

Learner Reviews & Feedback for Principles of Economics: Microeconomics - Down to Business by Rice University

4.9
stars
37 ratings

About the Course

In this second portion of the three-course specialization covering economics, we're going to be focusing on Microeconomics or the business side of things. This course is also based heavily on my ECON 100 course that I teach here at Rice University. Through lectures, short quizzes, problem sets, and discussions we're going to take a look at subjects such as, costs of production, perfect competition, monopolies, monopolistic competition, oligopolies, and household choices. And you'll still get all the unsolicited food and cooking advice sprinkled in there too :) Although this course is intended for anyone with an interest in economics, we will occasionally be using some basic math. I would also recommend that you take the first course, "A Story of Economics: Getting to Know You" before enrolling in this course. Things you should learn by the end of this course: 1. Identify how Opportunity Costs affect economic decisions. 2. Identify how economic decision makers compare marginal benefits to marginal costs to make optimal choices. 3. In a graph, identify the gains from trade. 4. Describe the relationship between prices, market demand, and market supply. 5. Calculate and interpret the meaning of an elasticity coefficient. 6. Evaluate the effects of government policy on supply and demand. 7. Calculate and interpret the meaning of market efficiency. 8. Evaluate the effects of externalities and the policies associated with them, and identify how they are related to different types of goods. 9. Identify the costs of production and interpret their shapes. 10. Communicate how different degrees of competition in a market affect pricing and output. 11. Identify the prisoner’s dilemma in the context of an application. 12. Explain the interaction between budget constraints and indifference curves....

Top reviews

GG

Nov 6, 2025

Fun and engaging lectures, with good quiz and discussion questions that make you think. I think this is a very good course for learning the fundamentals of microeconomics.

MD

May 30, 2024

Awsome course to learn the basics of Economics. The prof seems to be a really chill guy and he uses funny examples and stories to make his lectures more engaging!

Filter by:

1 - 5 of 5 Reviews for Principles of Economics: Microeconomics - Down to Business

By Cristina N

Jan 7, 2026

I started this course with the goal of dipping my toes into economic theory to become more familiar with the terminology in the manuscripts I edit. (I’m a freelance English editor.) I ended up completing all three courses and obtaining my certification because the lectures were so engaging and fun. I particularly enjoyed the never-boring presentation, the visuals, and the way the assignments were designed. The fact that there was no pressure to achieve a high grade removed the temptation to ask for help. After completing this course I feel I can better understand the forces that shape our world, from micro to macroeconomics. The only downside is that I’m now seeing supply and demand curves everywhere, even in the contrails in the sky. What I’ve learned in these three courses now forms the backdrop of the economics stories I edit for my clients, making my job more enjoyable and the result more precise. The best part is that 20+ years after graduating from university, I’ve rediscovered the joy of learning. I never stopped learning, but this has been the first online course I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. I cannot recommend this course or the instructor more warmly!

By Gideon G

Nov 7, 2025

Fun and engaging lectures, with good quiz and discussion questions that make you think. I think this is a very good course for learning the fundamentals of microeconomics.

By M D

May 31, 2024

Awsome course to learn the basics of Economics. The prof seems to be a really chill guy and he uses funny examples and stories to make his lectures more engaging!

By Farnaz K A

Nov 2, 2025

I really like his personality and mood of this professor. He made economics fun for me.

By Siddhant P

Sep 1, 2024

NA