Syllabus - Economics

Author
Affiliation

Paulo Fagandini

Universidade Europeia

Bachelor’s in Management
Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology
Academic Year: 2025/2026

Course Unit: Economics - English Track
Course Coordinator: João Rodrigues dos Santos, PhD

Instructor: Paulo Fagandini, PhD
:email: paulo.fagandini@ext.universidadeeuropeia.pt
Year/Semester: 1st Year / 1st Semester
Weekly Hours: 3 Hours
ECTS: 6

General Objective

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

  1. Distinguish the purpose and methodology of economics.
  2. Describe the main problems facing Economics.
  3. Identify the differences between Macroeconomics and Microeconomics.
  4. Distinguish economic systems.
  5. Identify the factors that guide decision-making in perfect competition.
  6. Define demand and describe its explanatory factors.
  7. Explain the rationality of the behavior of producers in the market.
  8. Describe the behavior of economic agents in different market conditions.
  9. Characterize the main macroeconomic variables and the flows established between them.
  10. Familiarize students with different ways of measuring economic activity.
  11. Know the standard transactions and key account balances of the Balance of Payments.
  12. Provide students with a contact to economic policy themes, while outlining the main areas of policy, its objectives and instruments.

Teaching Approach

The course will primarily use the lecture method. However, whenever deemed beneficial, students will be encouraged to participate actively through problem-solving and tutorial exercises.

Syllabus

Not necessarily in that order.

  1. Introduction
  2. The Concept of Economics
  3. Micro Vs Macro
  4. The Economic Problem
  5. Economic Systems
  6. Demand
  7. Supply
  8. Market Equilibrium
  9. Consumer Theory
  10. Producer Theory
  11. Market Structure
  12. Imperfect Competition
  13. Introduction to Macroeconomics
  14. Neoclassical and Keynesian Schools of Thought
  15. National Accounts
  16. The Balance of Payments
  17. Keynesian Economics
  18. Money, Inflation, and Unemployment

Proof of syllabus’ coherence with the unit’s ILOs

The syllabus is structured to meet the specific objectives of the Curricular Unit, both the theoretical aspects that form the basis of reasoning that students should develop, and their applicability in a professional context.

Assessment Methods

Students might opt for one of two assessment methods, continuous assessment or a final exam. Each of these methods are worth 100% of the final grade.

Continuous Assessment

Two individual tests, consisting of multiple choice and exercises that may include drawing graphs.

  1. Two midterm, each worth 50%.
  2. Minimum grade of 8.00 in each.
  3. Minimum of 70% attendance.

Final Exam Assessment

A single exam that covers all the topics of the course, worth 100% of the grade.

Core Bibliography (EN)

  • Shapiro, D.; MacDonald, D.; Greenlaw, S. A. (2022). Principles of Economics 3e. OpenStax.
  • Dornbush, R.; Fischer, Stanley and Startz, R. (2017). Macroeconomics 13e. McGraw-Hill
  • Frank, R. H. (2020). Microeconomics and Behavior 10e. McGraw-Hill.
  • Frank, R. H; Bernanke, B. et al. (2021). Princíples of Economics 8e. McGraw-Hill.
  • G"artner, M. (2016). Macroeconomics. 5th Edition. Financial Times Press, Harlow, England.
  • Introduction to Managerial Economics. (2022). Estados Unidos: Willford Press.
  • Samuelson, Paul; Nordhaus, William (2009), Economics 19e. McGraw-Hill.

Core Bibliography (PT)

  • Santos, J. R. (2020). Economia Indispensável. Lisbon International Press.