ECON-230: Managerial Economics

Apply economic reasoning to business decisions in this Managerial Economics course. Learn pricing strategies, game theory, auctions, and organizational design to anticipate competition and improve firm performance.

Course Description

The Managerial Economics course applies economic principles directly to business decision-making, with an emphasis on problem solving and strategic thinking. Using Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach, 6th Edition by Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, and Mike Shor, students will learn how to evaluate costs, benefits, and risks to improve organizational performance.

Key topics include marginal analysis, investment decisions, pricing strategies, economies of scale, and competitive market dynamics. The course also examines advanced areas such as game theory, bargaining, auctions, and asymmetric information challenges like adverse selection and moral hazard. By blending theory with applied examples, students will learn how to anticipate competitor behavior, adapt to changing markets, and align organizational incentives to strategic goals.

Designed for students in business, management, and economics, this course builds practical skills in applying economic reasoning to real-world problems. By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze complex business environments, develop strategies for pricing and competition, and design effective organizational structures that support long-term success.

Textbook: Managerial Economics: A Problem Solving Approach (6th Edition) by Luke M. Froeb, Brian T. McCann, Michael R. Ward, Mike Shor

Course Objectives

Apply marginal analysis to evaluate costs, benefits, and decision alternatives.

Analyze pricing strategies, market structures, and industry dynamics.

Use economic reasoning to anticipate and respond to competitive pressures.

Evaluate strategic interactions using game theory and bargaining models.

Assess decision-making under uncertainty, including auctions and risk management.

Examine issues of asymmetric information such as adverse selection and moral hazard.

Apply organizational economics to design incentives and align employee and divisional goals with firm objectives.

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Course Contents

Section 1. Problem Solving and Decision Making

Solving Problems with Economics

The One Lesson of Business

Benefits, Costs, and Decisions

Extent (How Much) Decisions

Investment Decisions: Look Ahead and Reason Back

Section 2. Pricing, Costs, and Profits

Simple Pricing

Economies of Scale and Scope

Understanding Markets and Industry Changes

Market Structure and Long-Run Equilibrium

Strategy: The Quest to Keep Profit from Eroding

Foreign Exchange, Trade, and Bubbles

Section 3. Pricing for Greater Profit

More Realistic and Complex Pricing

Direct Price Discrimination

Indirect Price Discrimination

Section 4. Strategic Decision Making

Strategic Games

Bargaining

Section 5. Uncertainty

Making Decisions with Uncertainty

Auctions

The Problem of Adverse Selection

The Problem of Moral Hazard

Section 6. Organizational Design

Getting Employees to Work in the Firm’s Best Interests

Getting Divisions to Work in the Firm’s Best Interests

Managing Vertical Relationships

Single Course or Program Option

This course may be purchased individually or as part of the certificate programs listed below.

Applied Economics

Recommended Prerequisites

Accreditation You Can Trust

Washington Technical Institute is fully accredited by the Middle States Association Commissions on Elementary and Secondary Schools (MSA-CESS)—a regional accrediting agency recognized for setting high standards in education. This accreditation affirms that our programs, operations, and outcomes meet rigorous academic and institutional benchmarks. MSA-CESS accreditation is a mark of quality that ensures our students receive an education that is both credible and respected. It also means WTI is committed to continuous improvement, student success, and accountability at every level.