Course rules

Final grade calculation

The final grade is based on a weighted average of the scores received for the following components (weights in brackets):

a) active participation in class (25%),

b) in-class presentation (15%),

c) final exam (60%).

To pass the course, a student must achieve at least 50% of the maximum exam score AND at least 50% of the maximum total score obtained from components a), b), and c).

In the retake session, only the exam may be retaken. The new result replaces the previous one. Scores from components a) and b) cannot be improved in the retake session.

Active class participation (max 25 points):

• An entry short test will be given every other class.
• Tests may cover all material discussed in class up to that point (until the time of the test), with an emphasis on content from the two most recent classes.
• All forms of tasks in the tests are possible: open problems, multiple choice questions, true/false questions, etc.
• No notes, phones, or other devices may be used during tests. Everything except a pen must be stored in bags.
• Absence from a test or failure to participate results in zero points for that test.
• There are no retakes for entry short tests.
• The score for the active class participation will be calculated as the average score achieved in all entry short tests, excluding one test with the lowest result.

Presentation (maximum 15 points):

• The presentation is completed in teams of two or three students (all from the same group in USOS).
• Each team must present their work in class. Every team member must present a part of the work. The total presentation time may not exceed 10 minutes.
• The presentation should address a microeconomic problem grounded in the existing scientific literature and closely related to the topics covered in the course.
• The objective of the presentation is to identify and analyze real-life applications of the concepts discussed in class.
• The work must be based on at least two scientific articles published in recognized economic journals (e.g., found in Google Scholar, with an Impact Factor), which concern a chosen topic covered within the course. Once the articles are selected, the presentation should discuss the research conducted in these articles and critically evaluate the findings (e.g., if the two articles address a similar issue in two different countries, a cross-country comparison of evidence may be provided).
• It is strongly recommended to consult the specific topic and the selection of the articles with the lecturer before starting the work.
• The topic slots: four on governmental interventions, four on externalities, four on public goods, and four on asymmetric information. One member of each team must submit the selected topic slot and the names of all team members by December 19, 2025, 11.59 pm, via email to the lecturer. Given the limited number of slots, the slots will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Presentation slides must be submitted by email to the lecturer by January 14, 2026, 11.59 pm. Each started day of delay with the submission leads to a subtraction of 2 points.
• No submission of the topic slot before the deadline means no participation in this grade component and, thus, zero points.
• The last slide of the presentation must list the names and student ID numbers of all authors of the presentation. If the authors contributed to the work unequally, this last slide may also indicate the percentage contribution of each member to the joint work. This slide does not need to be shown in class (it is needed only as information for the lecturer).
• All presentations will be subject to a plagiarism check. Note that even a sentence copied and used without quotation marks and without a proper source reference constitutes plagiarism.
• References to the journal articles must be cited in-text (author’s name and publication year) and compiled in a reference list with full bibliographic details at the end of the presentation. A link is not a reference.
• Working papers, popular science articles, and conference presentations, among others, do not count as scientific articles published in recognized economic journals.
• Grading components [maximum points for each component are given in square brackets]:
  (i) scientific content - i.a., connection to the selected course topic, use of at least two scientific articles, proper referencing to them, integration of inputs from the articles into a coherent presentation [8];
  (ii) presentation style - i.a., clarity of speech, engagement with the audience (no reading from notes), clarity of slides' content, adherence to the 10-minute time limit [7].
• All team members will receive the same grade.

Final exam:

• The same for all groups taking the course in Microeconomics III.
• Organized by the course coordinator, Dr. Anna Kukla-Gryz.
• At the end of the term, within the exam session.
• Single-choice questions.
• A total of 30 questions at the maximum.
• The range of the exam material includes all topics listed in the “Full description” in the course syllabus in USOS. The exam questions will not concern problems discussed in the presentations made by students.

Grading scale