PUB AFF 40
Microeconomics for Public Affairs
Description: Lecture, three hours; discussion, one hour. Introduction to principles of microeconomics with focus on social and policy problems. Study of decisions by firms and individuals, and implications for allocation of resources. Application of economic models to public issues such as social safety net, minimum wage, education, inequality, and poverty. Letter grading.
Units: 5.0
Units: 5.0
Most Helpful Review
Winter 2020 - Yes, this course is challenging; however, there has been significant improvement from what I heard the class was like last year. This was my first economics course ever and I felt like I was actually gaining something from the course and that it wasn't as terrible as previous reviews had made it seem. Professor Bau does go quite fast in her lecture, but everything is very on par with what is in the textbook so if you even skim the readings or read the summary at the end of each chapter, you'll understand her lectures a lot better. There is also a free PDF of the textbook online, albeit a different version, but it didn't make a difference to me. Her problem sets are difficult; however, she encourages group work and the midterm and final is basically the same thing as the problem sets, just with different numbers. 9 people got perfect scores on the midterm, pre-curve, which just shows how the course is not impossible. Also, there is extra credit on the problem sets and I went to my TAs office hours a lot, and she basically helped me do every problem set. Furthermore, she is so helpful during office hours and even has a tutor if anyone needs the extra help. I would take the other reviews with a grain of salt regarding the whole final exam thing because her hands truly were tied when the Academic Senate first released the statement that professors had to give a final exam. She has been really understanding and flexible the entire quarter and ended up letting us choose to use our midterm exam grade to be our final exam grade as well. Honestly, if you walk in knowing that you will have to actually work hard in the course, you'll do well. The curve is also really good like she understands that the course is hard and tells us that if we get around a B on the midterm, we're in a good spot.
Winter 2020 - Yes, this course is challenging; however, there has been significant improvement from what I heard the class was like last year. This was my first economics course ever and I felt like I was actually gaining something from the course and that it wasn't as terrible as previous reviews had made it seem. Professor Bau does go quite fast in her lecture, but everything is very on par with what is in the textbook so if you even skim the readings or read the summary at the end of each chapter, you'll understand her lectures a lot better. There is also a free PDF of the textbook online, albeit a different version, but it didn't make a difference to me. Her problem sets are difficult; however, she encourages group work and the midterm and final is basically the same thing as the problem sets, just with different numbers. 9 people got perfect scores on the midterm, pre-curve, which just shows how the course is not impossible. Also, there is extra credit on the problem sets and I went to my TAs office hours a lot, and she basically helped me do every problem set. Furthermore, she is so helpful during office hours and even has a tutor if anyone needs the extra help. I would take the other reviews with a grain of salt regarding the whole final exam thing because her hands truly were tied when the Academic Senate first released the statement that professors had to give a final exam. She has been really understanding and flexible the entire quarter and ended up letting us choose to use our midterm exam grade to be our final exam grade as well. Honestly, if you walk in knowing that you will have to actually work hard in the course, you'll do well. The curve is also really good like she understands that the course is hard and tells us that if we get around a B on the midterm, we're in a good spot.
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Most Helpful Review
Winter 2024 - This class was not *that* bad despite the last review. I believe that taking an econ class as a pub aff major will probably be tough no matter the professor, and Professor Mynhier really did give students opportunities to keep our grades up. The content was tricky for me because math is not my specialty and this was my first ever econ class, but the math isn't too hard (its all just basic algebra) the hard part is graphs and memorization of many concepts. There were a lot of opportunities to raise your grade-- problem sets, weekly "quizzes" (bottom 2 grades are dropped) and she offered a few extra credit opportunities in class and on the first midterm. The final was a bit tricky but nothing crazy. If you need to take this class you will be fine if you pay attention and keep up with it. I didn't feel like she expected anything unreasonable of us. I didn't really even know what was going on before the midterm and I ended up getting 100% after studying.
Winter 2024 - This class was not *that* bad despite the last review. I believe that taking an econ class as a pub aff major will probably be tough no matter the professor, and Professor Mynhier really did give students opportunities to keep our grades up. The content was tricky for me because math is not my specialty and this was my first ever econ class, but the math isn't too hard (its all just basic algebra) the hard part is graphs and memorization of many concepts. There were a lot of opportunities to raise your grade-- problem sets, weekly "quizzes" (bottom 2 grades are dropped) and she offered a few extra credit opportunities in class and on the first midterm. The final was a bit tricky but nothing crazy. If you need to take this class you will be fine if you pay attention and keep up with it. I didn't feel like she expected anything unreasonable of us. I didn't really even know what was going on before the midterm and I ended up getting 100% after studying.