BE201 Business Economics is currently undertaken by all Year 1 BSc students studying at the Management Science and Entrepreneurship Group of the Essex Business School. In putting together the course, we assume no prior knowledge of economics. We also recognise that participants in the course have many different interests in economics, and reasons for studying Business Economics. We hope that you are curious about economics, and interested in some economic issues. Maybe you have come across microeconomics in the news through inquiries into take-overs and mergers between companies, or in price wars between supermarkets, or the public interest in the price of mobile phones, or in worries over pollution, or the effects of new minimum wage scheme. In any event studying economics can inform you of highly topical issues. In the autumn term, we aim to introduce microeconomic principles and concepts that help us understand and explain how economic activities happen, and see if anything can be done to improve economic situations for society. In conjunction with key readings from the core textbook and other recommend readings, a selection of real life examples, case studies and exercises will be used to help students raise and explore key issues in business economics. We also aim to explain business economics in such a way that it fits in well with your other subjects.