Textbook question

[unitroot]

Originally Posted by asquare

Again, not on its own. There are many concepts from basic real analysis (not just proof writing techniques, but concepts such as compactness, continuity, etc.) that are central to the way that MWG presents material. I'm not saying that is necessarily the best way to teach the material, but it is the way it is handled in MWG and most graduate micro courses. Unless you have previous exposure to these concepts, you will need another reference or very good teaching to allow you to follow...

I agree (though, this really a question of mathematical maturity, not economics background). This is one of the several reasons one should take a good course in real analysis before entering a PhD program.

[paradox3696]

Originally Posted by asquare

paradox, we will have to agree to disagree. Two semesters of calculus is typically differential and integral calculus of single variables, not even multivariable calc. Multivariable calc is a barebones minimum for taking graduate micro, IMO.

Further, taking grad micro as an undergrad and a stand-alone course (not taking the full first year core) puts one at a disadvantage anyways, because you don't get the complementarities between the courses and in particular, you miss out on math camp or the math class which is can be an introduction to proofs for those who have not seen them before. (This is in addition to the disadvantages associated with not being part of the cohort and its study groups.) I don't think Nicholson is sufficient preparation for MWG level micro in the absence of additional math background.

Asquare, my thought process when I responded to your comment was in reference to taking Graduate Micro and using Varian's graduate text. That is why I specifically mentioned Varian's intermediate text as a pre-requisite together with 2 or more calculus.

[asquare]

Originally Posted by paradox3696

Asquare, my thought process when I responded to your comment was in reference to taking Graduate Micro and using Varian's graduate text. That is why I specifically mentioned Varian's intermediate text as a pre-requisite together with 2 or more calculus.

Ok The OP specifically asked about MWG, and MWG is the standard graduate text at this point, so I tend to think about preparing for that level of micro.

[asianeconomist]

Originally Posted by paradox3696

Asquare, my thought process when I responded to your comment was in reference to taking Graduate Micro and using Varian's graduate text. That is why I specifically mentioned Varian's intermediate text as a pre-requisite together with 2 or more calculus.

I would have to say that even Varian's Analysis is a big jump from Nicholson/Varian's Intermediate. The Calculus courses will help definitely, but I think at least 1 semester of mathematical reasoning/ Intro to proofs is indispensable for ANY graduate micro text.

[thehum]

Although I cannot comment on "principles of economics theory" by Snyder/Nicholson, I just took Intermediate Microeconomics using their Intermediate book and it was horrible. In many cases concepts were oversimplfied, worded terribly and offered little to no examples of how to do end-of-chapter problems or test problems, which was especially problematic in my case because my prof. was equally terrible at explaining how to do problems. After finishing the course I went and bought an old copy of the Intermediate Micro book by varian and it is far supurior but very math intensive.

For Intro Micro, our prof. used the book by Frank/Bernanke and I found it to be excellent in explaining concepts clearly and completely. We used the newest version of this: (amazon)

[Norfrost]

I also have a question and I apologise beforehand because I already feel like hijacking the thread.

I will be taking intermediate micro next year and my university is recommending we buy one or two of the following books: Katz/Rosen, Cowell, Estrin/Laidler, Pindyck/Rubinfeld, Eaton/Allen and Perloff.

Surprisingly, Varian is not mentioned. Is any of these textbooks at least comparable to the level of Varian? I don't mind using a more mathematically rigorous text, in fact I suppose that's what I'm looking for (having graduate school in mind). Thanks for the advice.

[philecon]

Originally Posted by Norfrost

I also have a question and I apologise beforehand because I already feel like hijacking the thread.

I will be taking intermediate micro next year and my university is recommending we buy one or two of the following books: Katz/Rosen, Cowell, Estrin/Laidler, Pindyck/Rubinfeld, Eaton/Allen and Perloff.

Surprisingly, Varian is not mentioned. Is any of these textbooks at least comparable to the level of Varian? I don't mind using a more mathematically rigorous text, in fact I suppose that's what I'm looking for (having graduate school in mind). Thanks for the advice.

In my uni, there were two profs who taught intermediate micro last semester. A friend of mine from the other class used Pindyck and Rubinfeld's text; she told me that it was good for developing intuition, but it wasn't of any help at all when it came to exams, since the exams that were given tended to be "mathematical." My class used Varian's intermediate micro, and some parts of his grad text whenever possible. It was a very good text; it explained concepts clearly, and the math was easy to understand. I also used Nicholson, and although the level of clarity isn't the same as Varian's (although some of my study group friends might disagree), the text explains concepts pretty well, and the problems in the book were of big help. Hope this answers your question.

[asquare]

Originally Posted by Norfrost

I also have a question and I apologise beforehand because I already feel like hijacking the thread.

I will be taking intermediate micro next year and my university is recommending we buy one or two of the following books: Katz/Rosen, Cowell, Estrin/Laidler, Pindyck/Rubinfeld, Eaton/Allen and Perloff.

Surprisingly, Varian is not mentioned. Is any of these textbooks at least comparable to the level of Varian? I don't mind using a more mathematically rigorous text, in fact I suppose that's what I'm looking for (having graduate school in mind). Thanks for the advice.

The books you mention are intermediate texts. IMO, except for Perloff they are on the lower end of books at that level; I prefer Nicholson or Varian's undergrad text to several you have listed. Of the ones on the list, Perloff is probably the most rigorous. Neither the books you mentioned nor the two I added are at a comparable level to Varian's graduate text. I'm not sure which Varian text you had in mind when you asked the question.

[Norfrost]

Originally Posted by philecon

In my uni, there were two profs who taught intermediate micro last semester. A friend of mine from the other class used Pindyck and Rubinfeld's text; she told me that it was good for developing intuition, but it wasn't of any help at all when it came to exams, since the exams that were given tended to be "mathematical." My class used Varian's intermediate micro, and some parts of his grad text whenever possible. It was a very good text; it explained concepts clearly, and the math was easy to understand. I also used Nicholson, and although the level of clarity isn't the same as Varian's (although some of my study group friends might disagree), the text explains concepts pretty well, and the problems in the book were of big help. Hope this answers your question.

Yes, it does answer my question. Thank you I guess I might end up trying to get a copy of Varian's intermediate micro as well. After I posted here I thought of taking a look at MIT's OCW website to see if any of the books I mentioned were listed there but I saw MWG and Varian's Analysis instead, among other postgraduate textbooks. The same happens for intermediate macro, the recommended book there is Romer's

[Norfrost]

Originally Posted by asquare

The books you mention are intermediate texts. IMO, except for Perloff they are on the lower end of books at that level; I prefer Nicholson or Varian's undergrad text to several you have listed. Of the ones on the list, Perloff is probably the most rigorous. Neither the books you mentioned nor the two I added are at a comparable level to Varian's graduate text. I'm not sure which Varian text you had in mind when you asked the question.

Thank you, that was very helpful. Yes, I was referring to Varian's undergraduate text. I didn't think any of those I mentioned could actually be at the level of Varian's Micro Analysis (which I suppose I will probably buy sooner or later anyway).