Microeconomic Theory Microeconomic theory concentrates on the study of the determination of relative prices and their importance in shaping the allocation of resources and the distribution of income in an economy. We will study the optimizing behavior of households in a variety of settings: buying goods and services, saving, and labor supply decisions. We will also examine the behavior of firms in different market structures. Together, the theories of household and firm behavior help illumine contemporary economic issues (discrimination in labor markets, mergers in the corporate world, positive and negative externalities, for example).

The Economics of Climate Change In this course we will apply the tools of economic analysis to the problem of global climate change. The goal is to expose students to how economists approach this important policy problem. The course will begin with a review of reasons for policy interventions in markets and policy instrument choice. We will then focus on the measurement of damages from emissions of greenhouse gases. Subsequent topics will include: discounting, technology and abatement costs, benefit-cost analysis, uncertainty and catastrophic risk, and policies in practice. (ECON 0255; ECON 0265 encouraged).

Environment and Development Climate change, air pollution, tropical deforestation: there is little doubt that economic development affects, and is affected by, the global and local environment and natural resources. In this course we will explore the complex relationship between environment and development using the theoretical and empirical tools of applied economic analysis. We will begin with pioneering research papers on the empirics of economic growth, examine the macroeconomic evidence, and then move to the micro foundations of the poverty-environment nexus. Major topics will include the resource curse and environmental Kuznets curve hypotheses, approaches for understanding responses to climate variability and disasters in poor communities, management of natural resources in smallholder agriculture, choosing policy instruments for pollution reduction, conservation, and environmental protection, and relationships between human health and the environment. We will conclude with a number of selected topics and issues of contemporary policy relevance. (ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210) and ECON 0255 or IPEC 0240 [formerly ECON 0240])

Julia Berazneva

Reviews and ratings for Julia Berazneva at Middlebury College.Julia Berazneva teaches Micro Theory, Climate Change Economics, Environment and Development and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Julia Berazneva good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

This is required for the major and I would just take it with Gindin if you have the chance. It's probably the toughest class in the Econ major. There is weekly homework, four exams, one of which you can drop.

The material taught in this course is not particularly engaging or valuable, and weekly problem sets are constant. However, the course was not too fast, and everything that you would be tested on was covered in class. 

Professor Berazneva is known to teach this course in a difficult manner. If you have a strong calculus and math background, this class will come easily, but Professor Berazneva makes every exam extremely difficult, but will help students get there if they invest the time. Amazing learning opportunity, just a hard class. 