Introductory Microeconomics An introduction to the analysis of such microeconomic problems as price formation (the forces behind demand and supply), market structures from competitive to oligopolistic, distribution of income, and public policy options bearing on these problems.

The Chinese Economy In this course we will explore the economic development of China up until the present day, giving particular attention to the socialist era and the post-1978 reforms. Specific topics to be covered will include growth and structural change, the urban-rural divide, the state’s ongoing role in the economy, demography, and the country’s integration into the global economy.

Economies of Post-Communist Europe From the break-up of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact through Europe’s largest war in almost eight decades, we will explore the trajectories of Europe’s former communist economies, with particular focus on Russia, Ukraine, and Poland. Though we will focus on economic developments and processes, we will also pay attention to relevant political and historical forces. Topics to be covered will include the economic legacy of communism, the region’s integration into European and global markets, the evolving balance between state and private actors in the economy, the public’s reaction to the economic transformation, and the economic consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Senior Research Workshop II In this second semester of the senior research workshop sequence, the focus is on the execution of the research plan developed in ECON 0701.  Most instruction is now one-on-one but the workshop will still meet as a group to discuss and practice the presentation of results in various formats (seminars, poster sessions, et cetera) to the rest of the workshop and others in the college and broader communities. Feedback and critiques from such presentations will be incorporated into the project, which will culminate in a research paper in the style of an economics journal article.

Senior Research Workshop I In this first semester, students will design and begin their projects. Emphasis will be on designing a novel research question (while making the case for its importance) and an appropriate strategy for answering it. This requires immersion in the academic literature on the topic. General research principles and tools will be taught in class, as a group, while those specific to individual projects will be covered in one-on-one meetings. By the end of the term, students will outline their plan for completing the project, including demonstrating that it is a feasible research question for which the necessary information (e.g., data or source materials) is available or can be generated by the student (e.g., lab or other experiment).

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).

Will Pyle

Reviews and ratings for Will Pyle at Middlebury College.Will Pyle teaches Intro Microeconomics, The Chinese Economy, Economies of Post-Comm Europe and more.  Explore top rated instructors and find the best for you.Is Will Pyle good ? Find out on MiddCourses.

I took this course in Fall 2025. This course was difficult but would have been easier if I studied harder. Pyle is very passionate but lectures can sometimes go off topic. Problem sets are long and difficult, but there are only 4 problem sets throughout the whole semester. There are 2 debates, which are a lot of fun. That was probably my favorite part of the class.

This course was more difficult than I anticipated it being (especially haven taken economics classes in high school). Nevertheless, work and exams were very manageable and definitely not impossible. Problem sets and exams could be tricky, but Pyle gives many opportunities to ask questions through office hours or Zoom reviews.

Professor Pyle is a great teacher and truly takes time to get to know each of his students, which helps make the class more engaging. He is a very fair grader and is always available for extra help sessions before tests. 