UW ECON 200: Introduction to Microeconomics
ECON 200 introduces supply and demand, consumer and producer theory, market structures, and welfare analysis. It's the entry point to UW's competitive economics major and a popular elective, taught in large lectures with quiz sections.
Fennie is independent and not affiliated with University of Washington. This is an unofficial study guide.
Build my ECON 200 study planWhat makes it hard
The course looks like common sense until the exams, which demand precise graphical analysis — shifting curves correctly, computing surplus areas, and working through tax and price-control scenarios step by step. Because the econ major is capacity-constrained and admission is GPA-driven, the curve in ECON 200 carries unusual weight.
What you'll cover
- • Supply and demand
- • Elasticity
- • Consumer and producer surplus
- • Taxes, subsidies, and price controls
- • Market structures and monopoly
- • Externalities and public goods
The ECON 200 study guide
How to study for UW ECON 200, step by step.
- 1
Draw every graph by hand until it's automatic
Supply-demand shifts, tax wedges, surplus regions — sketch them daily without looking at notes. ECON 200 exams are won on fast, correctly labeled graphs, and most lost points are rushed or mislabeled diagrams.
- 2
Arrive at quiz section with the problems attempted
Quiz sections are where the exam-style problems get worked, and they're only useful if you've already struggled with the material. Attempt everything first; bring your stuck points.
- 3
Drill the shift-versus-slide distinction
Whether a change shifts a curve or moves along it is the single most-tested idea in intro micro. Make a list of scenarios and classify them until the answer is reflexive.
- 4
Work surplus and tax computations numerically
Don't stop at shading regions — compute the areas. Exams ask for numbers, and the arithmetic under time pressure is harder than it looks in lecture.
- 5
Put exam prep on a Fennie schedule
Upload your ECON 200 syllabus and Fennie's Daily Plan queues graph practice and problem sets ahead of each quiz section, paced to your exam dates, with practice quizzes generated from your actual lecture content. Free to start.
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How Fennie helps with ECON 200
Daily Plans turn ECON 200 into scheduled practice with graphs and problem sets ahead of each quiz section, where the real learning happens. Chat through why a curve shifts versus moves along, and generate practice problems on surplus calculations — the most-missed exam skill.
FAQ
Is ECON 200 hard at UW?
The concepts are accessible, but the exams require precise graphical and numerical work, and the grade matters disproportionately for econ major admission. Treat it like a math course, not a reading course.
Do I need ECON 200 before ECON 201?
ECON 200 (micro) and ECON 201 (macro) are both required for the major; micro is typically taken first. Check the economics department's current sequencing advice.
How do I get a 3.5+ in ECON 200?
Draw every graph by hand until it's automatic, work all the practice problems before quiz section, and use old exams for timing. Most lost points come from rushed or mislabeled graphs.
Pass ECON 200 with a plan, not a cram
Upload your ECON 200 materials and Fennie generates a Daily Plan paced to your deadline — plus chat, flashcards, and quizzes built from the actual course content.
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