| |
Economics
Courses
Econ
111 - Principles of Macroeconomics
Econ 112 - Principles of Microeconomics
Econ 218 - Urban Economics
Econ 221 - Economic Development
of Modern China
Econ
222 - Health Economics
Econ 224 - Environmental Economics
Econ 229 - Economics of Sports
Econ
230 - Financial Markets and Institutions
Econ 249 - Statistics
Econ 255 - Microeconomics
Econ 256 - Macroeconomics
Econ 302 - Industrial Organization and Public Policy
Econ 303 - Economics of Human Resources
Econ 304 - Law and Economics
Econ 305 - Economic Growth and
Development
Econ 307 - Theory of International
Trade
Econ 309 - Comparative Economic
Systems
Econ 310 - Experimental Microeconomics
Econ 312 - Monetary Theory
Econ 313 - Mathematics for Economists
Econ 314 - Econometrics
Econ 316 - Economics of Peace,
Conflict and Defense
Econ
320 - History of Economic Thought
Econ
325 - Public Economics
Econ 326 - Economics
of the Arts
Econ 400 - Directed
Readings in Economics
Econ 460 - Research Methodology Seminar 1
Econ 461 - Research Methodology
Seminar 2
Econ 462 - Honors Directed Research
Back
to the Economics Department Home Page
Econ
111 Principles of Macroeconomics
Econ
112 Principles of Microeconomics
Develops principles
which explain the operation of the economy and suggest
alternative policy solutions to contemporary economic
problems. Principles of Macroeconomics (fall) develops
the principles of national income analysis, money, economic
growth and international trade. Principles of Microeconomics
(spring) covers principles governing commodity and resource
pricing under different market conditions and the distribution
of income. May be taken in either order. (Offered annually)
![[top]](up.gif)
Econ
218 Urban Economics
Applies economic
tools to study the complex problems of the urban community.
Attention is focused on an increased understanding of the
emerging policy issues facing cities. Special emphasis is
given to the location and growth of cities, the interaction
of poverty and urban housing and labor markets, and policy
options to encourage urban development. (Inactive at
this time)
Econ
221 Economic Development of Modern China
Aims to provide
the student with a sophisticated understanding of economic
development in the People's Republic of China. The historical
circumstances and resource endowments which have constrained
Chinese economic development are examined as a basis for
analyzing the intentions and success of policies adopted
since 1949. (Offered alternate years)
Econ
222 Health Economics
Applies microeconomic tools to study
the expanding health care industry. Topics include the
demand for health and medical care, health insurance
markets, managed care organizations, physician supply
decisions, hospital structures, government provision
of health insurance, medical malpractice, and international
comparisons of health care systems. Special emphasis
is placed on ethical issues that arise in determining
what choices society must make in the provision of health
care.
Econ
224 Environmental Economics
Shows how natural
resources and the environment can be analyzed from an economic
perspective. Presents the basic concepts of environmental
economics and develops the analytical and policy tools used
in environmental economics. Considers the problems of air
pollution, water pollution, and solid and hazardous waste
management; what causes them and how they can be reduced.
Current topics such as global warming, amendments to the
Clean Air Act, and international environmental issues will
be discussed. (Offered fall semester)
Econ
229 Economics of Sports
Applies
economic tools to study the field of professional and
collegiate sports. Topics include the organization of
sports leagues, profit maximization by teams, the application
of antitrust to sports, competitive balance, labor relations,
gender and racial discrimination, the tension between
academics and athletics at universities, and the economic
impact of sports on local economies. Special emphasis
is placed on the relationship between law and economics
in sports and the regulation of leagues and athletes.
(Offered
annually)
Econ
230 Financial Markets and Institutions
This
course gives a basic introduction to the main features
of financial institutions and markets in the United
States. The first part of the course covers interest
rates, including rate of return calculations, how markets
determine the overall level of interest rates and why
different securities pay different interest rates. The
second part of the course covers financial markets and
the assets that are traded on those markets, including
the money, bond, stock and derivatives markets. The
last section of the course details workings of some
financial institutions, including banks, mutual funds
and investment banks. When discussing these institutions,
particular attention is paid to conflicts of interest.
Prerequisites: Economics 111, 112. (Offered annually)
Econ
249 Statistics
An introduction
to statistical methods emphasizing statistical tools most
frequently used in economic analysis. Topics include descriptive
statistics, probability theory, random variables and their
probability distribution, estimation, hypothesis testing
and linear regression analysis. (Offered each semester)
Econ
255 Microeconomics
Analyzes the
economic behavior of households and firms and their interrelations
within the market. Price and resource allocations in the
following market structures are considered: pure competition,
monopolistic competition, oligopoly, monopoly, and monopsony.
The course concludes with a discussion of general equilibrium
and its welfare implications. Prerequisites: Mathematics
125, 126, or the equivalent. (Offered each semester)
Econ
256 Macroeconomics
Studies aggregate
economic behavior as determined by interactions among the
product, financial, and labor markets. The variables focused
upon are the general levels of prices, of national income,
and of employment. Applications of the theory are made and
policy inferences are drawn with respect to employment and
price stability, growth and development, trade and the global
economy. (Offered each semester)
Econ
302 Industrial Organization and Public Policy
Studies the theoretical
and empirical relationships among market structure, conduct
and performance in American industry. The knowledge gained
is used to evaluate U.S. antitrust policy. A number of industry
case studies and landmark court decisions are read.
(Offered annually)
Econ
303 Economics of Human Resources
Analyzes the
labor market in light of recent developments in economic
theory. The following areas are explored: labor force participation
studies, human capital theory, and marginal productivity
theory. Interference with the market through legislation,
discrimination and labor unions and the interactions between
the labor market and other sectors of the economy are considered.
(Offered every other year)
Econ
304 Law and Economics
Examines the
relative efficiency of alternative legal arrangements using
microeconomics as the basic investigative tool. The core
of the course consists of a thorough analysis of the common
law. Special emphasis is given to the areas of property,
contract, liability and criminal law. (Offered annually)
Econ
305 Economic Growth and Development
Examines the
theoretical and institutional factors influencing economic
growth. Attention is given to various models of economic
growth, the relation between social, political and economic
institutions and the pattern of economic growth, the optimal
public policy mix for economic growth and special problems
of growth faced by the developing nations. (Offered annually)
Econ
307 Theory of International Trade
Examines the
causes and consequences of the trade of goods and services
between nations. Attention is given to the principle of
comparative advantage, the Ricardian model of trade, the
factor endowments theory of trade, the specific factors
model, new theories of trade, the causes and consequences
of trade restrictions, economic growth and trade, international
factor movements and economic integration. (Offered annually)
Econ
309 Comparative Economic Systems
The first segment
develops an analytical framework for the comparison of economic
systems. In the second segment this framework is used to
examine and compare the economic systems of various countries
including the United States, Germany, France, Japan, China,
the former Soviet Union and other East European states.
(Offered annually)
Econ
310 Experimental Microeconomics
This course emphasizes
the interplay between theoretical models and laboratory
observations in the development of microeconomics. Topics
might include experimental methods, preference and choice,
risk and uncertainty, expected utility maximization, game
theory, industrial organization, search, bargaining, auctions,
asset markets, asymmetric information, public goods, and
voting. A number of classroom experiments are conducted.
(Offered every other year)
Econ
312 Monetary Theory
This course builds
a model of the financial sector of the economy, uses it
to gain an understanding of the workings of the financial
system, and makes predictions of the effects of events on
the financial system and economy as a whole. A particular
emphasis is placed on understanding the workings of the
Federal Reserve System and monetary policy. Thus, this course
provides an understanding of the role and measurement of
money; the theories of money demand and money supply; the
workings of the banking system; interest rate determination;
how prices of stocks, bonds, and other assets are determined;
and the place the financial system has in the macroeconomy.
Students cannot take both Economics 312 (Monetary Theory)
and Economics 217 (Money and Banking). (Offered every
other year)
Econ
313 Mathematics for Economists
The object of
the course is to augment the mathematical backgrounds of
students interested in pursuing a more quantitative approach
to economics and business. Emphasis is on linear systems,
matrix algebra, differential vector calculus, and optimization.
Topics may also include game theory, integral calculus,
and dynamic analysis. Mathematical methods are illustrated
with various economic applications. (Offered every other
year)
Econ
314 Econometrics
This course studies
statistical methods used to estimate and test economic models.
After a review of basic probability and statistics, the
method of ordinary least squares regression is examined
in detail. Topics include the Gauss-Markov theorem, inference,
multicollinearity, specification error, functional forms,
dummy variables, heteroskedasticity, and autocorrelation.
Simultaneous equations and qualitative dependent variables
may also be considered. A quantitative research paper is
required. (Offered fall semester)
Econ
316 Economics of Peace, Conflict and Defense
Economic principles
are applied to the study of international and regional conflicts
and predator/prey relationships in an economy. Topics include
war, conflict resolution, arms races, arms control, ethnic
conflict, terrorism, the arms trade, defense industry issues,
and attack/defense behavior in the economic realm. (Offered
occasionally)
Econ
320 History of Economic Thought
This
course surveys the thoughts and ideas of philosophers
and economists throughout history who attempted to understand
the workings of what we now call the economy. A long
time span is covered, going briefly as far back as the
ancient Greek writers, moving through the Scholastics,
Mercantilists, and Physiocrats, but with a particular
focus on the pivotal contributions of the Classical
writers including Adam Smith, David Ricardo, and Karl
Marx. Neoclassical thought is contrasted with institutional
and historical critics, leading to the great debate
between capitalism and socialism. Changes in macroeconomic
theory associated with John Maynard Keynes, the post-Keynesian
views of macro, and the more modern formulation of microeconomics
with its emphasis on econometric analysis round out
the course. (Offered
annually)
Econ
325 Public Economics
Surveys
theories of public expenditure and taxation and delves
into specific topics such as health care, social insurance,
education, tax reform, fiscal federalism and deficit
finance. Prerequisites: Economics 255, 256. (Offered
every other year)
Econ
326 Economics of the Arts
Examines
the markets for the performing and visual arts in the
United States. The course begins by utilizing economic
tools to analyze supply and demand in these markets,
and then covers a number of special topics. Issues considered
include copyrights, ticket scalping, performer wages
and labor unions, government subsidization of the arts,
auctions, art as an investment and the political economy
of the arts sector. Prerequisites: Economics 249, 255.(Offered
annually)
Econ
400 Directed Readings in Economics
A program in
reading and research in a specific topic open to majors
with a minimum GPA of 3.25. Permission of the instructor
is required. (Offered annually)
Econ
460 Research Methodology Seminar 1
This is a Department
honors seminar that examines the methodology used by economists.
Students learn what the economist does by examining specific
economic studies. The steps involved in undertaking research
and the alternative methodological approaches are treated.
A high level of student participation is expected. By the
end of the seminar the students settle upon topics they
will research in the fourth year and write a prospectus.
The course counts toward the major as the equivalent of
a lower-level economics elective. (Offered spring semester)
Econ
461 Research Methodology Seminar 2
This is the same
as Economics 460. Fourth-year honors students participate
for a second time in the seminar by presenting their completed
research projects and by serving as resource persons for
other honors students. (Offered spring semester)
Econ
462 Honors Directed Research
Honors students
undertake a research project under the direction of a Department
faculty member. The results of this endeavor are presented
in the form of a thesis. The course counts toward the major
as the equivalent of an upper-level economics elective.
(Offered fall semester)
Back to top of page
|
|
