CRN |
93096 |
Distribution |
A/E |
Course
No. |
ECON 101 A Q Course |
||
Title |
Introduction
to Microeconomics |
||
Professor |
Andrew Pearlman |
||
Schedule |
Wed Fr 3:00 pm -4:20 pm OLIN 203 |
Cross-listed: Environmental Studies
An examination of the logic of constrained choice,
with a focus on the economic behavior of individuals and organizations. The mechanics of the price system are
analyzed in terms of demand (utility) and supply (cost). The characteristics of
alternative market structures, from pure competition to monopoly, are derived
and evaluated. The conditions under which markets allocate resources
efficiently are worked out, and several causes of market failure are examined.
Simple graphical and mathematical methods (high-school level of difficulty) are
developed, their use reinforced by a variety of applications. Questions of
microeconomic analysis and policy raised by current events are debated. Econ.
101 and 102 may be taken in either order.
CRN |
93097 |
Distribution |
A/E |
Course
No. |
ECON 101 B Q Course |
||
Title |
Introduction
to Microeconomics |
||
Professor |
Tsu-Yu Tsao |
||
Schedule |
Tu Th 3:00 pm -4:20 pm OLIN 202 |
Cross-listed: Environmental Studies
An examination of the logic of constrained choice,
with a focus on the economic behavior of individuals and organizations. The mechanics of the price system are
analyzed in terms of demand (utility) and supply (cost). The characteristics of
alternative market structures, from pure competition to monopoly, are derived
and evaluated. The conditions under which markets allocate resources
efficiently are worked out, and several causes of market failure are examined.
Simple graphical and mathematical methods (high-school level of difficulty) are
developed, their use reinforced by a variety of applications. Questions of
microeconomic analysis and policy raised by current events are debated. Econ.
101 and 102 may be taken in either order.
CRN |
93098 |
Distribution |
A/E |
Course
No. |
ECON 102 A |
||
Title |
Introduction
to Macroeconomics |
||
Professor |
Tamar Khitarishvili |
||
Schedule |
Wed Fr 8:30 am -9:50 am ALBEE 106 |
This course begins with an examination of the
aggregate behavior of modern economies: the factors leading to economic growth,
explanations of booms and recessions, unemployment, interest rates, inflation,
and budget deficits or surpluses. We
will also analyze the government’s ability (or inability) to use monetary and
fiscal policies to achieve economic goals such as full employment and price
stability. Throughout the course, we
will debate whether the government should use monetary and fiscal policy to try
to “fine tune” the economy and what the likely effects of such government
involvement are. ECON 101 and 102 may
be taken in either order.
CRN |
93099 |
Distribution |
A/E |
Course
No. |
ECON 102 B |
||
Title |
Introduction
to Macroeconomics |
||
Professor |
Tamar Khitarishvili |
||
Schedule |
Wed Fr 1:30 pm -2:50 pm OLIN 204 |
This course begins with an examination of the
aggregate behavior of modern economies: the factors leading to economic growth,
explanations of booms and recessions, unemployment, interest rates, inflation,
and budget deficits or surpluses. We
will also analyze the government’s ability (or inability) to use monetary and
fiscal policies to achieve economic goals such as full employment and price
stability. Throughout the course, we
will debate whether the government should use monetary and fiscal policy to try
to “fine tune” the economy and what the likely effects of such government
involvement are. ECON 101 and 102 may
be taken in either order.
CRN |
93039 |
Distribution |
A |
Course
No. |
ECON 115 |
||
Title |
Economic
Dimensions of World Issues |
||
Professor |
Sanjaya DeSilva |
||
Schedule |
Mon Wed 3:00 pm -4:20 pm OLIN 202 |
Cross-listed: Human Rights
This introductory course uses simple economic
concepts to examine global and international issues of current and enduring
interest. (Public issues in the U.S. are addressed in the fall semester companion
course ECON 110). The aim of this course is to help students with little or no
economics background to understand the economic dimensions of important social
and political issues of the world. Topics will be drawn from a pool that
includes the WTO and trade liberalization; European integration; regionalism
(NAFTA, FTAA etc.); global warming, deforestation and other environmental
issues; the role of multinational corporations and multilateral agencies such
as the World Bank and IMF; the AIDS crisis in Africa; poverty and hunger;
inequality within and between nations; the debt and currency crises of Latin
America and East Asia; the recent economic stagnation of Japan; the transition
from planning to markets in Eastern Europe and former Soviet Republics. The
discussion of each topic will begin with a general review using materials from
the popular media. This will be followed by a more detailed economic analysis
using micro and macro economic concepts. Relevant theoretical models and
principles will be introduced during the discussion. In addition to short
essays, class presentations and team projects, students will be asked to
maintain a weekly journal of relevant current events that are covered in the
international media.
CRN |
93040 |
Distribution |
C/E |
Course
No. |
ECON 200 |
||
Title |
Money
and Banking |
||
Professor |
Dimitri Papadimitriou |
||
Schedule |
Mon Wed 11:30 am - 12:50 pm OLIN 202 |
An examination of the role of money and financial
intermediaries in determining aggregate economic activity. Interactions of
savers, investors, and regulatory authorities in domestic and international
capital markets are analyzed, and the linkage between the financial system and
the real economy traced. The functions of central banks, commercial banks,
securities dealers, investment banks, and other intermediaries are covered in
detail. The debate over the goals, tools, indicators, and effectiveness of
monetary policy is considered in the light of current national and
international economic problems.
CRN |
93166 |
Distribution |
A/E |
Course
No. |
ECON 201 |
||
Title |
Intermediate
Microeconomics |
||
Professor |
Tsu-Yu Tsao |
||
Schedule |
Tu 10:00 am – 11:20 am OLIN 310 Th 9:00 am – 11:20 am OLIN 310 |
A further development of principles and analytical
methods begun in Intro to Microeconomics: demand, supply, and the workings of
the price system. The positive and normative characteristics of alternative
market structures – perfect competition, monopolistic competition, oligopoly,
pure monopoly, and in resource markets, monopsony – are studies in depth.
Market forces are examined in the context of social and political institutions
that shape, and are shaped by, market outcomes. The alleged “trade-off” between
equity and efficiency is debated in the context of a variety of applications.
CRN |
93041 |
Distribution |
A/C |
Course
No. |
ECON 210 |
||
Title |
History
of Economic Thought |
||
Professor |
Kris Feder |
||
Schedule |
Tu Th 3:00 pm -4:20 pm OLIN 205 |
The early history of the yet-young science of
economics: Petty, Locke, Hume, and the age of mercantilism; the Physiocrats of
18th century France, inventors of the first circular-flow analysis
of the macroeconomy; the revolutionary work of philosopher Adam Smith in 1776;
and the century of classical political economy that followed him in the
English-speaking world: Thomas Malthus, David Ricardo, John Stuart Mill, and
others who studied the virtues and vices of the market system and debated the
great questions of the relations of land, labor and capital. At its maturity,
the classical school gave rise to two very different attacks on existing
politico-economic institutions: in
continental Europe, the socialist critique of Karl Marx; and in the United
States and England, the Lockean critique of Henry George. This course focuses
on the classical period to the late 19th century, when classical
political economy gave way to the "marginal revolution," which,
applying the mathematical insights of calculus to economic questions, focused
more on subjective choice and perhaps less on political issues and
institutions. Prerequisite: One economics course.
CRN |
93042 |
Distribution |
A/E |
Course
No. |
ECON 229 Q Course |
||
Title |
Statistics |
||
Professor |
Andrew Pearlman |
||
Schedule |
Tu Fr 11:30 am - 12:50 pm ALBEE 106 |
Cross-listed:
Environmental Studies
The first of a two-course series designed to
examine empirical economics, and a prerequisite for Economics 329,
Econometrics. Basic concepts of statistics, probability, probability
distributions, random variables, correlation, and simple regression are
introduced; the techniques of statistical inference hypothesis testing are
developed. Numerous examples and computer-based exercises are included. Prerequisite:
Economics 101 or 102.
CRN |
93043 |
Distribution |
C |
Course
No. |
ECON 280 |
||
Title |
Economics of Health and Social Insurance |
||
Professor |
Andrew Pearlman |
||
Schedule |
Tu Th 1:30 pm -2:50 pm OLIN 310 |
Sixty percent
of U.S. federal government spending is on health, welfare, and
retirement/disability insurance. What
are the economic reasons for and against government intervention in these
areas? What are the various programs
designed to accomplish, and what behavioral incentives do they actually
create? How well do these programs
achieve their aims? Medicaid, Medicare,
welfare, and Social Security have all undergone sweeping changes in recent
years, with more on the horizon. This course examines major social programs
from an economist's perspective. We
will develop theoretical models of individual behavior and market failure, and
apply these models to U.S. policies as well as to other countries. The semester
will be structured as three separate modules covering each of the three major
topics.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Microeconomics.
CRN |
93483 |
Distribution |
A |
Course
No. |
ECON 301 |
||
Title |
Topics
in Microeconomics |
||
Professor |
Kris Feder |
||
Schedule |
Fri 9:30 am – 11:50 am OLIN 306 |
An analysis of theories of price determination and
allocation of resources by the market; factor prices, income distribution, and
poverty; effects of monopoly and imperfect competition; problems of the
consumer society, public goods, and social welfare.
CRN |
93044 |
Distribution |
A/E |
Course
No. |
ECON 323 |
||
Title |
Topics
in International Trade and Finance |
||
Professor |
Sanjaya DeSilva |
||
Schedule |
Mon Wed 10:00 am - 11:20 am OLIN 204 |
An examination of advanced topics in international
economics using theory and empirical evidence. Recent theoretical advances in
understanding trade under imperfect competition, strategic trade, political economy
of trade policy and international policy coordination are discussed. Classical,
neoclassical and modern theories are used to analyze important policy issues
such as the effect of trade on economic growth and income distribution,
international movements of labor and capital, trade between unequal partners,
crises in emerging markets, preferential trade agreements and imbalances in
agricultural trade.
Prerequisites: Introduction to Microeconomics & Introduction to
Macroeconomics
CRN |
93045 |
Distribution |
A/E |
Course
No. |
ECON 352 |
||
Title |
Seminar
in Law and Economics |
||
Professor |
Tsu-Yu Tsao |
||
Schedule |
Mon 1:30 pm -3:50 pm ASP 302 |
Cross listed: Human
Rights
The economic approach focuses on the choices people
make in the context of given opportunities and constraints, and on how they
respond to changes in incentives. This
course applies economic principles to study the incentive effects that legal
sanctions have on human behavior. In
addition to making scientific predictions with regard to individual responses,
we evaluate the welfare implications of the law on the grounds of efficiency
and equity. Four areas of law are
analyzed: property law, contracts, torts, and the concept of crime and
punishment. Time permitting, we also address legal issues associated with
racial discrimination, sex and marriage, surrogate motherhood, or
prostitution. Algebra and graphs are
used intensively as analytical tools.
Prerequisite: Introduction to Microeconomics and at least one additional course in microeconomic theory or applications.
CRN |
93046 |
|
|
Course
No. |
ECON CONF |
||
Title |
Senior
Conference |
||
Professor |
Economics Faculty |
||
Schedule |
Alternate
Mon 5:00 pm –6:20 pm ALBEE 102 |
Students writing Senior Projects in Economics will
be required to attend the Senior Conference, which will meet not more than one
evening every two weeks throughout the fall and spring terms. Not for credit.