Economics

The rise and expansion of market economies, and the principles of microeconomic behavior. Topics include an introduction to economic methodologies, the ideas and institutions of the microeconomy, consumer behavior, the business firm and market structure, labor and capital markets, and government policies affecting resource allocation and the distribution of income.

An introduction to the principles and issues of the national economy, and the institutions of macroeconomic behavior. Topics include the role of government in a mixed market economy; measuring and determining national income; money and the banking system; and the public policies available for achieving full employment, price stability, and continuing economic growth in modern industrial and democratic societies.

This course offers students an introduction to economics, along with some elementary tools of economic analysis, with emphasis upon their application to contemporary problems and issues. The economy and selected issues are examined in their global context. Designed to meet the needs and interests of students in various majors outside of the economics and business administration areas, the course is not open to students who have received credit for either Economics 101 or Economics 102.

The economic theory of microeconomic units: consumers, firms, and industries. This entails the study of production, cost, and price theory, and the practices of firms under alternative market structures. Concepts of social welfare will be explored, and the uses and limits of public policy in addressing the problems of market failures will be examined.

The economic theory of macroeconomic aggregates: national income accounting; the determinants of output, income, and employment levels; the analysis of inflation; processes of economic growth; and open-economy macroeconomics. Monetary, fiscal, and incomes policies are examined and the uses and limits of these tools in promoting macroeconomic goals are discussed.

Selected topics in economics. Depending upon content and level of work, the course may be taken more than once for academic credit.

This course explores the economic dimension of environmental and natural resource use questions. The actions of producers and consumer, as influenced in part by institutional patterns and public policies, give rise to a variety of environmental problems and issues. By applying some basic tools of economic and institutional analysis, students may obtain a better understanding of environmental issues, both national and global, and are able to identify and evaluate alternative solutions.

A survey of the financial sector of the economy covering the role and functions of money and other financial instruments; commercial banks and financial intermediaries; the purposes of central banking and the structure and operations of the Federal Reserve; and the relationship between the monetary and credit system and the level of economic activity.

The analysis of sub-national or regional and metropolitan economies encompassing their distinctive processes and problems of economic growth, employment, and income determination, and intra-urban land use patterns. Policies addressing urban problems in the areas of job creation, housing, public infrastructure, education and welfare are included among the topical areas examined.

The course deals with a variety of economic and social issues of the United States and the world. Its scope includes the gender, educational, and cultural characteristics of poverty and inequality in different countries; the ways whereby people obtain income; and the factors affecting job turnover and social mobility. The course examines the changing economic roles of women and men in the labor market and in the family. Various methodological issues in the study of poverty and inequality also are examined as well as the relationship between income distribution and overall macroeconomic performance.

An overview of the institutions and processes affecting the development, allocation, and utilization of human resources, as well as the level and structure of wages and other forms of compensation. Topics include the impacts of legislation, collective bargaining, discrimination and education on labor markets, along with the design of public policies to address market imperfections or to provide assistance to those not currently in the workforce.

An historical and theoretical analysis of international economic relations in both public and private spheres. Using the principles of economic analysis, models of international trade and factor prices, commercial policy, economic integration, balance of payments adjustment and foreign exchange markets are set forth and become a basis for examining policy issues.

An examination of how economic concepts and modeling can be applied to help determine the justification for, and the effects of, various types of laws and contractual arrangements. The problems posed by externalities and other market failure arising in resource, labor, and product markets are discussed, and the legal framework and regulatory environment for addressing these issues is surveyed in order that alternative approaches might be evaluated.

The application of statistics to problems in business and economics, encompassing the gathering, organization, analysis, and presentation of data. Topics include descriptive statistics in tabular and graphical forms; the common measures of central tendency and dispersion; sampling and probability distributions; construction of confidence intervals and hypothesis testing; and correlation analysis.

A continuation of Applied Statistics (BUSA/ECON 333) for students in economics, marketing, accounting and business administration who wish to develop further their abilities in quantitative methods. Topics include simple and multiple regression, time series, forecasting and statistical process control. The use of statistical software, electronic and published data sources and bibliographic skills is integral to the course.

Placement for a term and relevant learning experiences in business, nonprofit organizations, or government. Enrollment is restricted to economics majors; this course may not be used to fulfill upper-division economic electives. Graded P/F.

Building upon prior analysis of international trade and finance, this course offers students an advanced study of the interaction of the economic and political processes in the world arena. Topics may include, but are not limited to, economic and political integration, theories of direct foreign investment and international production, economic development, the political economy of the global environment and international governance.

Serving as a capstone for the international political economy major, the seminar goes beyond disciplinary lines in an attempt to further integrate diverse and often competing perspectives, methodologies, and values. A research thesis, on a topic of individual student's choice made in consultation with an advisor, is required along with an oral presentation to faculty and students involved in the program.

Serving as a capstone for the major, the seminar goes beyond specific fields to consider how the institutions of any society shape, and are shaped by, the ongoing economic process. Inquiries into how economies have evolved in specific historical contexts, and into their accompanying ideologies, are central to the course. A major paper on a topic of individual student choice is required. Spring semester.