Class Schedules

Accounting is the language of business. One of the objectives of this course is to learn that "language." The emphasis will be on understanding financial statements both for profit and non-profit organizations. International accounting, ethics and investment decisions are also covered. This course is designed for students who desire an understanding of the elements of accounting as a component of a liberal arts education as well as for those who would like to study further in accounting or business. This course counts as a Group B elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

Business Negotiations will cover frameworks useful in negotiating business agreements, but the negotiating skills learned can be helpful in many settings.  Starting with the classic text "Getting to Yes", students in this course will learn to implement a principled approach to negotiating by focusing on the true interests of the negotiating parties, brainstorming to find ways to improve the outcome of all parties, and identifying and defusing the most common "dirty tricks" of unprincipled negotiators.  In class, students will practice negotiating each week, in a series of one-on-one and multi-party negotiating exercises.  Case studies will be discussed and alumni will be invited to share negotiating experiences. This course counts as a Group B elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

Economics is the study of how people make decisions and how these decisions apply to real-world problems. Economics can help us understand income inequality within and across countries, the quality of the environment, unemployment, poverty, crime, health care, financial crises, technological change, inflation and many more issues. This course introduces the basic tools that economists use to explore these topics and will cover fundamental economic concepts like scarcity, supply and demand, costs and benefits, trade-offs, and incentives. This course is a one semester overview of both microeconomics (the study of choices firms and individual consumers make) and macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole). This course counts as a Group E economics course and is the prerequisite for 200-level E courses in the Economics Department.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WP
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Economics is the study of how people make decisions and how these decisions apply to real-world problems. Economics can help us understand income inequality within and across countries, the quality of the environment, unemployment, poverty, crime, health care, financial crises, technological change, inflation and many more issues. This course introduces the basic tools that economists use to explore these topics and will cover fundamental economic concepts like scarcity, supply and demand, costs and benefits, trade-offs, and incentives. This course is a one semester overview of both microeconomics (the study of choices firms and individual consumers make) and macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole). This course counts as a Group E economics course and is the prerequisite for 200-level E courses in the Economics Department.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Economics is the study of how people make decisions and how these decisions apply to real-world problems. Economics can help us understand income inequality within and across countries, the quality of the environment, unemployment, poverty, crime, health care, financial crises, technological change, inflation and many more issues. This course introduces the basic tools that economists use to explore these topics and will cover fundamental economic concepts like scarcity, supply and demand, costs and benefits, trade-offs, and incentives. This course is a one semester overview of both microeconomics (the study of choices firms and individual consumers make) and macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole). This course counts as a Group E economics course and is the prerequisite for 200-level E courses in the Economics Department.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Economics is the study of how people make decisions and how these decisions apply to real-world problems. Economics can help us understand income inequality within and across countries, the quality of the environment, unemployment, poverty, crime, health care, financial crises, technological change, inflation and many more issues. This course introduces the basic tools that economists use to explore these topics and will cover fundamental economic concepts like scarcity, supply and demand, costs and benefits, trade-offs, and incentives. This course is a one semester overview of both microeconomics (the study of choices firms and individual consumers make) and macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole). This course counts as a Group E economics course and is the prerequisite for 200-level E courses in the Economics Department.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Economics is the study of how people make decisions and how these decisions apply to real-world problems. Economics can help us understand income inequality within and across countries, the quality of the environment, unemployment, poverty, crime, health care, financial crises, technological change, inflation and many more issues. This course introduces the basic tools that economists use to explore these topics and will cover fundamental economic concepts like scarcity, supply and demand, costs and benefits, trade-offs, and incentives. This course is a one semester overview of both microeconomics (the study of choices firms and individual consumers make) and macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole). This course counts as a Group E economics course and is the prerequisite for 200-level E courses in the Economics Department.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Economics is the study of how people make decisions and how these decisions apply to real-world problems. Economics can help us understand income inequality within and across countries, the quality of the environment, unemployment, poverty, crime, health care, financial crises, technological change, inflation and many more issues. This course introduces the basic tools that economists use to explore these topics and will cover fundamental economic concepts like scarcity, supply and demand, costs and benefits, trade-offs, and incentives. This course is a one semester overview of both microeconomics (the study of choices firms and individual consumers make) and macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole). This course counts as a Group E economics course and is the prerequisite for 200-level E courses in the Economics Department.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WP
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course focuses on theories and applications of Entrepreneurship to identify opportunities and solve problems around the world. Students will learn contemporary methodologies used in startup companies and early stage organizations including: Lean Startup and Human Centered Design methodologies and the Business Model Canvas framework. Students spend the semester working in teams to apply the methodologies to identify a problem and develop a solution. For their final project students will prepare a plan for their solution and present it to an external audience. This course is open to those who are interested in social entrepreneurship as well. This course counts as a Group B elective. Note: Not available to students who took Social Entrepreneurship during the fall 2016 semester. Prerequisite(s): ECON 119 or ECON 129. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course explores the US labor market and the policies that influence it. We will apply and extend models from Principles of Economics to understand how market forces and government policies shape the experience of work in the US. We will address questions about labor force participation, the determinants of wages and causes of income inequality, labor market discrimination, and the effects of policies like the minimum wage, unemployment insurance, and unionization. The course will provide an introduction to economic questions you may find it interesting to pursue in later course-based or independent research, but it is also helpful to those simply trying to make sense of media reporting about the job market or new policies. Prerequisite(s): ECON 119

General Education Requirements:
U.S. Identities and Differences

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Over the past three decades, China has been one of the most dynamic and fastest growing countries in the world. Why has China grown so fast? What are the keys to developing a successful business in China? How does the emergence of China affect the world economy? This course is designed to answer these questions using a general framework developed for the Chinese economy. China remains a communist country with a significant legacy of a command economy. But it is also a market economy. Understanding this mixture - capitalism with Chinese characters - is a major aim of this course. We will begin with several classes on the historical development of the Chinese economy. This includes the nature of the command economy developed during the Maoist era and the period of economic reform under Deng Xiaoping. Then we will investigate the main players of such an economy (central/local governments and various types of firms). The next step is to analyze the three growth engines--globalization, industrialization and urbanization--and to show how they are interacted. We will also study the distorted state financial system and its implication for external imbalances. The last part of the course will focus on the future of the Chinese economy. This course counts as a group E elective. Prerequisite: ECON 119.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Over the past three decades, China has been one of the most dynamic and fastest growing countries in the world. Why has China grown so fast? What are the keys to developing a successful business in China? How does the emergence of China affect the world economy? This course is designed to answer these questions using a general framework developed for the Chinese economy. China remains a communist country with a significant legacy of a command economy. But it is also a market economy. Understanding this mixture - capitalism with Chinese characters - is a major aim of this course. We will begin with several classes on the historical development of the Chinese economy. This includes the nature of the command economy developed during the Maoist era and the period of economic reform under Deng Xiaoping. Then we will investigate the main players of such an economy (central/local governments and various types of firms). The next step is to analyze the three growth engines--globalization, industrialization and urbanization--and to show how they are interacted. We will also study the distorted state financial system and its implication for external imbalances. The last part of the course will focus on the future of the Chinese economy. This course counts as a group E elective. Prerequisite: ECON 119.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Game theory is the branch of economics that explores how your actions are influenced by the actions of others. Whereas the principles of economics often abstract market participants to be mostly identical, game theory models the way information, timing, patience, and other participants influence your choices and constraints. Despite its name, game theory is not just a study of leisure. Its toolkit is applied to plan strategic behavior in business, establish property rights, inform criminology, set prices, and study any system of actors where the choices they make will influence the choices of others. The class will introduce you to the key components of a game, discuss some of game theory’s practical applications, and showcase situations where game theorists predict strategic behavior. This will cover how game theorists developed tools to explain your behavior when perfect competition is unrealistic. This course counts as a group E elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

When do self-directed markets fail to deliver the best outcome for everyone involved? How can we use policy to correct market failures? Public Economics is the study of publicly provided goods, taxation, government budgeting, the market's ripple effects on community stakeholders, strategies groups use to make decisions as a collective, and ways to promote the general well-being. This class will begin with a review of household and firm behavior, and then introduce some of the practical considerations of taxation, cover different ways to evaluate the effects of taxation on public welfare, introduce tools to address problems in the absence of a market, and discuss what makes the economics of the nonprofit sector different from the private sector. This course was formerly called "Public Economics". If you have already taken Public Economics, then you have already taken this class. This course counts as a group E elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course explores how individuals depart from traditional economic assumptions of full rationality. We will examine core concepts such as prospect theory, intertemporal choice, social preferences (e.g. altruism, social norms, and peer effects), and identity economics, drawing on experimental and empirical evidence. The course will also cover applications to public policy, market behavior, and economic decision-making. This course counts as a group E elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course explores how individuals depart from traditional economic assumptions of full rationality. We will examine core concepts such as prospect theory, intertemporal choice, social preferences (e.g. altruism, social norms, and peer effects), and identity economics, drawing on experimental and empirical evidence. The course will also cover applications to public policy, market behavior, and economic decision-making. This course counts as a group E elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Planning is the key to business success. How do firms plan for the future? Setting objectives and budgets. Evaluating and rewarding employee performance. Controlling inventory, cash budgeting, and capital budgeting. Extensive use of case studies and group work. This course counts as a Group B elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 113. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

In microeconomics, we study how individuals make economic choices. We pose questions like: What influences consumers' purchasing decisions? Will firms replace employees with machines if the minimum wage increases? How do concentrated markets (e.g., airlines, Amazon) affect consumers? If a firm can set different prices for different consumers, what set of prices will be optimal? How do risk and uncertainty affect investment decisions? What is the efficient amount of pollution? What role should governments play in providing resources for public goods like parks? In this course, we derive models of constrained choice to examine fundamental tradeoffs faced by individuals, firms, and governments when making economic decisions and to determine how such decisions influence market outcomes and well-being. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): MATH 135 or MATH 137, and one 200-level Economics course from Group E electives. Not open to first-year students except by permission of the instructor. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

In microeconomics, we study how individuals make economic choices. We pose questions like: What influences consumers' purchasing decisions? Will firms replace employees with machines if the minimum wage increases? How do concentrated markets (e.g., airlines, Amazon) affect consumers? If a firm can set different prices for different consumers, what set of prices will be optimal? How do risk and uncertainty affect investment decisions? What is the efficient amount of pollution? What role should governments play in providing resources for public goods like parks? In this course, we derive models of constrained choice to examine fundamental tradeoffs faced by individuals, firms, and governments when making economic decisions and to determine how such decisions influence market outcomes and well-being. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): MATH 135 or MATH 137, and one 200-level Economics course from Group E electives. Not open to first-year students except by permission of the instructor. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course will introduce students to microeconomics based, dynamic general equilibrium models of the aggregate economy. These models will be used to address the three main questions of macroeconomics: What causes long-term economic growth to vary over time and across countries? Which forces drive fluctuations in economic activity and inflation throughout the business cycle? What role, if any, do monetary and fiscal policy play in fostering economic growth and minimizing economic fluctuations? This is one of the four courses required for the economics major. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361 or permission of instructor. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course will introduce students to microeconomics based, dynamic general equilibrium models of the aggregate economy. These models will be used to address the three main questions of macroeconomics: What causes long-term economic growth to vary over time and across countries? Which forces drive fluctuations in economic activity and inflation throughout the business cycle? What role, if any, do monetary and fiscal policy play in fostering economic growth and minimizing economic fluctuations? This is one of the four courses required for the economics major. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361 or permission of instructor. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Econometrics is the theory and practice of analyzing economic data. We investigate and implement methods economists use to test theories, evaluate and establish causal inference, and conduct economic forecasts. Students learn to design, conduct, and evaluate empirical work in economics and other social sciences. We apply acquired skills through a final research project that integrates secondary research, economic theory, and econometric analysis. We take a "hands on" approach by practicing each week's material in the Economics Department's computer lab. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361; and one of the following: STAT 155 or GEOG 278 or PSYC 201. A grade of C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Econometrics is the theory and practice of analyzing economic data. We investigate and implement methods economists use to test theories, evaluate and establish causal inference, and conduct economic forecasts. Students learn to design, conduct, and evaluate empirical work in economics and other social sciences. We apply acquired skills through a final research project that integrates secondary research, economic theory, and econometric analysis. We take a "hands on" approach by practicing each week's material in the Economics Department's computer lab. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361; and one of the following: STAT 155 or GEOG 278 or PSYC 201. A grade of C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Econometrics is the theory and practice of analyzing economic data. We investigate and implement methods economists use to test theories, evaluate and establish causal inference, and conduct economic forecasts. Students learn to design, conduct, and evaluate empirical work in economics and other social sciences. We apply acquired skills through a final research project that integrates secondary research, economic theory, and econometric analysis. We take a "hands on" approach by practicing each week's material in the Economics Department's computer lab. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361; and one of the following: STAT 155 or GEOG 278 or PSYC 201. A grade of C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Econometrics is the theory and practice of analyzing economic data. We investigate and implement methods economists use to test theories, evaluate and establish causal inference, and conduct economic forecasts. Students learn to design, conduct, and evaluate empirical work in economics and other social sciences. We apply acquired skills through a final research project that integrates secondary research, economic theory, and econometric analysis. We take a "hands on" approach by practicing each week's material in the Economics Department's computer lab. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361; and one of the following: STAT 155 or GEOG 278 or PSYC 201. A grade of C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

In this class, we study the economics of development in low-income countries and communities primarily in the Global South, from multiple perspectives and approaches. We primarily focus on the microeconomics of development economics. We explore both theoretical and empirical methodology in modern development economics.  Topics we cover include: economic growth, fertility, health, cash transfers, rural labor markets, credit markets, and land markets as they relate to development.  This course pushes students to work with datasets from low-income countries, and apply economic theory to problems of development.  We keep an eye toward the relevance and applicability to policy of the topics we cover.  This course counts as a Group E elective. It is NOT a capstone course. Meets concurrently with ECON 426. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361 and ECON 381, each earned with minimum grade of C-.

General Education Requirements:
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

In this class, we study the economics of development in low-income countries and communities primarily in the Global South, from multiple perspectives and approaches. We primarily focus on the microeconomics of development economics. We explore both theoretical and empirical methodology in modern development economics.  Topics we cover include: economic growth, fertility, health, cash transfers, rural labor markets, credit markets, and land markets as they relate to development.  This course pushes students to work with datasets from low-income countries, and apply economic theory to problems of development.  We keep an eye toward the relevance and applicability to policy of the topics we cover. This course counts as a Group E elective. It is a capstone course. Meets concurrently with ECON 425. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361, ECON 371, and ECON 381. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Internationalism

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

An honors seminar to enhance the senior capstone requirement. This course counts as a Group E elective. It is a capstone course. Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor required.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course concentrates on developing and applying economic principles to the decision making process of the firm. Typically the course is taught from the viewpoint of the financial manager of a firm (profit or non-profit). Traditional corporate finance topics will be covered, including: cash flow management, sources of capital, capital budgeting, cost of capital, and financial structure. Recent theoretical developments in the capital asset pricing model and portfolio theory also will be examined. Actual case studies of financial decision making often are included in the course.  This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 113, ECON 361 and ECON 381. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Why are some countries poor? Why are some others rich? Can poor countries be rich? If they can, then why are they still poor? If they can't, why? These questions are perhaps the most important ones in Economics, and they are all linked through the field of economic growth. Growth miracles allow countries to move from low- to high-income over a few generations (say, South Korea), yet lack of growth leads to stagnation (say, the "lost decades" in Mexico). This course aims to answer the question "What generates growth?" by introducing the key theoretical models and empirical results that summarize our current understanding of the field. This course counts as a Group E elective. It is NOT a capstone course. It meets concurrently with ECON 478. Prerequisite(s): ECON 371 and ECON 381, each earned with a minimum of C-.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Why are some countries poor? Why are some others rich? Can poor countries be rich? If they can, then why are they still poor? If they can't, why? These questions are perhaps the most important ones in Economics, and they are all linked through the field of economic growth. Growth miracles allow countries to move from low- to high-income over a few generations (say, South Korea), yet lack of growth leads to stagnation (say, the "lost decades" in Mexico). This course aims to answer the question "What generates growth?" by introducing the key theoretical models and empirical results that summarize our current understanding of the field. This course counts as a Group E elective. Meets concurrently with ECON 477. Prerequisite(s): ECON 371 and ECON 381, each earned with a minimum of C-.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Accounting is the language of business. One of the objectives of this course is to learn that "language." The emphasis will be on understanding financial statements both for profit and non-profit organizations. International accounting, ethics and investment decisions are also covered. This course is designed for students who desire an understanding of the elements of accounting as a component of a liberal arts education as well as for those who would like to study further in accounting or business. This course counts as a Group B elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

Accounting is the language of business. One of the objectives of this course is to learn that "language." The emphasis will be on understanding financial statements both for profit and non-profit organizations. International accounting, ethics and investment decisions are also covered. This course is designed for students who desire an understanding of the elements of accounting as a component of a liberal arts education as well as for those who would like to study further in accounting or business. This course counts as a Group B elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

Economics is the study of how people make decisions and how these decisions apply to real-world problems. Economics can help us understand income inequality within and across countries, the quality of the environment, unemployment, poverty, crime, health care, financial crises, technological change, inflation and many more issues. This course introduces the basic tools that economists use to explore these topics and will cover fundamental economic concepts like scarcity, supply and demand, costs and benefits, trade-offs, and incentives. This course is a one semester overview of both microeconomics (the study of choices firms and individual consumers make) and macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole). This course counts as a Group E economics course and is the prerequisite for 200-level E courses in the Economics Department.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Economics is the study of how people make decisions and how these decisions apply to real-world problems. Economics can help us understand income inequality within and across countries, the quality of the environment, unemployment, poverty, crime, health care, financial crises, technological change, inflation and many more issues. This course introduces the basic tools that economists use to explore these topics and will cover fundamental economic concepts like scarcity, supply and demand, costs and benefits, trade-offs, and incentives. This course is a one semester overview of both microeconomics (the study of choices firms and individual consumers make) and macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole). This course counts as a Group E economics course and is the prerequisite for 200-level E courses in the Economics Department.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Economics is the study of how people make decisions and how these decisions apply to real-world problems. Economics can help us understand income inequality within and across countries, the quality of the environment, unemployment, poverty, crime, health care, financial crises, technological change, inflation and many more issues. This course introduces the basic tools that economists use to explore these topics and will cover fundamental economic concepts like scarcity, supply and demand, costs and benefits, trade-offs, and incentives. This course is a one semester overview of both microeconomics (the study of choices firms and individual consumers make) and macroeconomics (the study of the economy as a whole). This course counts as a Group E economics course and is the prerequisite for 200-level E courses in the Economics Department.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

The course provides an introduction to financial markets, the banking system, monetary theory and policy, and financial crises. Our approach combines empirics and modeling to understand the importance of monetary policy over the aggregate economy, the banking sector, and financial markets. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 119 or ECON 129. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course provides an overview of health economics and is designed to introduce students to the issues, theory, and practice of health economics. We will discuss the various market participants, including patients, provider firms, the healthcare labor force, hospitals, and insurance providers in the United States. We will explore recent research in peer-reviewed health economics journals to learn about the causal effect of various policies, incentives, and interventions. The topics include the demand/production of health (and the importance of health endowments, pollution, education, etc.), the market for health insurance (with a focus on asymmetric information, adverse selection, moral hazard etc.), supply side incentives (including physician incentives, induced demand, and medical malpractice). Prerequisite(s): ECON 119 or ECON 129. C- or higher required for all prerequisites. Prerequisite(s): ECON 119 or ECON 129. C- or higher required for all prerequisites. This course counts as a Group E elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course provides an overview of health economics and is designed to introduce students to the issues, theory, and practice of health economics. We will discuss the various market participants, including patients, provider firms, the healthcare labor force, hospitals, and insurance providers in the United States. We will explore recent research in peer-reviewed health economics journals to learn about the causal effect of various policies, incentives, and interventions. The topics include the demand/production of health (and the importance of health endowments, pollution, education, etc.), the market for health insurance (with a focus on asymmetric information, adverse selection, moral hazard etc.), supply side incentives (including physician incentives, induced demand, and medical malpractice). Prerequisite(s): ECON 119 or ECON 129. C- or higher required for all prerequisites. This course counts as a Group E elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Game theory is the branch of economics that explores how your actions are influenced by the actions of others. Whereas the principles of economics often abstract market participants to be mostly identical, game theory models the way information, timing, patience, and other participants influence your choices and constraints. Despite its name, game theory is not just a study of leisure. Its toolkit is applied to plan strategic behavior in business, establish property rights, inform criminology, set prices, and study any system of actors where the choices they make will influence the choices of others. The class will introduce you to the key components of a game, discuss some of game theory’s practical applications, and showcase situations where game theorists predict strategic behavior. This will cover how game theorists developed tools to explain your behavior when perfect competition is unrealistic. Prerequisite(s): ECON 119 or ECON 129. C- or higher required for all prerequisites. This course counts as a Group E elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

While many developing countries have experienced material improvement to their general welfare, there remain tradeoffs to obtain increased life expectancy, higher education attainment, and improved labor conditions. Binding natural resource constraints and deterioration of environmental resources often offset other economic advancements. In this course, we explore the economics of sustainable development with a particular focus on the intersection between economic development and environmental preservation. We will examine the processes of economic, social, and technological change in developing countries considering these constraints. The challenges of poverty reduction and redistributive economic growth are deeply intertwined with the way in which we manage and allocate natural resources. We will consider how economic growth, poverty reduction, and public good provisions lead to environmental externalities and market failures which impact the sustainability of an economy through environmental sustainability. The objective of the course is to apply an economics framework to problems of sustainable development. We will consider how different forms of capital (human, natural, social, natural, and financial capital) interact to provide desirable development outcomes in both the short and long-term. At the end of this course, students will be able to critically analyze international development projects using a sustainability lens. Students will further be able to implement a cost-benefit analysis of development interventions and be able to discuss how long-term social, economic, and environmental sustainability considerations affect the cost-benefit framework. Prerequisite(s): ECON 119 or ECON 129. C- or higher required for all prerequisites. This course counts as a Group E elective.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Deals is a unique class. Nearly all class sessions are taught by former Macalester students, most of whom graduated with an Economics major. These guest professors generally share their post-Macalester career and educational journey with you, then spend more time talking about their current or most recent business venture (some might be nonprofit), and then focus on a particular transaction or "deal".  Many of the presentations will be finance-oriented.  Students in Deals are evaluated in four ways, 1) by class participation, including class lunches or dinners with guest speakers, 2) by short write-ups of the guest speaker presentations, 3) by an exam, and, 4) by a research paper related to a topic raised by a guest speaker. This course counts as a Group B elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 113; ECON 119 or ECON 129; and one additional economics course. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:

Course Materials

The structure, operation, regulation and economic role of financial markets and institutions; fundamental security analysis and present-value techniques; forecasts of earnings and analysis of yields on stocks and bonds; the portfolio theory and characteristic lines, betas and mutual-fund ratings; futures and options markets. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 113; and ECON 119 or ECON 129. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WP

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

In microeconomics, we study how individuals make economic choices. We pose questions like: What influences consumers' purchasing decisions? Will firms replace employees with machines if the minimum wage increases? How do concentrated markets (e.g., airlines, Amazon) affect consumers? If a firm can set different prices for different consumers, what set of prices will be optimal? How do risk and uncertainty affect investment decisions? What is the efficient amount of pollution? What role should governments play in providing resources for public goods like parks? In this course, we derive models of constrained choice to examine fundamental tradeoffs faced by individuals, firms, and governments when making economic decisions and to determine how such decisions influence market outcomes and well-being. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): MATH 135 or MATH 137, and one 200-level Economics course from Group E electives. Not open to first-year students except by permission of the instructor. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

In microeconomics, we study how individuals make economic choices. We pose questions like: What influences consumers' purchasing decisions? Will firms replace employees with machines if the minimum wage increases? How do concentrated markets (e.g., airlines, Amazon) affect consumers? If a firm can set different prices for different consumers, what set of prices will be optimal? How do risk and uncertainty affect investment decisions? What is the efficient amount of pollution? What role should governments play in providing resources for public goods like parks? In this course, we derive models of constrained choice to examine fundamental tradeoffs faced by individuals, firms, and governments when making economic decisions and to determine how such decisions influence market outcomes and well-being. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): MATH 135 or MATH 137, and one 200-level Economics course from Group E electives. Not open to first-year students except by permission of the instructor. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Quantitative Thinking Q3

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course will introduce students to microeconomics based, dynamic general equilibrium models of the aggregate economy. These models will be used to address the three main questions of macroeconomics: What causes long-term economic growth to vary over time and across countries? Which forces drive fluctuations in economic activity and inflation throughout the business cycle? What role, if any, do monetary and fiscal policy play in fostering economic growth and minimizing economic fluctuations? This is one of the four courses required for the economics major. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361 or permission of instructor. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This course will introduce students to microeconomics based, dynamic general equilibrium models of the aggregate economy. These models will be used to address the three main questions of macroeconomics: What causes long-term economic growth to vary over time and across countries? Which forces drive fluctuations in economic activity and inflation throughout the business cycle? What role, if any, do monetary and fiscal policy play in fostering economic growth and minimizing economic fluctuations? This is one of the four courses required for the economics major. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361 or permission of instructor. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Econometrics is the theory and practice of analyzing economic data. We investigate and implement methods economists use to test theories, evaluate and establish causal inference, and conduct economic forecasts. Students learn to design, conduct, and evaluate empirical work in economics and other social sciences. We apply acquired skills through a final research project that integrates secondary research, economic theory, and econometric analysis. We take a "hands on" approach by practicing each week's material in the Economics Department's computer lab. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361; and one of the following: STAT 155 or GEOG 278 or PSYC 201. A grade of C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Econometrics is the theory and practice of analyzing economic data. We investigate and implement methods economists use to test theories, evaluate and establish causal inference, and conduct economic forecasts. Students learn to design, conduct, and evaluate empirical work in economics and other social sciences. We apply acquired skills through a final research project that integrates secondary research, economic theory, and econometric analysis. We take a "hands on" approach by practicing each week's material in the Economics Department's computer lab. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361; and one of the following: STAT 155 or GEOG 278 or PSYC 201. A grade of C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Econometrics is the theory and practice of analyzing economic data. We investigate and implement methods economists use to test theories, evaluate and establish causal inference, and conduct economic forecasts. Students learn to design, conduct, and evaluate empirical work in economics and other social sciences. We apply acquired skills through a final research project that integrates secondary research, economic theory, and econometric analysis. We take a "hands on" approach by practicing each week's material in the Economics Department's computer lab. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361; and one of the following: STAT 155 or GEOG 278 or PSYC 201. A grade of C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

Econometrics is the theory and practice of analyzing economic data. We investigate and implement methods economists use to test theories, evaluate and establish causal inference, and conduct economic forecasts. Students learn to design, conduct, and evaluate empirical work in economics and other social sciences. We apply acquired skills through a final research project that integrates secondary research, economic theory, and econometric analysis. We take a "hands on" approach by practicing each week's material in the Economics Department's computer lab. This course counts as a Group E elective. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361; and one of the following: STAT 155 or GEOG 278 or PSYC 201. A grade of C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

By taking this course, students will learn to interpret and conduct technical economic analysis of public policies. Students will apply their knowledge of micro- and macroeconomic theory and econometrics to study the economics of controversial and important policies. Sample policy areas might include climate change, health care, anti-poverty programs, affirmative action, income inequality, income redistribution via the tax system, public transit, immigration, education, gun control, and minimum or living-wage laws. While the course usually focuses on examples from the United States, it presents tools and frameworks that are applicable in any context. The course grade will be based on group and individual presentations and policy briefs relating to specific policies, homework, and a capstone-level research project. The project consists of a policy, econometric, or theoretical analysis of a public policy chosen by the student. This course counts as a Group E elective. It is NOT a capstone course. Meets concurrently with ECON 432. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361, ECON 371, and ECON 381. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

By taking this course, students will learn to interpret and conduct technical economic analysis of public policies. Students will apply their knowledge of micro- and macroeconomic theory and econometrics to study the economics of controversial and important policies. Sample policy areas might include climate change, health care, anti-poverty programs, affirmative action, income inequality, income redistribution via the tax system, public transit, immigration, education, gun control, and minimum or living-wage laws. While the course usually focuses on examples from the United States, it presents tools and frameworks that are applicable in any context. The course grade will be based on group and individual presentations and policy briefs relating to specific policies, homework, and a capstone-level research project. The project consists of a policy, econometric, or theoretical analysis of a public policy chosen by the student. This course counts as a Group E elective. It is a capstone course. Meets concurrently with ECON 421. Prerequisite(s): ECON 361, ECON 371, and ECON 381, all earned with a minimum grade of C-.

General Education Requirements:
Writing WA

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

You think you know macroeconomics until you open up an academic journal and discover that what's on the page is nothing like what you learned in your intermediate-level macro. While the intuition learned there is useful, the tools of the trade are unlike anything you've ever seen. It's almost as if you need to know the "secret handshake" before proceeding. The goal of this course is to teach you this secret handshake, as it provides a formal, hands-on exposition of modern macroeconomic theory using dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models. It offers a mix of theory and practice via three lecture hours and one lab hour per week. This course counts as a Group E elective. Meets concurrently with ECON 472. Prerequisite(s): ECON 371 and ECON 381

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

You think you know macroeconomics until you open up an academic journal and discover that what's on the page is nothing like what you learned in your intermediate-level macro. While the intuition learned there is useful, the tools of the trade are unlike anything you've ever seen. It's like you need to learn a "secret handshake" before proceeding. The goal of this course is to teach you this secret handshake, as it provides a formal, hands-on exposition of modern macroeconomic theory using dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models. It offers a mix of theory and practice via three lecture hours and one lab hour per week.  This course counts as a Group E elective. It is a capstone course. Meets concurrently with ECON 471 . Prerequisite(s): ECON 371 and ECON 381, with grades of C- or higher.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This class teaches students how to profit from financial markets using quantitative trading strategies. The course mainly covers stock and currency markets, in which fundamental and technical analyses are conducted to forecast asset prices and design trading strategies. The strategies are scientifically backtested and applied in simulated trading for real performance evaluation.  This course counts as a Group E elective. It is NOT a capstone course. It meets concurrently with ECON 486. Prerequisite(s): ECON 356 and ECON 381, MATH 135 (or MATH 137) and MATH 236. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials

This class teaches students how to profit from financial markets using quantitative trading strategies. The course mainly covers stock and currency markets, in which fundamental and technical analyses are conducted to forecast asset prices and design trading strategies. The strategies are scientifically backtested and applied in simulated trading for real performance evaluation. This course counts as a Group E elective. It is a capstone course. It meets concurrently with ECON 485. Prerequisite(s): ECON 356 and ECON 381, MATH 135 (or MATH 137 ) and MATH 236. C- or higher required for all prerequisites.

General Education Requirements:

Distribution Requirements:
Social science

Course Materials