An introduction to economics with emphasis on macroeconomics. Topics include: scarcity and choice, elements of supply and demand, inflation, unemployment, recessions, booms, fiscal and monetary policy, international balance of payments, and budget deficits. Prerequisite: basic algebra and graphing.
An introductory course on the fundamentals of microeconomics. The behavior of individuals and firms in deciding on prices and allocation of scarce resources. Topics include: consumer preferences, costs of production, equilibrium prices and output, different market types, potential market failures, and the role of government interventions and public policy. Prerequisite: ECON 201-0.
An introductory course on the fundamentals of microeconomics. The behavior of individuals and firms in deciding on prices and allocation of scarce resources. Topics include: consumer preferences, costs of production, equilibrium prices and output, different market types, potential market failures, and the role of government interventions and public policy. Prerequisite: ECON 201-0.
An introduction to econometrics. The underlying theory of regression and the practical application of these techniques to data sets. Understanding and diagnosing common statistical problems encountered during estimation. Prerequisite: ECON 201-0, ECON 202-0, MATH 220-1, STAT 210-0 or higher level statistics class. All other substitutions (including AP Statistics) must be cleared through the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Economics.
Application of microeconomics to the study of health insurance and the health care sector. Topics include: design and financing of health insurance, public and private demand for medical care, role of competition, regulation of hospitals and physicians, roles of nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and technological change. Prerequisites: ECON 281-0, ECON 310-1, ECON 310-2.
The role of money, banking, and financial markets in the modern economy. Topics include: function and history of money, financial flows, evolving nature of banks and their regulation, monetary policy, modern central bank practices, effect of monetary policy on economic outcomes, and the response to financial crises. Prerequisites: ECON 281-0, ECON 310-1, ECON 311-0.
Understanding the role of government in the economy in theory and practice. Topics include: structure and implications of various tax instruments, role of public debt, and methods for evaluating government expenditures and programs. Prerequisites: ECON 281-0, ECON 310-1, ECON 310-2.
A more mathematically formal and rigorous treatment of the core concepts of microeconomics introduced in ECON 202-0. Topics include: consumer behavior and the theory of demand, costs of production and the nature of equilibrium in competitive and monopolistic markets. Prerequisites: ECON 201-0, ECON 202-0, MATH 220-1.
The continuation of the intermediate microeconomics sequence provides tools to analyze social wellbeing, social choice, risk and uncertainty, information asymmetries, competitive independencies between firms (game theory), market spillovers and general equilibrium. Prerequisite: ECON 310-1.
A more mathematically formal and rigorous treatment of the core concepts of macroeconomics introduced in ECON 201-0. Topics include: aggregate consumption, inflation, unemployment, growth, international balances between countries, and the role of monetary and fiscal policy. Prerequisites: ECON 201-0, ECON 202-0, MATH 220-1.
ECON 323-1 Economic History of the United States Before 1865
Economic development of the United States with emphasis on changing structure and performance of the economy: Colonial period to 1865. Prerequisites: ECON 281-0, ECON 310-1, ECON 311-0.
Macroeconomic aspects of long-term patterns of economic development, and the examination of differences in the income levels and growth performances across countries. The role of investment, education, population, and technological change in economic growth. Prerequisites: ECON 281-0, ECON 310-1, ECON 310-2, ECON 311-0.
Understanding of how humans make choices in economic situations. The incorporation of psychology and/or sociology into economics to gain deeper insight into economic behavior, to make better predictions, and to generate improved policy prescriptions. Prerequisites: ECON 281-0, ECON 310-1, ECON 310-2.
Survey of economic problems growing out of employment relationships; theories and processes of wage and employment determination, income distribution, and the role of trade unions and issues of economic security. Prerequisites: 281, 310-1,2, 311.
Application of microeconomic theory to the analysis of family issues: marriage, cohabitation, the decision to have children, divorce, credit and insurance, and legacies. Prerequisites: 281, 310-1,2.
The economic analysis of education. Topics include: returns to schooling, individual decisions to invest in education, the production of education, markets for schools and teachers, financing, and public policy. Prerequisites: ECON 281-0, ECON 310-1, ECON 310-2.
Price and efficiency performance of American industries representative of various types of market structures and practices. Prerequisites: 281, 310-1,2.
Application of microeconomic tools to the problems and issues caused by monopoly power in the context of antitrust law, public utility regulation, and intellectual property. Use of economic theory and landmark legal cases to study the purpose and development of policies to mitigate anti-competitive practices, and highlight currently unresolved public policy debates. Prerequisites: ECON 281-0, ECON 310-1, ECON 310-2.
Application of economic and statistical tools to understanding markets involving social or technological networks such as financial markets, manufacturing supply chains, labor markets and information markets. Prerequisites: ECON 281-0, ECON 310-1, ECON 310-2.
Determination of exchange rates, balance of payments, and international asset flows and prices; international transmission of macroeconomic disturbances. Prerequisites: 281, 310-1, 311.
Economic analysis of scarcity and incentives explaining environmental issues such as pollution and climate change. Modeling and evaluation of public policy. Pre-requisites: 281, 310-1,2. Students may not receive credit for both Econ 370 and Econ 372.
Second part of the upper-level econometrics sequence. The course introduces additional econometrics tools beyond those introduced in ECON 381-1. The course also explores the empirical application of these tools, and how to evaluate critically econometric and statistical methods used in policy analysis. Prerequisite: ECON 381-1, (ECON 310-2, ECON 311-0 recommended).
For students of superior ability. Original research on a topic of interest to the student, culminating in a senior thesis. By department invitation only. Grade of K given in 398-1. Prerequisites: ECON 281-0, ECON 310-1, ECON 310-2, ECON 311-0, MATH 220-2, MATH 230-1; at least four 300-level economics electives.
Theoretical treatment of the behavior of consumers and firms. Topics include: uncertainty, monotone comparative statics, competitive equilibrium, matching, game theory, informational asymmetries, and mechanism design (Required sequence.)
Theoretical methodologies and their application to the study of dynamic economies. Topics include: economic growth and business cycles, the determinants of consumption and investment, and the effects of monetary and fiscal policy. (Required sequence.)
Current topics in microeconomic theory. Mathematical formulations and techniques and their applications in fields such as political economy, industrial organization, and finance.
Recent contributions to macroeconomics. Topics may include: models with heterogeneous agents, the role of financial markets and of the housing market, models of search and unemployment, the role of market power in good markets, and inequality.
Analytical tools for understanding international and interregional economic relations. International trade policy. Relationship of theory to specific problems.
Nonparametric and linear regression, identification, principles of statistical inference, extremum estimators, asymptotic statistical theory, discrete response analysis, and and structural microeconometrics. (Required sequence.)
Advanced theory of identification, estimation, and statistical inference. Topics include: partial identification of probability distributions, the bootstrap, refinements of asymptotic theory, and semi- and nonparametric structural microeconometrics.
STAT 210 Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences
Introduction to basic concepts and methods of statistics and probability. Methods of data collection, descriptive statistics, probability, estimation, sampling distributions, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing. May not receive credit for both STAT 202-0 and STAT 210-0. Prerequisite: strong background in high school algebra (calculus is not required).
* = At the instructors discretion, subject to sufficient enrollment to justify a Teaching Assistant, a discussion session may be scheduled on Fridays at the same time as the lectures.
# = At the instructors discretion, subject to sufficient enrollment to justify a Teaching Assistant, a discussion session may be scheduled at a mutually convenient time.
$ = Discussion sections in core classes are for 50 minutes
Note 1 - Econ 201 - Midterm exams 9:00-9:50am on 4/19 and 5/10. Final in exam week on Wednesday June 9 9am-11am
Note 2 - Econ 362 - Midterm Exam 4/28 12.30pm-1:50. Final in exam week on Wednesday June 9 noon-2pm
Note 3 - Econ 398-2 - alternative time is possible for those with time conflicts
Note 4- Econ 411-3 and 416-3 - Class will initially be remote but may transition to hybrid later in the quarter
Note 5 - Econ 310-2 and 341 may transition to hybrid later in the quarter. Contact Professor Ogawa for details and instructions.
