New Economics Courses
Finally, an important part of the RISE program is the offering of additional new undergraduate courses, including several by our new faculty members. These include (with more to come):
ECON 100
Introduction to the basic concepts of microeconomics and macroeconomics.
ECON 210
Examines behavioral economics, which seeks to insert more behavioral realism into economic theory by incorporating into economic models insights based on empirical observations from psychology, sociology, and neuroscience. Emphasizes attempts by behavioral economists to explain anomalies that depart from the predictions of standard economic theory. Topics include temptation and self control, fairness and reciprocity, reference dependence, bounded rationality, and choice under risk and uncertainty.
ECON 300
Advanced level analysis of topics in microeconomics designed for students in the ECON major. Topics include the foundations and applications of game theory, general equilibrium theory and applications, the economics of choice under uncertainty, and information economics including issues of asymmetric information. Additional topics may include auction theory, mechanism design, and behavioral economics. Open to all majors other than MTEC.
ECON 305
Advanced level analysis of topics in microeconomics, focusing on mathematical modeling and designed for students in the MTEC major. Topics include the foundations and applications of game theory, general equilibrium theory and applications, the economics of choice under uncertainty, and information economics including issues of asymmetric information. Additional topics may include auction theory, mechanism design, and behavioral economics. Open to all majors.
ECON 365
Study and analysis of world economy focusing on the economic expansion of Western countries between the 14th and 21st centuries. Emphasis on contextual changes in economy, geography, history, society, culture, religion and politics in determining economic leadership of certain economies.
ECON 418
Application of econometric techniques to problems in macroeconomics and financial economics. The course focuses on macroeconomic forecasting and tests of economic theories using stationary and non-stationary time-series data. Methods include predictive regressions, vector autoregressions, impulse response functions, and variance decomposition. Tests and comparisons of forecast accuracy are also included. Projects will be completed in STATA.
ECON 422
Studies the economic relationships among countries. Explores the sources of comparative advantage and the reasons for trade policies. Examines foreign exchange and international capital markets and linkages between exchange rates, interest rates, and prices. Includes trade theory, tariffs and other trade restrictions, an overview of historical and institutional developments, and current policy issues.
ECON 432
Analyzes income redistribution, taxation, the production of public goods, and other actions of the public sector as determined by a political process simultaneously with the economic process of exchange and production. Investigates the connection between public policies and the political forces that shape them.
ECON 462
Covers both microeconomic and macroeconomic aspects of human capital. Studies investments by parents in the education and other human capital of their children and how it links to the intergenerational transmission of inequality. Emphasizes the relation between human capital, population change, and economic growth. Course is quantitative and students will be required to understand and apply econometric techniques.
ECON 496
Capstone course for MTEC majors whose primary interest is in economic theory. Review and analysis of seminal and current research in economic theory, including independent analysis by the student. Topics vary from year to year.
(Note: In 2015-2016, pre-requisite of ECON 305/405 may be waived or required as a co-requisite; see instructor.)
ECON 497
Capstone course for MTEC majors whose primary interest is in econometrics. Review and analysis of seminal and current research in econometrics, including independent analysis by the student. Topics vary from year to year.
(Note: In 2015-2016, pre-requisite of ECON 305/405 may be waived or required as a co-requisite; see instructor.)
ECON 498/499 Honor Programs in Economics
Research workshop open to ECON and MTEC majors. Students must have a GPA of at least 3.67 in all courses required for their major, and must have taken all ECON courses directly related to the topic of their research. Students develop a research idea, construct an economic model with testable hypotheses, test those hypotheses, and write and present in the workshop an academic quality paper. Instructor and department approval required. Instructor may impose additional pre-requisites. (Note: In 2015-16, pre-requisite of ECON 300/305/405 may be waived or required as a co-requisite; see instructor.)