Spring 2017
ECON 12100-all sections Principles of Macroeconomics LA SS 1b
3 credits
INSTRUCTORS:
Sections 01 & 02: Kenny Christianson, Muller 418A, 4-3134
Sections 03 & 06: Elia Kacapyr, Muller 426, 4-3274
Sections 04 & 09: Puspa Amri, Muller 421, 4-3421
Sections 05 & 07: Brett Kocher, Muller 418A, 4-5833
Section 08: Jennifer Tennant, Muller 419, 4-1041
ENROLLMENT: 35
PREREQUISITES: Passing score on QL readiness exam.
STUDENTS: Freshman and sophomores from a variety of majors.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to economics as a discipline. Graphs are often used to
analyze economic theories and solve problems. Macroeconomics includes the following topics: productionpossibilities frontiers, determination and measurement of national income, business cycles, money and banking,
fiscal and monetary policy, schools of economic thought, taxation, price levels, and applications to current
economic problems.
COURSE FORMAT/STYLE: Lectures/discussions. Tutoring available.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & GRADING: TBA.
ECON 12200-all sections Principles of Microeconomics LA SS 1b
3 credits
Section 01: Albert Alexander, Rothschild 123, 4-1579
Sections 02 & 05: Brett Kocher, Muller 418A, 4-5833
Sections 03 & 04: Elizabeth Kaletski, Muller 410, 4-3259
Section 06: William Kolberg, Muller 430, 4-3609
ENROLLMENT: 35
PREREQUISITES: Passing score on QL readiness exam.
STUDENTS: Generally first year students from all majors with economics and business majors taking the course as a
requirement.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: To introduce students to microeconomics with topics such as determination of price by
supply and demand, theory of consumer demand and utility, analysis of costs and supply, market structures and
industry organization including monopoly, distribution of income, pricing of productive resources (wages, interest,
profits, and rents), international economics, comparative economic systems, and applications to current economic
problems.
COURSE FORMAT/STYLE: Lectures and discussions.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & GRADING: TBA.
ECON 20200-01 Macro Analysis LA SS
3 credits
INSTRUCTOR: Shaianne Osterreich, Muller 420, 4-3552
ENROLLMENT: 25.
PREREQUISITES: ECON 12100 and ECON 12200.
STUDENTS: Open to all majors.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: At present, the global community is inching its way out of an economic crisis that continues
to have a dramatic effect on millions of households and businesses as well as many of the world’s banks and
governments. Understanding the causes and responses to this crisis requires, among other things, exposure to the
theoretical tools and policy issues that are associated with global imbalances, exchange rates, unemployment,
budgets, and national income growth. We will think about these questions from the perspective of ‘advanced’,
‘emerging’, and ‘developing’ countries including the Eurozone and the BRICS countries. Throughout the course,
you will be introduced to different macroeconomic theories and we will consider topics of debate concerning the
contemporary political and economic landscape in the global economy.
ECON 28100-01, 02 Environmental Economics LA SS 1h
3 credits
INSTRUCTOR: Bill Kolberg, Muller 430, 4-3609
ENROLLMENT: 25
PREREQUISITES: ECON 12200.
STUDENTS: Sophomores through seniors; all majors and schools.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The objective of this course is to provide a methodology for examining the underlying
causes for the crisis of the environment, to analyze existing regulatory programs and to explore policy alternatives.
Topics include: stationary source, mobile source, regional and global air pollution; toxic substances; site
preservation; distributional effects of environmental policy, and international aspects of environmental problems.
COURSE FORMAT/STYLE: Lecture/discussion.
ECON 28505-01 ST: Women and Economics SS LA
INSTRUCTOR: Elizabeth Kaletski, Muller 410, 4-3259
ENROLLMENT: 25
PREREQUISITS: Econ 12100 or Econ 12200; one course in humanities, social sciences, or business
STUDENTS: Undergraduate
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Introduction to topics related to gender, labor and economic development. The
relationship between women and economics is explored from both theoretical and empirical perspectives by
analyzing gender gaps, their measurement, and possible explanations for differences both within and across
countries. Specific topics to be covered include family formation and welfare, intra-household allocation,
education, labor force participation, income, community impacts, and overall economic development. Previous
and potential future policy responses to address inequalities will also be discussed and evaluated.
COURSE FORMAT/STYLE: Lecture
ECON 29901-01 Microeconomic Experiments SS LA
INSTRUCTOR: William Kolberg, Muller 430, 4-3609, [email protected]
ENROLLMENT: 10
PREREQUISITES: ECON 12200, Principles of Microeconomics
STUDENTS: Sophomores, juniors, seniors; any major.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: To provide a “real world” arena for applying theory and concepts discussed in Principles of
Microeconomics. Students manage firms in a market composed of class participants. After an
orientation/introduction unit, students will make decisions for their firms three times per week during the
semester. Grades will be based on profits earned and class participation.
COURSE FORMAT/STYLE: Orientation and introduction component will be conducted in classroom as informal
lecture/workshop. The market simulation will be conducted on-line. At the end of the semester, there will be a
final in-class de-briefing session.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & GRADING: In addition to weekly discussions, students will write up a 5 page lab report
summarizing their experience in the market simulation. Letter grades based on profit rank (75) and lab report (25).
ECON 30400-01 Economics of Health Care SS
(cross listed with HLTH 30400)
3 credits
INSTRUCTOR: Jennifer Tennant, Muller 419, 4-1041
ENROLLMENT: 25
PREREQUISITES: ECON 12100/12200 and two courses in humanities, social sciences, or business.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will introduce students to the health care delivery and financing system in the
United States. We will use economic analysis to dive into these concepts, as well as current health policy debates.
Topics will include insurance, health care reform in the United States, Medicare, Medicaid, physician payment
arrangements and resulting incentives, global comparative health systems and quality of care.
COURSE FORMAT/STYLE: Lectures and discussions.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS & GRADING: Midterm, policy brief, reading responses and final exam.
ECON 32200-01 Monetary Theory and Policy LA SS
3 credits
INSTRUCTOR: Puspa Amri, Muller 421, 4-3421
ENROLLMENT: 25.
PREREQUISITES: ECON 32100 (Money and Banking) or FINA 20300 (Financial Markets and Institutions).
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is concerned with the evolving theoretical and practical aspects of monetary
policy. Monetary policy is a powerful tool to stabilize the economy from business cycle fluctuations, yet “best
practices” for monetary policymaking have continuously evolved over time. This class will cover macroeconomic
theories that help establish core principles of good central banking, as well as the instruments, tools, and policy
rules that make up the central bank toolkit. We will also examine contemporary policy issues such as c entral bank
independence, inflation targeting, and how monetary policy can influence asset price bubbles. Special emphasis
will be placed on a set of conventional and unconventional monetary policy instruments in the U.S. which was
formulated in response to the 2007-09 Global Financial Crisis.
COURSE FORMAT/STYLE: Lecture and discussion, centered around journal articles and reports that will be assigned
by the instructor.
COURSE REQUIREMENT AND GRADING: There is no required textbook for this class, but some of the class material
will be drawn from a number of textbooks. Required readings will be provided electronically by the instructor.
Grading will be a weighted average of exams, class presentations, homework assignments, and article critiques.
ECON 33400-01 Econometrics II LA SS
3 credits
INSTRUCTOR: Elia Kacapyr, Muller 426, 4-3274
ENROLLMENT: 25.
PREREQUISITES: ECON 33300.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Advance topics in econometrics, including problems in regression (multicollinearity,
autocorrelation, heteroscedasticity), tests of linear restrictions, dummy variables, distributed lags and
simultaneous-equation models. Exposure to econometric computer packages.
ECON 36500-01 Sports Economics
(cross-listed with SPMM-36500
INSTRUCTOR: Won Bae
ENROLLMENT: ECON 12100 and ECON 12200
PREREQUISITS: 25
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Application of economic theory to the markets of professional and amateur sports. This
course applies economic principles to analyze a wide range of issues within the realm of professional sports and
intercollegiate athletics. Included are the analysis of labor markets and labor relations, public finance of sports
facilities, and the organization of sports institutions. Students cannot also receive credit for SPMM 36500.
ECON 36800-01 Globalization and Human Development
INSTRUCTOR: Shaianne Osterreich, Muller 420, 4-3552
ENROLLMENT: 25
PREREQUISITS: ECON 12100, ECON 12200, 2 courses in social sciences or humanities.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The relationship between ‘development’ and ‘trade and financial liberalization’ has been
richly debated over the last 10 years. This course will investigate this debate by exploring the linkages between
global markets and ‘well-being.’ Topics covered will include ‘development’, trade agreements, global capital
flows, and multinational corporations. With case studies emphasizing BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa) we will examine how the new global economy both affects and reflects well-being, social
institutions, national sovereignty, and gender and ethnic relations.
ECON 37200-01 Industrial Organization LA SS
3 credits
INSTRUCTOR: Albert Alexander, Rothschild 123, 4-1579
ENROLLMENT: 25
PREREQUISITES: ECON 12100-12200; two courses in humanities, social sciences, or business.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Extends and refines the economic theory of the firm to which students are exposed in
economics principles courses. Collecting and analyzing empirical evidence primarily from U.S. industries, it
examines theories concerning the motives of firms, barriers to entry, product differentiation, and interdependence
among firms. It also examines the history of U.S. antitrust policy and regulatory issues.
ECON 39200-01 Senior Economic Thesis Preparation
1 credit
INSTRUCTOR: Jennifer Tennant, Muller 419, 4-1041
ENROLLMENT: 20
PREREQUISITS: Junior standing; Economics, Applied Economics, and Math-Economics majors only.
STUDENTS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Prepare Economics, Applied Economics, and Math-economics majors for the required
Senior Thesis course, Econ 49200. Building on experiences in previous courses the class will introduce students to
research methods to assist in the writing of their capstone projects. The course will cover topic selection, scholarly
databases, literature reviews, data collection, and citation style.