ECON-ECONOMICS -- 2001-03 Catalog
College of Business

ECON 105 Personal and Consumer Economics (4)

Personal choices–goals, savings, investment, buying methods, borrowing, taxes, insurance. Practical applications of principles of marginalism, present value indexing, expected value, etc. Emphasizes personal welfare with some social welfare analysis and contemporary consumer issues. 4 lectures.

ECON 200 Special Problems for Undergraduates (1–2)

Individual investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units, with a maximum of 2 units per quarter. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing and consent of department head.

ECON 201 Survey of Economics (4) GE D2

Basic principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics. Emphasis on applications to current national and global economic issues. For majors requiring one quarter of economics. Not open to students having previous credit in ECON 222 or equivalent. 4 lectures.

ECON 221 Microeconomics (4)

Microeconomic principles. Marginal and equilibrium analysis of commodity and factor markets in determination of price and output. Normative issues of efficiency and equity. 4 lectures.

ECON 222 Macroeconomics (4) GE D2

Introduction to economic problems. Macroeconomic analysis and principles. Aggregate output, employment, prices, and economic policies for changing these variables. International trade and finance. Issues of economic growth and development. Comparative economic systems and economies in transition. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 221.

ECON 303 Economics of Poverty, Discrimination and
Immigration (4) GE D5 USCP

Economic analysis of the cause, extent and impact of poverty, discrimination and immigration and of the policies designed to address these socioeconomic issues. Emphasis on the experience of African-Americans, Latinos, and women in the United States. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Completion of GE Areas A, D1, and ECON 201 or 222.

ECON 304 Comparative Economic Systems (4) GE D5

Analysis of economic systems as a set of mechanisms and institutions for decision making, and the implementation of decisions regarding income distribution, the levels of consumption and production, and the level of economic welfare. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Completion of GE Areas A, D3, and ECON 201 or 222.

ECON 310 Quantitative Methods in Economics (4)

Applications of quantitative techniques to topics in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. Use of multivariate calculus and linear algebra in formulating static economic models. Applications of statistical inference, estimation and forecasting in economic models. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: MATH 221, STAT 252, ECON 221, ECON 222.

ECON 311, 312 Intermediate Microeconomics (4) (4)

Economics of prices and markets. Demand and supply. Returns and costs, factor pricing and income distribution, welfare and economic progress. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 310. For ECON 312: ECON 311.

ECON 313, 314 Intermediate Macroeconomics (4) (4)

Analysis of national income, price level, employment, international trade and economic growth. Development of the theory of national income determination. Evaluation of roles of monetary and fiscal policy. Applications of computer simulation for analysis, forecasting and control. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 222, MATH 221, STAT 252. For ECON 314: ECON 313.

ECON 322 Economic History of the Advanced World (4) GE D5

Analysis of the growth of economic institutions from about 600. Includes the spread of economic structures and institutions to colonies. Analyzes the internal development of the industrial economy in Europe and its expansion to other parts of the globe. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Completion of GE Areas A, D1, and ECON 201 or 222.

ECON 324 American Economic History (4)

Topical and statistical analysis of the major trends and events of American economic history. Examines the causes and evolution of the United States economy from colonial times to the present. Assessment of agriculture, transportation, industrial and government sectors and their interconnections. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or ECON 221 or ECON 222.

ECON 325 Economics of Development and Growth (4)

Analysis of the economy of less developed countries, and a survey of public policies designed to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty. Topics include financing development, technology, population problems, human capital, rural and urban development, trade policy and the economic relationships between developed and developing nations. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or ECON 221 or ECON 222.

ECON 337 Money, Banking and Credit (4)

Principles and practices of monetary banking and credit institutions as applied to business activity and public policy. Use of mathematical analysis and computer simulation. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 222.

ECON 339 Econometrics (4)

Application of statistical methods useful in economics. General linear regression model. Specific issues and problems related to economic models: multicollinearity, autocorrelation, heteroscedasticity, dummy variables, lagged variables, and simultaneous equation estimation. Application and evaluation of selected examples of empirical economic research. Microcomputer applications. Miscellaneous course fee may be required–see Class Schedule. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: MATH 221, MATH 222, STAT 251, STAT 252, or consent of instructor.

ECON 400 Special Problems for Advanced Undergraduates (1–4)

Individual investigation, research, studies, or surveys of selected problems. Total credit limited to 4 units. Prerequisite: Consent of department head.

ECON 401 International Trade (4)

Theory of comparative advantage, gains from trade, and recent developments in trade theory; examination of tariffs, quotas, exchange controls, other trade barriers and underlying policy issues; review of U.S. commercial policy, GATT, the common market, regional and world economic organizations. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 221.

ECON 403 Industrial Organization (4)

Application of basic tools of economics to American Industry. Case studies of individual firms and industries. Performance of various business structures, such as monopoly and oligopoly. Effects of government regulation and antitrust policy. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 312.

ECON 404 International Trade Theory (4)

Theory of comparative advantage, neoclassical model of trade, offer curves and terms of trade, edgeworth boxes, valuation of factor inputs, effects of migration and mobility of funds, emerging growth and trade distortions, welfare effects of trade, and recent developments in trade theory. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 312 or equivalent.

ECON 405 International Monetary Economics (4)

Nature of international payments, U.S. balance of payments. Theory and practice of foreign exchange rate determination under the gold standard, paper standard, and IMF system; international money and capital markets; problems of international liquidity and monetary stability. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 222, ECON 401.

ECON 406 Applied Forecasting (4)

Causes and measurement of business fluctuations. Techniques of forecasting with microcomputer applications. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or ECON 222, and STAT 252.

ECON 410 Public Finance and Cost-Benefit Analysis (4)

Principles of rational decision making with respect to government revenues and spending. Measurement of costs and benefits, and criterion selection. Taxation, user fees, deficit financing, public goods, neighborhood effects and zoning. Microcomputer applications. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 312.

ECON 413 Labor Economics (4)

Wage determination theory, basic economic factors that affect the labor movement, economic impact of union activities on employment, output, income, wages, prices, and national economic policy. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 221.

ECON 417 Development of Economic Analysis (4)

Analysis of ideas related to the development of economic theory in the Western civilization from the Greeks through the classical, neoclassical, and Keynesian to the current post-Keynesian concepts. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 221, ECON 222.

ECON 431 Environmental Economics (4)

Economic dimensions of environmental abuse and protection. Use of simple economic models in developing and evaluating environmental policies. Overview of current environmental problems. Issues related to the sustainability of economic growth at the national and international levels. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or ECON 221.

ECON 432 Economics of Energy and Resources (4)

Economic theory and public policies as applied to problems of natural resources and energy. Dynamic resource and energy models developed with reference to public and private sector growth. Application of the principles of capital theory emphasized. Case studies. Computer software applications in the study of natural resources and energy under uncertainty. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or ECON 222.

ECON 433 Transportation Economics (4)

Analysis of the allocation of resources to the U.S. transport sector and specific transport modes as a result of their natural economic characteristics and public policy. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or ECON 222.

ECON 434 Urban Economics (4)

Application of basic tools of economic analysis to problems of urban regions. Causes and possible cures for inadequate growth rate, income levels, and the quality of life in urban regions. 4 lectures. Prerequisite: ECON 201 or ECON 221.

ECON 461, 462 Senior Project (2) (2)

Selection and analysis of a problem under faculty supervision. Problems typical of those which graduates must solve in their fields of employment. Formal report is required. Minimum 120 hours total time.

ECON 470 Selected Advanced Topics (1–4)

Directed group study of selected topics for advanced students. Open to undergraduate and graduate students. Class Schedule will list topic selected. Total credit limited to 8 units. 1 to 4 lectures. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

ECON 500 Independent Study (1–4)

Advanced study planned and completed under the direction of a departmental faculty member. Open only to graduate students demonstrating ability to do independent work. Enrollment by petition. Prerequisite: Consent of department head.