ECON-ECONOMICS – 2005-07 Catalog
College
of Business

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
(Also listed as HNRS 201)

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.

ECON 303  Economics of Poverty, Discrimination and Immigration (4) (Also listed as HNRS 303)       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. Economics majors will not receive GE Area D5 credit.

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. Economics majors will not receive GE Area D5 credit.

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 I, II (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 I, II (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. Economics majors will not receive GE Area D5 credit.

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)

Financial markets and institutions. Structure of the banking industry and impacts of technological change in banking. Structure and operations of the Federal Reserve. Impacts of monetary policy on the economy.  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. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: MATH 221, MATH 222, STAT 251, STAT 252, or consent of instructor.

ECON 340  Advanced Econometrics (4)

Advanced topics in undergraduate econometrics. Single equation estimation topics including: distributed lag models, causality, cointegration and error correction models and nonlinear estimation. Forecasting with a single equation model. Simultaneous equation estimation, including instrumental variables, two stage least squares and seemingly unrelated regression. 3 lectures, 1 activity. Prerequisite: ECON 339.

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 221.

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 201 or ECON 221.

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 430  Internship (2–8) (CR/NC)

Placement of student for part-time supervised work experience in a business enterprise or government agency approved by the area chair. Collateral reading correlated with work assignments and periodic written progress reports required. Credit/No Credit grading only. Prerequisite: Junior standing.

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 I, II (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.