Course Listings - Spring 2004

ECON 190 - Principles of Economics
(4 semester hrs.)
J. Ankrom
M. Frost
L. Gwinn
F. Tiffany

An introduction to basic principles of economics. Topics covered include supply and demand, marginal analysis, competition, profit maximization, aggregate demand and supply, the level of employment, inflation, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and international trade. Students must have attained the math placement level 22 to enroll. Lecture/discussion format.

ECON 240 – American Economic History
(4 semester hrs.)
M. Frost

This course will explore the evolution of the U.S. economy from its earliest days into the 20th century using the tools of economic theory and the findings of “new” economic historians. The causes of long run economic growth and short run business cycles, the effects of war and peace, changes in standards of living, the development of institutions (money, corporations, government, and that most peculiar of all, slavery), and technological change will be examined. Writing assignments will include response journals, exams and a research project using the WPA’s slave narratives. Writing Intensive. Prerequisites: ECON 190.

ECON 290C - Topic: Economies in Transition
(4 semester hrs.)
M. Frost

Between 1979 and 1992 nearly 30 countries with approximately one-third of the world's population, voluntarily embarked upon a still unfolding experiment to move both resource decision-making and ownership from a central political authority toward private households, firms and local governments. Transition economics, a new field since the early 1990s, explores the process and results of the decisions of the nation states of the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe and east Asia and Iraq to move from centrally-planned toward market and from socialist toward capitalist economies. A central focus of the course will be the examination of the strategies pursued and progress of transition in these countries at the macro and sectoral levels, the institutions that have evolved, and the human welfare consequences of the transition process. Writing Intensive. Prerequisite: Econ 190.

ECON 300 - Econometrics
(4 semester hrs.)
L. Gwinn

Econometrics revolves around constructing and statistically testing economic models. The lectures will focus on discussing methodology in economics and learning the fundamentals of regression analysis. In addition, a large portion of the course will be devoted to research projects in which students use a computer regression package to test economic theory against empirical evidence, analyze economic policies, and forecast economic variables. Prerequisites: ECON 190 and MGT 210 or its equivalent.

ECON 311 - Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
(4 semester hrs.)
L. Gwinn

This course builds on the ideas presented in ECON 190. Models that are used to analyze the national economy are developed in greater detail, with an emphasis on the distinction between short-run and long-run equilibrium, and on the various schools of thought. We discuss problems inherent in fiscal and monetary stabilization policy and their relationship to unemployment, inflation, and economic growth. A good understanding of algebra is necessary. Prerequisites: ECON 190 and MATH 120 or its equivalent.

ECON 340 – Public Finance
(4 semester hrs.)
J. Ankrom

Public Finance traditionally deals with the role and impact of government (or public sector) activity on economic activity, income distribution and the efficiency of the economy. The course is divided into three parts:
(1) An introduction to fiscal institutions, fiscal politics and the theory of social goods. Here we are concerned with the rationale for government intervention in economic activity, and with theories explaining the size and scope of government activity.
(2) Expenditure evaluation.
(3) Principles of taxation, including a description of the tax landscape and the effects of taxes on equity and efficiency.

Grade is determined by performance on three exams and a paper. Lecture/discussion format. Writing Intensive.
Prerequisites: ECON 190, and MATH 120.

ECON 370 – Mathematics for Economists
(4 semester hrs.)
F. Tiffany

The purpose of this course is to integrate the student’s understanding of mathematics and economics. We will review some basic calculus and learn some additional techniques of calculus (in particular the Lagrange method for constrained optimization) and, perhaps, linear algebra and use these to develop formal economics models. Many of the models will be familiar, e.g. consumer utility maximization, firm cost minimization and profit maximization. But they will be specified in the more formal terms that are used by practicing economists. The key insight for students will be to see how the math and economics they have learned fit together.

The course will be lecture-discussion format. Assessment will be through two or three in class exams, a comprehensive final exam, and collected homework problems. The syllabus will be somewhat flexible to adjust to students’ particular interests. Prerequisites: ECON 310 and MATH 131 or 201. ECON 311 recommended.