UGRD > ECON
Economics Courses
ECON 101 Introduction to Microeconomics +
Description:
A broad introductory survey in which special attention is given to the role of economic principles in analyzing and understanding current economic problems. Emphasis is given to the functioning of markets and to the behavior of individual economic units such as the business firm and the consumer (microeconomics). Other areas of emphasis vary from section to section and may include industrial organization, income distribution, international trade, economics of the environment, and other topics. More Info
Offered in:ECON 102 Introduction to Macroeconomics +
Description:
A broad introductory survey in which special attention is given to the role of economic principles in analyzing and understanding current economic problems. Emphasis is given to examining the overall functioning of the economy and to such matters as unemployment, inflation and recession. Other areas of emphasis vary from section to section and may include economics of government spending and taxation, economic development, alternative economic systems, and other topics. More Info
Offered in:ECON 110G Economic Ideas +
Description:
This first-year seminar course presents basic economic concepts and tools of analysis in the context of current economic issues. Controversies over the distribution of income, the role of markets, pollution, or globalization are often addressed, although topics vary with the instructor. More Info
Offered in:ECON 201 Microeconomic Theory +
Description:
Analysis of consumer and firm behavior, and of the determination of prices and quantities in both product and factor markets. Equilibrium of the household, the firm, and the industry. Implications of alternative market structures. A theoretically oriented course that builds on the less rigorous foundation provided in introductory economics courses. More Info
Offered in:ECON 202 Macroeconomic Theory +
Description:
An investigation of the forces determining national output, employment, and inflation. Particular attention is paid to those government policies which attempt to affect the overall level of economic activity in the US. A theoretically oriented course that builds on the less rigorous foundation provided in introductory economics courses. More Info
Offered in:ECON 205 Statistical Methods +
Description:
A non-calculus introduction to statistical inference aimed at familiarizing students with common statistical concepts so they will be able to make intelligent evaluations of technical reports. Topics include descriptive statistics; probability, including the normal distribution; hypothesis testing, including t-tests; analysis of variance; regression and correlation. More Info
Offered in:ECON 212G Economics of the Metropolitan Area +
Description:
Why do some metropolitan areas prosper while others fall on hard times? This intermediate seminar course examines the underlying economic forces that shape the development of metropolitan areas, paying special attention to policy issues regarding land use, housing, transportation, and poverty. The course may count toward the major in economics. More Info
Offered in:ECON 214GL Ecological Economics +
Description:
This course is an introduction to the field of ecological economics, which examines how the natural environment and human-made economy interact to provide the foundation for human society. This mostly non-mathematical course highlights the differences between mainstream economics and ecological economics, encouraging students to think critically about the assumptions used by each school of thought and the different implications for policy and human wellbeing. Topics include the environmental basis of the economy; the optimal size of the economy and prospects for a non-growing or steady-state economy; personal consumption issues and drivers; social welfare and how this can be measured; and the fair distribution of world resources. More Info
Offered in:ECON 305 Introduction to Data Modeling through Data Visualization +
Description:
This course is designed to introduce students to statistical programming, data structure, and statistical inference through the latest data visualization techniques. Students will learn how to visually represent the relationship between two or more variables. Students will also be introduced to the merits and limitations of various causal inference techniques used in answering economic research questions through the use of graphs and hypothesis testing of means. Through a lecture and lab format, students will gain hands-on experience evaluating social scientific data with a statistical software package. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
ECON 308 History of Economic Thought +
Description:
AA discussion of the rise and development of systematic economic thought. Both orthodox and heterodox economic ideas are studied in light of the social and historical context in which they developed. The course covers the origins of mercantilist thought, the physiocrats, classical political economy through Marx, neoclassical economics, the marginalist school, and the advent of macroeconomics. More Info
Offered in:ECON 310 Introduction to Marxist Analysis +
Description:
An introduction to Marxist economic analysis, giving students an initial exposure to the basic concepts and methods of analysis of Marxist economics. Several themes and concepts run throughout the course; these include the processes of alienation and exploitation, the operation of contradictions and the role of dialectics, and the role of the state in capitalistic societies. More Info
Offered in:ECON 318 The Economics of State and Local Governments +
Description:
An examination of the role that state and local governments play in financing and implementing the delivery of public goods and services. The levels and history of state and local expenditures and revenues, economic theories of the role of government, the relationship between the federal government and state and local governments, and the specific taxes used to finance state and local government activities are examined, with special attention paid to the current fiscal situation of the states, especially Massachusetts. More Info
Offered in:ECON 327 Political Economy of Development in Africa +
Description:
This course explores the political economy of development within Africa since independence. It provides an overview of major economic development debates in post-colonial Africa. Particular attention will be given to the economic and political legacies of colonialism, agrarian change, industrialization, resource mobilization, trade diversification, institutional reforms, aid, debt & capital flight, violence and state capacity. This course seeks to combine theoretical debates with country case studies as a way to illustrate the diversity of experiences within the African continent. More Info
Offered in:ECON 331 Money and Financial Institutions +
Description:
An economic analysis of the US financial system, including examination of the major types of financial assets, financial markets, and financial institutions, as well as the major factors that determine asset prices and the structure of interest rates. Attention is given to the nature and operation of banking firms and the structure and regulation of the banking industry. Other topics may include the Federal Reserve and monetary policy; the determination of the money supply; recent trends in the banking industry; lending discrimination and community reinvestment; and current public policy issues in the areas of banking and finance. More Info
Offered in:ECON 334 International Trade +
Description:
An examination of alternative theories of international trade, including traditional neoclassical free trade approaches and newer theories addressing imperfect competition, economies of scale, national competitiveness issues, and managed trade. Topics also include the economic analysis of trade policies and trade imbalances: quotas, tariffs, GATT, free trade areas, NAFTA, trade problems and policies in economically developed and developing countries. More Info
Offered in:ECON 335 International Finance +
Description:
An examination of the theory of international finance, balance of payments and foreign exchange markets, open economy macroeconomic policy with capital mobility and exchange rate flexibility, international monetary regimes, and international monetary reform. More Info
Offered in:ECON 336 Economic Development +
Description:
Topics include the economic meaning of underdevelopment; the role played by different kinds of resources; the evaluation of alternative ''strategies'' for economic growth and development; and the interaction between the problems of the under-developed countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the policies of the US and other developed countries. More Info
Offered in:ECON 337 Emerging Economies in Asia +
Description:
This course provides an overview of the development and current concern of the major economies of Asia from historical, contemporary, and comparative perspectives. Topics include an examination of the causes and consequences of periods of rapid economic growth, the consequences of financial crises, and likely future impacts of Asia on the world economy. More Info
Offered in:ECON 338 The Latin American Economy +
Description:
Description and analysis of the economic characteristics and problems of Latin American countries. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
ECON 339 Political Economy of International Migration +
Description:
This course investigates theories of and empirical evidence concerning (1) why humans migrate internationally, (2) their geographic destination and duration of stay in the host nation, (3) their labor market and fiscal effects, (4) their health and use of public medical assistance, and (5) the amount, frequency, mechanisms, and effects of remitting money to their home country. More Info
Offered in:ECON 343 The Political Economy of Race and Racism +
Description:
This course is a study of the economic, political, and sociological status of minoritized populations in the U.S. and the competing explanations for why differences in economic indicators exist and persist between white Americans and underrepresented minorities. Topics covered include disparities in wealth, income, educational attainment, health, and experiences with the criminal justice system. Explanations will be explored from multiple theoretical frameworks within economics including neoclassical economics, feminist economics, stratification economics, and Marxism. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
ECON 345L Natural Resources & Sustainable Development +
Description:
This class introduces the economic approach to sustainable growth and economic development by, among other things, examining questions surrounding natural resource management. The first third of the course focuses on the role economics can and cannot play in examining natural resources issues, schools of thought concerning the extent to which natural resources are scarce, and what sustainable economic growth means. The second third of the class focuses on exposing you to the tools economists and policy decision makers use to examine natural resource issues. Finally, the final third of the course focuses on applying the concepts you have learned to specific natural resource issues. More Info
Offered in:ECON 349L Economic Approaches to Environmental Problems +
Description:
An introduction to the economist's approach to solving environmental problems. The course examines applicable economic theories, then uses them to develop a framework for analyzing a wide range of environmental issues. Topics include benefit/cost analysis; measurement of environmental damages; and current government approaches to solving air, water, and solid waste pollution problems. More Info
Offered in:ECON 370 Special Topics +
Description:
This course provides an opportunity, at the 300 level, for the department to offer one-time-only courses on special topics of current interest to faculty members and students. It also is sometimes used as a way of offering proposed new courses on a trial basis before they are officially approved as part of the economics curriculum. More Info
Offered in:ECON 372 Comparative Economic Systems +
Description:
An examination of alternative systems of economic organization. Analysis of the failed command economies of the former Soviet Bloc and discussion of the progress and prospects for reform in Russia, Poland and Hungary. Special attention is given to comparing alternative capitalist systems (US, Sweden, Germany, Japan and South Korea). Issues of concern include market and non-market mechanisms of allocation and distribution, workers' control, economic democracy, centralization and decentralization, and the relation of economic affairs to political and social affairs. More Info
Offered in:ECON 381 Economics of Global Health +
Description:
This course is designed to provide an understanding of the major challenges to the organization, delivery and financing of health care in developing countries. This course will combine economic theory with insights from epidemiology, medicine, and program evaluation. The main aim of the course is to describe current health issues and analyze policies that would improve the health of individuals in developing countries. The major topics may include: clean water; HIV/AIDS; malaria; obesity nutrition and helminth infections; non-communicable diseases; health insurance; maternal mortality; the health workforce; the pricing of essential medicines. Students also develop skills in evaluating and identifying potential solutions to global health challenges using randomized controlled trials. This course uses team-based learning. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
ECON 385 Economics of Education +
Description:
This course deals with a variety of questions about the role of education in the economy and about economic aspects of the educational system. First, attention is given to the historical development of US public education and to different theories trying to explain that development. Students examine such issues as: Does education make people more productive? If so, how? Does education affect people's behavior in ways that make them ''fit'' better or worse in the large enterprises of the economy? Whose interests are served by the structure of our educational system? How does the educational system affect economic, social and political equality? Much of the course is devoted to particular controversies, for example, the issue of school choice, merit pay for teachers, the equalizing or disequalizing impacts of schooling, the importance of education in making the US ''more competitive.'' More Info
Offered in:ECON 391 Unions and Collective Bargaining +
Description:
An analysis of work and the institutions of workers. The course surveys labor history, labor unions, labor laws, organizing, collective bargaining, strikes, international competition, and how globalization is affecting work and worker's ability to organize and improve their working conditions. More Info
Offered in:ECON 395 The Economics of Social Welfare +
Description:
A study of major economic security programs in the United States, such as Social Security and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. The course begins with an examination of historical events leading to the programs of the American welfare system, analyzes the benefit and cost structure of the current system, and assesses the effects of recent attempts to reform that system. More Info
Offered in:ECON 396 The Economics of Inequality +
Description:
This course examines the nature and extent of income inequality primarily in the U.S. but with a comparative perspective. We will begin by describing the trends in income inequality in the United States in comparison to other developed nations. We will consider possible causes and consequences of income inequality. We will examine a range of social and economic effects on income inequality including economic growth, intergenerational economic mobility, educational outcomes as well as health and happiness outcomes. We will then describe policies focused on households in both the top and the bottom of the income distribution.In addition to introduction students to the forces behind inequality, This course offers students the opportunity to work on critical analysis skills in a small-sized course. this includes reading thoughtfully, by assessing the arguments and evidence provided by authors; thinking carefully about one's own beliefs and how they shape one's perspective on these issues; and communicating well-articulated arguments, both orally and in a written form. More Info
Offered in:ECON 407 Advanced Topics in Development Economics +
Description:
This course has two aims. In the first four weeks of the semester students will be introduced to some core issues in Development Economics. These topics will be covered at a more advanced level than they are covered in existing courses and will provide the basic framework for the remainder of the course. In the second part of the course, which constitutes the bulk, students will have an opportunity to engage with a specific topic in greater depth. This topic will vary with the instructor teaching the course. The proposed topics are: Urbanization in Developing Countries, Poverty and Inequality, Structural Change and Transformation, Gender and Development, War, Macroeconomic Issues in Developing Countries, and Political Economy of Development. Whichever the area, students will be given the skills necessary to critically analyze the process of economic development, to identify the winners and losers in this process, and to appreciate what would constitute just and sustainable policy in that area. More Info
Offered in:ECON 413 Advanced Topics in Urban Economics +
Description:
At the most general level, urban economics introduces space into economic models and studies the location of economic activity. This course is organized around three primary sets of questions within the field of urban economics. The first focuses on the development of urban areas. Why do cities exist and why do some grow more rapidly? The second area addresses patterns of development within metropolitan areas. How do firms and households decide where to locate within given metropolitan areas? What determines the price of land, and how do these prices vary across space? The third and final area concerns the spatial dimensions of urban problems. Specifically, we will examine poverty, housing, and congestion. In addition to a rigorous study of urban economic theory, this course will also include a team based consulting project for a specific client in the city of Boston. Students will receive their client at the beginning of the semester and will conduct original empirical research to address their client's concerns. More Info
Offered in:ECON 420 Gender and Economics +
Description:
This course explores how and why gender affects contemporary economic outcomes in the United States, with a particular attention to occupations, incomes, and the distribution of unpaid work, and to the intersection of gender with race and class. Both mainstream economic and alternative theories are discussed, and emphasis is placed on evaluating these theories in light of empirical evidence. The role of government and business policies in creating more equitable and efficient outcomes is explored. More Info
Offered in:ECON 435 The Multinational Corporation +
Description:
Examination of the patterns, trends, and theories of direct foreign investment, and impacts of multinational corporations on home and host countries. Topics include effects of MNCs on trade, employment, wages, technology, and economic development. Papers, class presentation, and class discussion required. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
ECON 452 Econometrics +
Description:
This is a course in the techniques of estimating economic models. The uses and pitfalls of empirical estimation in economics will be examined. In addition to lectures, there will be a weekly two-hour computer lab, where students will apply these methods using econometric software. More Info
Offered in:ECON 453 Advanced Macroeconomics +
Description:
An investigation of the stability and volatility of the US economy, using both theoretical and applied analyses. The course examines several macroeconomic issues: the determinants of economic growth; the sources of instability in ''managed-market'' economies like the US; the interaction between macroeconomic policy and the international economy and the scope for systematic stabilization policy. More Info
Offered in:ECON 476 Internship in Economics +
Description:
Carefully supervised field work for eight or sixteen hours per week in Boston-area institutions that conduct research on economic issues-e.g. government and non-government organizations. More Info
Offered in:ECON 479 Independent Study +
Description:
Research and reading in any area in economics: the purpose of this course is to allow the student to do advanced work in an area of economics to which he or she has already been exposed or to investigate an entirely new area. More Info
Offered in:ECON 480 Health Economics +
Description:
This elective course introduces students to how economists analyze topics related to the demand for health care, health disparities, and the US health care delivery system using the tools of microeconomics. Students develop an understanding of asymmetric information, how health insurance contracts operate, and the role that government plays in the modern health care system. Students empirically analyze health care policies, and apply tools of cost-benefit analysis to understand the tradeoffs in improving efficiency and equity. More Info
Offered in:- TBA
ECON 481 Senior Independent Study +
Description:
Reading and research, under the direction of an individual faculty member, that builds on knowledge and skills obtained in a student's previous economics courses and that culminates in the production of a substantial research paper. More Info
Offered in:ECON 489 Senior Honors Project +
Description:
Closely supervised individual research on a topic chosen by a student in consultation with a faculty supervisor. The course's aim is to enable highly qualified students to undertake the preliminary exploration-reading, thinking, data-gathering-necessary for the successful undertaking of writing a senior honors thesis during the following term. The thesis prospectus must be completed and accepted by the student's proposed thesis supervisor before enrollment. More Info
Offered in:ECON 490 Senior Honors Thesis +
Description:
Closely supervised individual research resulting in the completion of a senior honors thesis. Topics will be mutually agreed upon by students and their faculty supervisors, on the basis of the thesis prospectus (See Economics 489). At the beginning of the term the department chairperson will, in consultation with the thesis supervisor, appoint a second reader for the thesis, who will be available for consultation during the term. On completion of the thesis, and its acceptance by the supervisor and the second reader, the student will present an oral summary of his or her research at a seminar open to all economics students and faculty. More Info
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