Courses in Economics (Division 358)


101. Principles of Economics I. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 400. (4). (SS). (QR/2).
Economics 101 examines the microeconomics of capitalism - the behavior of households and businesses and the generation of prices and outputs in markets. Specific topics in Economics 101 include: supply and demand; the differences between competition and monopoly; labor markets and discrimination; the distribution of incomes and poverty; environmental problems and policies; and government taxation and expenditure issues. Economics 101 is the first part of the two-term introduction to economics - the second part (Economics 102, for which Economics 101 is a prerequisite) examines macroeconomics. Prerequisites for 101: high school algebra and geometry and a willingness to use them. The course format consists of three large one-hour lectures per week taught by the professor and one small one-and-a-half-hour section meeting per week taught by a teaching assistant. Cost:2 WL:1 (Gerson, Laitner, Porter)

Section 300 only. Final grades will be based on: two hour tests (40%); four unannounced quizzes given during section meetings (10%); weekly homework assignments that will be collected, graded, and discussed in the section meetings (10%); and the final exam (40%). NOTE the DATES and TIMES of the two hour tests and the final exam in the TIME SCHEDULE, and BE SURE that you can attend all three. Cost: 2 WL:None (Porter)

108. Introductory Microeconomics Workshop. First-year standing and concurrent enrollment in Economics 101. (1). (SS). Offered mandatory credit/no credit.
Students will meet weekly for one hour with a faculty member for discussions of the previous week's Wall Street Journal (WSJ) articles, stressing the use and application of the microeconomic tools being learned in Economics 101. In the first few weeks, the workshop will study how to read the WSJ and will "play" some market "games." Once supply and demand has been studied in Economics 101, much of the WSJ becomes discussible. Workshop attendance is mandatory, and each student will be required to subscribe to the WSJ for the term. During the first few minutes of the seminar, the articles for the subsequent week's seminar will be selected and one or two students appointed to open the discussion of each article on the week's agenda (and turn in to the professor a neat copy of their briefing notes). The remainder of each seminar will be spent talking about the articles that were selected the previous week. Evaluation of students will be entirely on the basis of their attendance and preparation, as evidenced by their briefing notes and classroom participation. Honors credit for Econ. 101 can be achieved in this course. Cost:1 WL:4 (Porter)

109. Laboratory Economics. (4). (SS). (QR/1).
This course, for students without any previous economics, will introduce them to the subject through experience in a laboratory. By participating in laboratory experiments, then analyzing the results in class discussion and written reports, they will learn the principles of economics from their own empirical observation. By participating in laboratory experiments involving auctions, markets elections, and economic games, students will observe economic behavior in a controlled setting. Interpreting these experiences in the light of assigned readings and in class discussions, they will come to understand the principles of economics not being told but by seeing them for themselves. (Bergstrom)

195. Seminar in Introductory Economics. (3). (SS).
Section 001 - The United States in an Asia-Pacific-Centered Global Economy
. TIn the past four decades the locus of international trade and economic growth has shifted from the North Atlantic to the Pacific Basin. This seminar will address the causes and consequences of this shift and its significance for the future of the American economy. Particular attention will be paid to the role Japan has played as a catalyst for this historic change. (Saxonhouse)