printer friendly pageECON 1A: Introductory Economics A
The economic way of thinking and the functioning of a market economy. The behavior of consumers and firms, markets for goods and inputs, and principles of international exchange. Applications and policy issues in economics.
Terms: Aut, Win, Sum
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-SI
Instructors:
Clerici-Arias, M. (PI)
;
Leeson, R. (PI)
;
Wright, G. (PI)
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more instructors for ECON 1A »
Instructors:
Clerici-Arias, M. (PI)
;
Leeson, R. (PI)
;
Wright, G. (PI)
;
Beck, M. (TA)
;
Davids, T. (TA)
;
Foley, R. (TA)
;
Hellman-Tincher, M. (TA)
;
Jeong, E. (TA)
;
Luu, C. (TA)
;
MacNguyen, R. (TA)
;
McCormick, K. (TA)
;
Norton, D. (TA)
;
Pataki, N. (TA)
;
Riggs, J. (TA)
;
Taggart, J. (TA)
;
Tan, J. (TA)
;
Triolo, R. (TA)
;
Xu, T. (TA)
;
Xue, L. (TA)
;
Zahid, A. (TA)
ECON 1B: Introductory Economics B
Aggregate economic relationships, including output, employment, inflation, interest rates, and exchange rates. Short-run fluctuations and long-run growth. Issues in monetary and fiscal policy. Prerequisite: 1A.
Terms: Win, Spr
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-SI
ECON 10: Silicon Valley Meets Wall Street
Seminar in applied economics with focus on the microcosm of Silicon Valley, how growth companies are originated, managed and financed from start-up to IPO. Round-table discussion format. Applicable to those students with an interest in technical innovation and business development. Enrollment limited to 10 students.
Terms: Aut, Win, Spr
| Units: 1
Instructors:
Shanahan, T. (PI)
ECON 11N: Understanding the Welfare System
Welfare-reform legislation passed by the federal government in the mid 1990s heralded a dramatic step in the movement that has been termed the devolution revolution. The centerpiece of this legislation is the transfer of much responsibility for antipoverty programs to the states. States now have had their first opportunity since the War on Poverty of the 1960s to undertake radical changes in the design of their public-assistance programs. This seminar will explore how recent reforms have changed the welfare system and examine who is affected by these changes. In addition to conventional welfare programs (e.g., food stamps, AFDC, TANF, SSI, Medicaid), we will examine other governmental policies assisting low-income families. These will include direct income-transfer programs (e.g., Earned Income Tax Credit and income taxes) and labor- market regulations imposed by governments to enhance the earnings of poor families (e.g., minimum wages and overtime rules). We will apply economics principles to understand the effectiveness of these programs and their consequences on the behavior of families.Prerequisites: an understanding of basic concepts of labor markets, taxes, and transfers is recommended. Co-requisite:
ECON 1A.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 2
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
Instructors:
MaCurdy, T. (PI)
ECON 13SC: A Random Walk Down Wall Street
The title of this course is the title of one of the books that will be required summer reading. The course will introduce modern finance theory and cover a wide range of financial instruments: stocks, bonds, options, mutual funds, exchange traded funds, mortgage back securities, etc. Historical returns on different asset classes will be examined. The efficient market hypothesis and the case for and against index funds will be discussed. The course for 2013 will examine the ongoing policies to stimulate the economy including the quantitative easing policy of the Federal Reserve. There will be coverage of global financial markets. We will try to reconcile the long-run return on stocks, bonds, and money market instruments with the capital asset pricing model. We will try to connect financial markets with the problems of the real economy including the entitlement programs. We will talk with venture capitalists, Federal Reserve officials, hedge fund and mutual fund managers, and those who manage large institutional endowments. Students will be expected to write a short paper and make an oral presentation to the class. A wide range of topics will be acceptable, including market regulation, the introduction of new financial instruments, the functioning of commodity futures markets, and evaluations of the federal government intervention in financial markets.
Terms: Sum
| Units: 2
Instructors:
Shoven, J. (PI)
ECON 17N: Energy, the Environment, and the Economy
Preference to freshmen. The relationship between environmental quality and production and consumption of energy. Can environmentally-friendly energy production and consumption compete with conventional sources? How to estimate and compare environmental impact costs of nonrenewable sources such as fossil fuels and nuclear power versus renewable sources such as solar and wind power. Implicit subsidies in conventional energy sources and the environmental costs of these subsidies. Regulatory and legal barriers to more environmentally friendly energy sources.
Terms: Spr
| Units: 2
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
Instructors:
Wolak, F. (PI)
ECON 18: The Washington Debate About American Competitiveness
One of the central challenges for policymakers is how to make sure the United States remains the world's strongest economy and continues to create good paying jobs. Discusses what the proper role of government should be when it comes to our economy by exploring the history of American economic thought dating back to Alexander Hamilton. Considers the perspective of classical economists, Keynsian economists, and economists identifying themselves as part of the innovation school of economics. Examines various policy alternatives concerning taxes, regulations, immigration, and investment that can foster economic growth. Selection based on short application.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 1
Instructors:
Khanna, R. (PI)
ECON 21N: Economic Inequality
Addresses elementary and yet fundamental issues regarding economic inequality including inequality of what?; inequality among whom?; how is inequality measured?; how has inequality changed int he U.S.?; how does inequality in the U.S. compare with inequality elsewhere?; why is inequality what it is and what accounts for changes and differences in inequality? What is the line between taxes and inequality, parents and inequality, and how does poverty relate to inequality? Classroom participation and presentation play an important part in this class. Prerequisites:
Econ 1A recommended.
Terms: Win
| Units: 2
| UG Reqs: WAY-EDP, WAY-SI
Instructors:
Pencavel, J. (PI)
ECON 23SI: Introduction to Microfinance
Introduction to microfinance as an important development effort in the war against poverty. Why and how microfinance operations have grown to provide financial services to poor and low-income people on a sustainable basis. Advice and best practices from successful practitioners and institutions around the world as well as new technology startups targeting the industry. Faculty and student led discussions concerning assigned articles and readings.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 1-2
Instructors:
Gould, A. (PI)
ECON 25N: Public Policy and Personal Finance (PUBLPOL 55N)
The seminar will provide an introduction and discussion of the impact of public policy on personal finance. Voters regularly rate the economy as one of the most important factors shaping their political views and most of those opinions are focused on their individual bottom lines. In this course we will discuss the rationale for different public policies and how they affect personal financial situations. We will explore personal finance issues such as taxes, loans, charity, insurance, and pensions. Using the context of (hypothetical) personal finance positions, we will discuss the public policy implications of various proposals and how they affect different groups of people, for example: the implications of differential tax rates for different types of income, the promotion of home ownership in the U.S., and policies to care for our aging population. While economic policy will be the focus of much of the course, we will also examine some of the implications of social policies on personal finance as well. There will be weekly readings and several short policy-related writing assignments.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 3
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
Instructors:
Rosston, G. (PI)
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