ECON 395 - Special Topics in Economics

Credits: 3

Prerequisite: ECON 203 or varies with topic. Course emphasis and prerequisites change from term to term and will be announced prior to preregistration. May be repeated for degree credit if the topics are different. A maximum of nine credits chosen from all special topics in economics courses may be used, with permission of the department head, toward requirements for the economics major.

Winter 2020, ECON 395A-01: Seminar in International Trade (3). Prerequisite: ECON 203.; encourage completion of ECON 210. In this seminar, we read a narrow slice of international economics literature where the conclusions are still in contention. We focus on the hard-to-understand patterns in the data and partial theories still in development, and as such the articles showcase how economists do their work. We first use these areas of debate as opportunities to think critically about topics at economic inquiry’s leading edge. In the second half of the term, each student chooses one of the areas on the syllabus, or a related area, for further study, identifying a very specific question, one that is interesting and that has not yet been answered. Over the term, that question is examined through a survey of the literature, theoretical modeling, and empirical evaluation of the theoretical model. Results are presented in class. Anderson.

Fall 2019, 395A-01: U.S. Economic History (3). Prerequisite: ECON 203. An examination of selected topics in the economic development of the U.S. economy. The goals are to review major themes in U.S. economic history, to study professional research papers to learn how economists develop and interpret historical evidence, and to give students hands-on experience analyzing historical data. Major themes include: migration flows to and within the U.S.; slavery and African-American economic progress since emancipation; transportation and industrialization; the Great Depression; and long-run changes in education, income, and urbanization. Shester.

Fall 2019, 395A-02: U.S. Economic History (3). Prerequisite: ECON 203. An examination of selected topics in the economic development of the U.S. economy. The goals are to review major themes in U.S. economic history, to study professional research papers to learn how economists develop and interpret historical evidence, and to give students hands-on experience analyzing historical data. Major themes include: migration flows to and within the U.S.; slavery and African-American economic progress since emancipation; transportation and industrialization; the Great Depression; and long-run changes in education, income, and urbanization. Shester.

Fall 2019, 395B-01: Environmental Valuation (3). Prerequisite: ECON 203 or instructor consent. This course is designed to give students an advanced knowledge of environmental valuation techniques. Both theoretical models and empirical work are discussed. Valuation methodologies covered include travel cost models, hedonic wage and price models, contingent valuation, choice modeling, and benefits transfer. Students have empirical assignments. Kahn.