Skip Navigation

Text Only/ Printer-Friendly

Skip Site NavigationCarleton College: Home

Text Only/ Printer-Friendly

Courses

All economics majors are required to successfully complete the two introductory courses (110 and 111), the three core courses (330,331,and 332), the integrative exercise (400), and 30 additional credits in economics at the 200 level or above. Unless specifically noted otherwise, all economics courses at the 200-level and above have both Economics 110 and 111 as prerequisites. Mathematics 215 (or 275) is a prerequisite for 332 and is also required.

Mathematics 111 or its equivalent is a prerequisite for Economics 330. Any student intending graduate work in economics should also take Mathematics 121, 211, and 232. Courses teaching additional skills such as computer science, advanced rhetoric, and analysis of political and social policies are highly recommended.

  • ECON 110: Principles of Macroeconomics

    This course gives students a foundation in the general principles of economics as a basis for effective citizenship and, when combined with 111, as a preparation for all advanced study in economics. Topics include analysis of the measurement, level, and distribution of national income; the concepts of inflation and depression; the role and structure of the banking system; fiscal and monetary stabilization techniques; implications of and limits to economic growth; and international economic relations. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007, Winter 2008, Spring 2008 -- P. Kapinos, M. Paas, S. Strand, R. Szulga
    Extended departmental description for ECON 110

    See course syllabus (110.01) for more information.

    See course syllabus (110.02) for more information.

    See course syllabus (110.03) for more information.

  • ECON 111: Principles of Microeconomics

    This course gives the students a foundation in the general principles of economics as a basis for effective citizenship and, when combined with 110, as a preparation for all advanced study in economics. Topics include consumer choice theory; the formation of prices under competition, monopoly, and other market structures; the determination of wages, profits, and income from capital; the distribution of income; and an analysis of policy directed towards problems of public finance, pollution, natural resources, and public goods. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007, Winter 2008, Spring 2008 -- M. Ahmed, L. Feiler, N. Grawe, J. Wahl
    Extended departmental description for ECON 111

    See course syllabus 111.01 (spring '07) for more information.

    See course syllabus 111.02 (spring /07) for more information.

  • ECON 136: Middle East Program: Europeanization Policies in the Middle East

    A three-week course to be offered in Istanbul, Turkey. Following a brief history of the last years of the Ottoman Empire and the early Turkish Republic, we will examine the origins and purposes of Europeanization policies (e.g. introduction of the Latin alphabet, the abolition of the Caliphate) of Kemal Atatürk. Given the recent accession talks between Turkey and the European Union, we will also study in some detail the question of Turkey’s identity as a European state together with its general relationship to Europe. 3; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2008 -- S. Strand

  • ECON 221: Cambridge Program: Contemporary British Economy

    This course studies the theoretical and policy debates in Britain from the 1930s to the present and the development of the structure of the British economy and institutions during that period. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered -- Non-Carleton Faculty

  • ECON 222: Cambridge Program: The Industrial Revolution in Britain

    The development of the British economy during the Industrial Revolution is studied with particular emphasis on the wool, cotton textile, iron, pottery, shipping and coal mining industries as well as on urban development in London. Site visits to locations of significance are an important aspect of this course. 3; Social Sciences; offered -- M. Hemesath

  • ECON 223: Cambridge Program: The Life of J.M. Keynes

    This course will examine the life and times of J.M. Keynes. In addition to examing the economic ideas of Keynes, students will examine the social and political milieu in Britain in the first half of the twentieth century. Prerequisite: Economics 110 and 111. 4; S/CR/NC; Social Sciences; offered -- M. Hemesath

  • ECON 224: Cambridge Program: Economy of Multinational Corporations

    This course will provide a brief introduction to the economics of multinational enterprises (MNE). We will examine the economic theory of MNEs, with a particular emphasis on understanding when a MNE is likely to be a viable form of economic organization. We will also discuss the interaction between MNEs and their host countries. Finally, we will use a series of business school cases to explore the interaction between economic theory and the actual operations of MNEs. In addition to classroom work, we will take several trips to London to visit businesses which will give us further opportunities to examine the interaction between economic theory and the real world of business. 3; Social Sciences; offered -- M. Hemesath

  • ECON 231: Soviet and Post-Soviet Economics

    This course focuses on the economics of Russia and other republics from the beginning of the Soviet period until the present. The origins of the planned system, including collectivization, are discussed. The economic performance of the Soviet economy is examined with an eye toward understanding the forces that led to perestroika. The course concludes with a discussion of economic reform and the challenges facing Russia as it makes the transition to a market-based economy. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2007-2008

  • ECON 232: American Economic History: A Cliometric Approach

    An introduction to the growth of the American economy from colonial times to the present with emphasis on the nineteenth century. Topics include technical change, the choice of production technology, income distribution, demographic transition, factor markets, and the role of institutions. Debates in economic history such as the economic viability of antebellum slavery, the integration of capital markets, the role of railroads in the growth process, and the economic impact of the New Deal are evaluated with an emphasis on empirical evidence. May be counted toward the History major. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2008 -- J. Wahl

  • ECON 233: European Economic History

    A comparative study of dynamic economic components in the growth of western European countries, with particular attention to Great Britain, from the sixteenth to the twentieth century. Topics include the methodology of economic history, agriculture, technology, population, foreign trade, the role of the state, and monetary systems. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2008 -- M. Paas

  • ECON 236: Economics of the European Union

    The evolution of economic and monetary union in Europe has been underway for over 50 years. This course examines the economics of the customs union, common market, and monetary union that characterize this period in European history. Microeconomic aspects of European labor, capital and product markets, as well as national monetary and fiscal policies are discussed. Emphasis is given to tracing in an historical context the economic theories and polices that have been central in creating the present state of the European Union. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2008 -- S. Strand

  • ECON 240: Microeconomics of Development

    This course explores household behavior in developing countries. We will cover areas including fertility decisions, health and mortality, investment in education, the intra-household allocation of resources, household structure, and the marriage market. We will also look at the characteristics of land, labor, and credit markets, particularly technology adoption; land tenure and tenancy arrangements; the role of agrarian institutions in the development process; and the impacts of alternative politics and strategies in developing countries. The course complements Economics 241. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2008 -- M. Ahmed

  • ECON 241: Growth and Development

    Macroeconomic issues, such as growth and distribution, that arise within developing countries will be examined in this course. The course complements Economics 240. Prerequisite: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2008 -- R. Szulga
    Extended departmental description for ECON 241

    See course syllabus (Econ 241) for more information.

  • ECON 245: Economics of Inequality

    As economies develop beyond the point of meeting basic needs, more emphasis is placed on the distribution of resources. This course surveys different elements and measures of economic inequality. We look at race and gender discrimination, industry wage differentials, educational inequality, and changes in inequality within these groups. Because the effects of inequality can be mitigated by movements between economic classes, we also study mobility both within and across generations. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2007-2008

  • ECON 250: History of Economic Ideas

    A survey of the evolution of economic thought from the seventeenth century to the present, with emphasis on the intellectual and historical background which influenced economists. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2008 -- M. Paas
    Extended departmental description for ECON 250

    See course syllabus (250) for more information.

  • ECON 251: The Economics of the Arts and Culture

    This course examines the growth and structure of the arts in the United States since the 1920s. Using the theory of contracts and the logic of economic organization, we will examine the creative industries and the properties that make them special. We will also examine the theory of public goods and of intellectual property rights along with the study of cultural industries, public policy for the arts and cultural heritage preservation. Students will have the opportunity to study one cultural industry in a research paper. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- M. Paas

  • ECON 260: Managerial Economics I

    Managerial Economics provides students with the opportunity to apply knowledge of micro- and macro-economic principles to decision-making in the real world. This course emphasizes accounting and the accounting systems which provide data to decision-makers, giving particular attention to the relevance of accounting data to economic decision-making. An introduction to spreadsheet program will be an integral part of the course, which concludes with an introduction to some basic decision-making techniques (e.g. break-even analysis, naive forecasting models) that use accounting data. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- S. Strand

  • ECON 261: Managerial Economics II

    This course continues the student's introduction to practical decision-making techniques used by economists and managers. Building on material presented in Economics 260, topics surveyed in this course include demand and cost curve analysis as well as the implications of alternative pricing and production choices. Among the analytical techniques used are linear programming, econometrics, calculus, and game theory. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2007-2008

  • ECON 262: The Economics of Sports

    In recent years, the sports business in the United States has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry. Understanding the sports business from an economic viewpoint is the subject of this course. Topics will include player compensation, revenue-sharing, salary caps, free agency, tournaments, salary discrimination, professional franchise valuation, league competitiveness, college athletics, and the economics of sports stadiums and arenas. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2007-2008

  • ECON 265: Game Theory and Economic Applications

    Game theory is the study of purposeful behavior in strategic situations. It serves as a framework for analysis that can be applied to everyday decisions, such as working with a study group and cleaning your room, as well as to a variety of economic issues, including contract negotiations and firms' output decisions. In this class, modern game theoretic tools will be primarily applied to economic situations, but we will also draw on examples from other realms. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2008 -- L. Feiler

  • ECON 266: Experimental Economics

    Controlled experiments are a useful tool for testing and improving upon economic theory. This course will provide an introduction to experimental methodology, with an emphasis on design and hypothesis testing. We will examine experimental results across a wide range of economic topics, including individual decision making, auctions, public goods, and asset markets. Students will participate in experiments, as well as design and conduct their own studies. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- L. Feiler

  • ECON 270: Economics of the Public Sector

    This course provides a theoretical and empirical examination of the government's role in the U.S. economy. Emphasis is placed on policy analysis using the criteria of efficiency and equity. Topics include rationales for government intervention; analysis of alternative public expenditure programs from a partial and/or general equilibrium framework; the incidence of various types of taxes; models of collective choice; cost-benefit analysis; intergovernmental fiscal relations. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2008 -- J. Wahl

  • ECON 271: Economics of Natural Resources and the Environment

    This course focuses on environmental economics, energy economics, and the relationship between them. Economic incentives for pollution abatement, the industrial organization of energy production, optimal depletion rates of energy sources, and the environmental and economic consequences of alternate energy sources are analyzed. Prerequisite: Economics 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2008 -- M. Kanazawa

  • ECON 273: Water and Western Economic Development

    This course examines a number of important aspects of water as a legal/political/economic factor in the development of the western United States. The topics include western water law, the evolution of water supply institutions, state and local water planning, the role of the federal government, and a number of current water problems, including surface and groundwater pollution, impediments to market transfers of water, and state/regional/international conflicts over water. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2007-2008

  • ECON 274: Labor Economics

    What do you want from work? What do employers want from you? The hurly-burly of the international marketplace creates problems­and opportunities­for employers and employees. This course uses economic theory to analyze the market for labor and focuses on such diverse issues as leveraged buyouts, fringe benefits, salaries of athletes, financing of education, unions and collective bargaining, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, discrimination and harassment, minimum wage policies, welfare, and income distribution. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2008 -- M. Ahmed
    Extended departmental description for ECON 274

    See course syllabus (Econ 274) for more information.

  • ECON 275: Law and Economics

    Legal rules and institutions influence people's behavior. By setting acceptable levels of pollution, structuring guidelines for contract negotiations, deciding who should pay for the costs of an accident, and determining punishment for crimes, courts and legislatures create incentives. How do economic considerations factor into legal rules, and how do laws affect economic output and distribution? In this class, we use court cases, experiments, and current legal controversies to explore such issues. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2007-2008

  • ECON 276: Money and Banking

    This course examines the role of money and monetary institutions in determination of income, employment, and prices in domestic and world economy. It also examines the role of commercial banking and financial markets in a market-based economy. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; not offered 2007-2008

  • ECON 278: Industrial Organization and Pricing Policy

    This course analyzes the firm's marketing and pricing problems, its conduct, and the resulting economic performance, given the nature of the demand for its products, its buying markets, the nature of its unit costs, and the structure of its selling markets. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2008 -- N. Grawe
    Extended departmental description for ECON 278

    See course syllabus for more information.

  • ECON 280: International Trade

    A study of international trade theories and their policy implications. Classical and neo-classical trade models, the gains from trade, the terms of trade and the distribution of income, world trade patterns, international factor movements, tariffs, and the impact of commercial policy on developing and developed countries are analyzed. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- M. Hemesath

  • ECON 281: International Finance

    This course studies theories of the multi-faceted interaction between the balance of international payments and foreign exchange market and the general levels of domestic prices, employment and economic activity. Topics include the balance of payments, foreign exchange markets, adjustment mechanisms in international payments, macroeconomic policies for internal and external balance, and international monetary systems. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Spring 2008 -- R. Szulga

  • ECON 282: Investment Finance

    The main objective of this course is to investigate various aspects of modern investment theory and develop basic techniques for applying this theoretical framework to the real-world data. Topics covered include: portfolio and asset pricing theories; fixed-income security management; derivatives with the primary focus on option pricing. The class will develop and actively use univariate calculus for theory-building and statistical techniques for data analysis. Prerequisite: Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- P. Kapinos

  • ECON 330: Intermediate Price Theory

    An analysis of the forces determining relative prices within the framework of production and distribution. This class is normally taken by juniors. Sophomores considering enrolling should speak to the instructor. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111, Mathematics 111 or its equivalent. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007, Winter 2008 -- J. Wahl

  • ECON 331: Intermediate Macro Theory

    Analysis of the forces determining the general level of output, employment, and prices with special emphasis on the role of money and on interest rate determination. This class is normally taken by juniors. Sophomores considering enrolling should speak to the instructor. Prerequisites: Economics 110 and 111, and 330. 6; Social Sciences; offered Winter 2008, Spring 2008 -- P. Kapinos
    Extended departmental description for ECON 331

    See course syllabus for more information.

  • ECON 332: Econometrics

    This course is an introduction to the statistical methods used by economists to test hypotheses and to study and quantify economic relationships. The course emphasizes both statistical theory and practical application through analysis of economic data sets using statistical software. Topics include two-variable and multiple regression, interval estimation and hypothesis testing, discrete and continuous structural change, parameter restrictions, model construction, heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation, and multicollinearity. This course is normally taken by juniors. Sophomores considering enrolling should speak to the instructor. Prerequisites: Mathematics 111 and either Mathematics 215 or 275 and Economics 110 and 111. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007, Spring 2008 -- N. Grawe, M. Kanazawa
    Extended departmental description for ECON 332

    See course syllabus (Econ 332) for more information.

  • ECON 395: Advanced Topics in Behavioral and Experimental Economics

    Behavioral economics incorporates insights from psychology to increase the realism and predictive power of economic models. This course will examine a variety of behavioral topics, such as altruism, procrastination, and self-serving biases. A second focus will be placed on the design and use of experiments to test behavioral and other economic models. Prerequisites: Economics 330, 331, and 332 or concurrent enrollment in 332. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- L. Feiler

  • ECON 395: Advanced Topics in Health Economics

    An economic analysis of the nature of demand for different types of health services, the supply of those services by different providers, the health care industry, market failures in providing health care, and alternative health care delivery systems. Prerequisites: Economics 330, 331, and 332 or concurrent enrollment in 332. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- M. Hemesath

  • ECON 395: Advanced Topics in Household Behavior

    This course focuses on the microeconomic analysis of household behavior, in both developed and developing country settings. A variety of topics will be examined including human capital investment, discrimination in intra-household allocation decisions, as well as labor market activities within the larger context of general household decision-making about family formation, the timing of marriage and childbirth, and the allocation of unpaid household work among family members. Prerequisites: Economics 330, 331, and 332 or concurrent enrollment in 332. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- M. Ahmed

  • ECON 395: Advanced Topics in Macro Theory

    Detailed analyses of aggregate consumption, investment, money-holding and labor market behavior with special attention to each area's micro-foundations and to the empirical verification of theory. These analyses are related to the determination of national income, employment and the price level; to economic growth and business fluctuations; and to optimal public, policy. Prerequisites: Economics 330, 331 and 332 or concurrent enrollment in 332. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- N. Grawe

  • ECON 395: Advanced Topics in Long Run Growth

    This course focuses on economic growth in the very long run. Both historical issues and modern economic growth are considered, as well as the transition between different economic regimes. Topics included: Malthus and long run population dynamics, economic history in the pre-industrial era, transition to modern economic growth, divergence, role of institutions and factors in the development process as well as the influence of trade and globalization. Prerequisites: Economics 330, 331, and 332 or concurrent enrollment in 332. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- R. Szulga

  • ECON 395: Advanced Topics in Labor Economics

    Labor economics is the study of work and pay. It encompasses a wide variety of topics, including the nature of the labor contract, human capital investment, fringe benefits, search and hiring, turnover, working conditions, discrimination, union activities, income and wealth distribution, and government policies. The seminar considers labor market activities within the larger context of general household decision-making about family formation, the timing of marriage and childbirth, and the allocation of unpaid household work among family members. Prerequisites: Economics 330, 331, and 332 or concurrent enrollment in 332. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- J. Wahl

  • ECON 395: Advanced Topics in Sports Economics

    An in-depth analysis of economic issues involving professional and amateur sports leagues and collegiate athletic programs. A variety of issues will be examined including the structuring of labor contracts, superstar compensation, cartelization and price-fixing, cross-subsidization and antitrust treatment of sports franchises. Prerequisites: Economics 330, 331 and 332 or concurrent enrollment in 332. 6; Social Sciences; offered Fall 2007 -- M. Kanazawa

  • ECON 400: Integrative Exercise

    6; S/NC; Does not fulfill a distribution requirement; offered Fall 2007, Winter 2008 -- M. Kanazawa, R. Szulga, J. Wahl