Jay Corrigan

Principles of Microeconomics

ECON 101

This course studies issues of economic choice, economic efficiency and social welfare. The course presents theories of consumer and producer behavior and shows how these theories can be used to predict the consequences of individual, business and government actions. Topics covered include opportunity cost; the gains from trade; supply and demand analysis; taxes; externalities; price controls; consumer choice; production and cost; product pricing and market structure. This course is required for economics majors. Offered every fall semester.

Principles of Macroeconomics

ECON 102

This course studies national economic performance. Building upon the microeconomic theories of consumer and producer behavior developed in ECON 101, the course introduces models that focus on the questions of unemployment, inflation and growth. Topics covered include measurement of national income and inflation, macroeconomic models, saving and investment, money and banking, fiscal and monetary policy, and international trade and finance. This course is required for economics majors. Prerequisite: ECON 101. Offered every spring semester.

Environmental Economics

ECON 336

This course uses economic analysis to better understand the nature of environmental issues such as pollution and the allocation of natural resources. The course also examines the economic rationale behind policies aimed at improving the quality of the environment and altering our use of natural resources. The relative strengths of alternative policies will be discussed using a series of case studies focusing on actual policies aimed at correcting environmental problems. Prerequisite: ECON 101.Generally offered every spring semester.

Economics of the Public Sector

ECON 347

This course is a study of the public sector in the U.S. economy, featuring government provision of public goods, redistribution of income, and taxation. Students consider the theory that justifies government intervention in a market economy as well as the reasons for government's tendency to create economic inefficiencies. We will explore specific expenditure programs such as defense, health care, education, social insurance and welfare, as well as specific taxes. Prerequisite: ECON 101 and 102. Generally offered every other year.

Game Theory

ECON 360

Game theory is the study of strategic interactions between parties. In this class, we will discuss normal and extensive form games, dominant strategies, Nash equilibria with pure and mixed strategies, and incentive compatibility. We will also discuss applications to economic decision-making, biology, bargaining and negotiation, and political science. We will demonstrate many of these applications using in-class games with real cash incentives. Prerequisite: ECON 101 and 102. Generally offered every year.

Experimental and Behavioral Economics

ECON 371

This seminar examines the use of laboratory and field experiments to study economic and social science behavior. We will consider issues relating to the design of experiments, including the use of laboratory versus field methods, financial incentives, control conditions and statistical analysis. We will study several types of economic experiments, including auctions, bargaining, dictator and ultimatum games, games in environmental economics, public goods allocation and voting games. This counts toward the seminar requirement for the major. Prerequisite: ECON 101 and 102. Generally offered every year.

ST: Exp. Economics Seminar

ECON 391

ST: Game Theory

ECON 391

PENDING CPC APPROVAL

ECON 391

Junior Honors Seminar

ECON 397

This seminar is for juniors who are candidates for honors in economics. Students undertake a series of research projects, write papers, and discuss the results of their research with fellow students. This course counts as an Economics Department seminar. Prerequisites: junior standing and permission of instructor.

Capstone Seminar in Public Policy

ECON 440

This seminar brings together a political scientist and an economist to consider how these disciplines approach the study of public policy. The course will concentrate on applying both of the disciplines to the study of a selection of public policies ranging from poverty to budget deficits or globalization. We will explore the substantive issues and the process of governmental policymaking in specific policy domains. How is policy made? What should the policy be? The work of scholars in each discipline will be studied to better understand the differences in approaches and to consider the potential for combining them. What does political science contribute to the study of economic policymaking? What can the tools and perspective of economics contribute to the study of a topic like welfare reform or global warming? This course is required for students completing the Public Policy Concentration and it is open to other seniors. This course is the same as PSCI 440. Prerequisite: ECON 101, 102 and one course in American politics or permission of instructor.

Individual Study

ECON 493

This course is for students who wish to do advanced work beyond regular courses or to study subjects not included in course offerings. Credit for this course will count towards the Economics major. The credit to be awarded and the exact structure of the course will be determined by the instructor and approved by the department chair. Typical activities include regularly assigned readings of scholarly material, weekly meetings to discuss the readings, and a research paper project. Prerequisite: ECON 101, 102 and permission of instructor and department chair. Because students must enroll for individual studies by the end of the seventh class day of each semester, they should begin discussion of the proposed individual study preferably the semester before, so that there is time to devise the proposal and seek departmental approval before the registrar's deadline.

Senior Honors Seminar

ECON 497

Senior Seminar in Public Policy

PSCI 440

This seminar brings together a political scientist and an economist to consider how these disciplines approach the study of public policy. The course will concentrate on applying both of the disciplines to the study of a selection of public policies, ranging from poverty to budget deficits or globalization. We will explore the substantive issues and the process of governmental policymaking in specific policy domains. How is policy made? What should the policy be? The work of scholars in each discipline will be studied to better understand the differences in approaches and to consider the potential for combining them. What does political science contribute to the study of economic policymaking? What can the tools and perspective of economics contribute to the study of a topic like welfare reform or global warming? This seminar is required for students completing the Public Policy Concentration, and it is open to other seniors. This course is the same as ECON 440 listed in the economics curriculum. Prerequisite: ECON 101, 102 and one course in American politics or permission of instructor.