In this course, we will examine microeconomic theories of how industries operate in real-world marketplaces, largely focusing on the interplay of industrial conditions, structure, conduct and performance. We will apply these theories to case studies and to antitrust law.

The Economics of The Financial Sector will track the evolution of the U.S. financial services industry through time. The primary focus will be on the most recent 35 years - a time of dramatic change in the regulatory structure and tremendous growth in the role of the financial sector in the overall economy. A central topic will be the recent financial crisis in the United States, and why it happened in the way that it did. Students that successfully complete the course will have a very good understanding of what the mass media refers to as Wall St.

The economics of risk and uncertainty examines how people, governments, and businesses make decisions when they don't know the future -- which is always. We will examine different ways of "not knowing the future", distinguishing between risk, when possible outcomes and their likelihoods are known, and uncertainty, when they are not. We will give some attention to risk perception and new research at the border between psychology and economics.

Not available at this time

Not available at this time

Not available at this time

Students will be asked to retrospectively analyze their experiences as workers and consumers, evaluating the impact of organizational forms and industry structure. How do cooperative enterprises (including those on campus such as the People's Market, Earthfoods, and Campus Design and Copy) differ from other enterprises? Students will also be asked to explicitly bring material they have learned in other classes to bear on these issues.

Evaluation and comparison of the structure and performance of alternative economic systems. Topics include: mechanisms of resource allocation and pricing, institutions of government policy, organization of work and labor relations, international trade and finance, and income distribution. Prerequisite: ECON 103 or RESECON 102.

This course provides the tools for understanding the evolution of African economies after independence and their current situation in the global economy. The course emphasizes the importance of the interactions between political institutions and economic systems in determining economic and social outcomes. The course will begin with a quick overview of pre-colonial and colonial Africa followed by a selection of topics on independent Africa. Students will lead a series of presentations of country case studies.

A critical review of neoclassical, Marxist, and feminist economic theories pertaining to inequality between men and women in both the family and the firm.