This course examines efforts to improve educational systems across three key areas: teaching and

Brain implants, embryo selection, self-driving cars, nanotechnology, robot nurses, virtual teachers, cognitive enhancing drugs and artificial general intelligences are among the technologies that might have a large impact on the economy over the next few decades. This course uses the tools of microeconomics to explore the potential effects of these and other possible technologies and to explain how economic incentives shape the types of technologies businesses develop. Prerequisite: ECO 250. Restrictions: Juniors and seniors only. Enrollment limited to 12. Instructor permission required.

It is hotly debated whether and to what extent observable outcome differentials in various markets can be attributed to the effects of discrimination. This course critically explores various discrimination topics, paying special attention to the evidence in the economics literature that potentially proves or disproves the presence of discrimination. A critical skill essential to the economic analysis of discrimination is the use of econometrics in analyzing discriminatory practices.

Since 1965, the annual poverty rate in the United States has hovered between 10% and 15%, though far more than 15% of Americans experience poverty at some point in their lives. This course studies public policies intended to improve the well-being of the poor in this country.

An examination of international monetary theory and institutions and their relevance to national and international economic policy. Topics include mechanisms of adjustment in the balance of payments, macroeconomic and exchange-rate policy for internal and external balance, international movements of capital and the history of the international monetary system: its past crises and current prospects, issues of currency union and optimal currency area, and emerging markets. Prerequisite: ECO 253.

This course offers an introduction to computational and empirical finance, emphasizing data work using R. Topics covered include optimal portfolio construction and performance evaluation; factor pricing models; time-series econometrics; market efficiency; and asset valuation. A prior course using R is recommended. No prior knowledge of financial economics is assumed. Prerequisites: MTH 111 and ECO 220, ECO 240, SDS 220 or SDS 291. Enrollment limited to 25. (E)

An examination of the combination of economists’ models and psychologists’ understanding of human behavior. This combination fosters new understanding of consumers’ and firms’ decision-making. Topics include decisions motivated by issues of fairness or revenge (rather than self-interest); decisions based on the discounting of future happiness; decisions based on individuals’ incorrect beliefs about themselves (such as underestimating the power of bad habits or cravings). This new understanding has implications for economic, political, legal and ethical issues.

Builds a cohesive theoretical framework within which to analyze the workings of the macroeconomy. Current issues relating to key macroeconomic variables such as output, inflation and unemployment are examined within this framework. The role of government policy, both in the short run and the long run, is also assessed. Prerequisites: ECO 153 and MTH 111 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 55.

Builds a cohesive theoretical framework within which to analyze the workings of the macroeconomy. Current issues relating to key macroeconomic variables such as output, inflation and unemployment are examined within this framework. The role of government policy, both in the short run and the long run, is also assessed. Prerequisites: ECO 153 and MTH 111 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 55.

Builds a cohesive theoretical framework within which to analyze the workings of the macroeconomy. Current issues relating to key macroeconomic variables such as output, inflation and unemployment are examined within this framework. The role of government policy, both in the short run and the long run, is also assessed. Prerequisites: ECO 153 and MTH 111 or equivalent. Enrollment limited to 55.