Intensive writing course dealing with various topics in economics. Fulfills the Junior Year Writing requirement for students whose primary major is Economics at UMass Amherst.

Intensive writing course dealing with various topics in economics. Fulfills the Junior Year Writing requirement for students whose primary major is Economics at UMass Amherst.

Intensive writing course dealing with various topics in economics. Fulfills the Junior Year Writing requirement for students whose primary major is Economics at UMass Amherst.

Intensive writing course dealing with various topics in economics. Fulfills the Junior Year Writing requirement for students whose primary major is Economics at UMass Amherst.

This course focuses on the economics of women, minorities and work in the labor market and the household. Using economic theory along with empirical investigation, we will study issues such as employment decisions, earnings determination, occupational choice, discrimination, and family formation. Emphasis will be placed on public policies related to the labor market experiences of women and minorities.

The goal of this course is to use the analytic tools of microeconomic theory to study the worker-firm employment relationship.

Liars' Economics will introduce students to skeptical and effective consumption and production of information in the era of big data. Students will learn how to spot and avoid statistical pitfalls, irrational decisions, fake news, information out of context, and blind faith. The course will draw from historical examples and current events and from contemporary debates in economics and political economy. Students will practice interpreting, visualizing, and writing about big data.

The role of organized business advocacy in the regulation of the economy. Covers theories of business power in society, empirical analysis of lobbying in economic policy making, and the formal and informal methods to maintain, supplement and moderate competition.

The history of the international monetary and commercial system from the gold exchange standard in the 1920's to the present period of floating exchange rates. Systems of fixed and floating exchange rates from theoretical and applied points of view. The roles of international credits, Euro-currency, central bank policies. Prerequisite: ECON 204. (ECON 311 recommended.)

Federal budgetary policy and the U.S. economy. Impact of social-welfare spending and taxes on income distribution, growth, cyclical stability, and efficiency. Prerequisite: ECON 203 (or RES-ECON 202) and ECON 204.