In this First-Year Seminar, we examine inequalities in income, wealth, and working conditions in the United States today. What do the historical trends look like and how do economists explain them? Is economic inequality a significant problem? If so, why? And what tools do we have in the policy arsenal to address it? We will draw on diverse sources, including economics readings, op-eds, podcasts, and short vignettes from literature to motivate our weekly discussions. Students will have the opportunity to present group research and lead class discussions drawing on the economic concepts developed in class. At the end of the semester, students will complete an individual research project exploring some aspect of current inequality, inspired by their own selection from literature, poetry, music, or film.

• Days/Times: W 1:30PM - 4:00PM
• Instructor: Morgan, Barbara Anne
• Room: Gilman 35
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 12/12
• PosTag(s): CES-PD, CES-RI

Social science is the scholarly study of society and social behavior. This First-Year Seminar will introduce students to the social sciences by studying poverty in America through the lens of economics and other social sciences, including sociology and anthropology. The quantitative approach taken by economics will be compared and contrasted with qualitative approaches. Illustrations of how the lives of the poor are led as depicted in ethnographic studies, movies, and literature will be studied to learn how integrated perspectives can be formed. Students will learn how to read scholarly articles with a critical eye, to speak about their interpretations of the material, and to write short critical essays. Students will also be introduced to quantitative analysis using graphs and tables. Group projects will be required. Guest lecturers bringing non-economics perspectives will visit the class.

• Days/Times: TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM
• Instructor: Moffitt, Robert A
• Room: Gilman 134
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 12/12
• PosTag(s): CES-PD

An introduction to the economic system and economic analysis, with emphasis on total national income and output, employment, the price level and inflation, money, the government budget, the national debt, and interest rates. The role of public policy. Applications of economic analysis to government and personal decisions. Prerequisite: basic facility with graphs and algebra.

• Days/Times: WF 9:00AM - 9:50AM, M 9:00AM - 9:50AM
• Instructor: Barbera, Bob; Seshie-Nasser, Hellen
• Room: Mergenthaler 111
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 2/20
• PosTag(s): n/a

An introduction to the economic system and economic analysis, with emphasis on total national income and output, employment, the price level and inflation, money, the government budget, the national debt, and interest rates. The role of public policy. Applications of economic analysis to government and personal decisions. Prerequisite: basic facility with graphs and algebra.

• Days/Times: WF 9:00AM - 9:50AM, M 9:00AM - 9:50AM
• Instructor: Barbera, Bob; Seshie-Nasser, Hellen
• Room: Mergenthaler 111
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 8/20
• PosTag(s): n/a

An introduction to the economic system and economic analysis, with emphasis on total national income and output, employment, the price level and inflation, money, the government budget, the national debt, and interest rates. The role of public policy. Applications of economic analysis to government and personal decisions. Prerequisite: basic facility with graphs and algebra.

• Days/Times: WF 9:00AM - 9:50AM, M 3:00PM - 3:50PM
• Instructor: Barbera, Bob; Seshie-Nasser, Hellen
• Room: Mergenthaler 111
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 3/20
• PosTag(s): n/a

An introduction to the economic system and economic analysis, with emphasis on total national income and output, employment, the price level and inflation, money, the government budget, the national debt, and interest rates. The role of public policy. Applications of economic analysis to government and personal decisions. Prerequisite: basic facility with graphs and algebra.

• Days/Times: WF 9:00AM - 9:50AM, M 3:00PM - 3:50PM
• Instructor: Barbera, Bob; Seshie-Nasser, Hellen
• Room: Mergenthaler 111
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 10/20
• PosTag(s): n/a

An introduction to the economic system and economic analysis, with emphasis on total national income and output, employment, the price level and inflation, money, the government budget, the national debt, and interest rates. The role of public policy. Applications of economic analysis to government and personal decisions. Prerequisite: basic facility with graphs and algebra.

• Days/Times: WF 9:00AM - 9:50AM, T 9:00AM - 9:50AM
• Instructor: Barbera, Bob; Seshie-Nasser, Hellen
• Room: Mergenthaler 111
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 15/20
• PosTag(s): n/a

An introduction to the economic system and economic analysis, with emphasis on total national income and output, employment, the price level and inflation, money, the government budget, the national debt, and interest rates. The role of public policy. Applications of economic analysis to government and personal decisions. Prerequisite: basic facility with graphs and algebra.

• Days/Times: WF 9:00AM - 9:50AM, T 9:00AM - 9:50AM
• Instructor: Barbera, Bob; Seshie-Nasser, Hellen
• Room: Mergenthaler 111
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 19/20
• PosTag(s): n/a

An introduction to the economic system and economic analysis, with an emphasis on demand and supply, relative prices, the allocation of resources, and the distribution of goods and services. It covers the theory of consumer behavior, the theory of the firm, and competition and monopoly, including the application of microeconomic analysis to contemporary problems. The course includes lectures twice a week, each 75 minutes, and a TA session once a week for 50 minutes. The TA session is highly recommended, and attendance in both the lecture class and TA section is crucial for a better performance in the course. Students must check the dates and times of the TA sections before registering for a particular section.

• Days/Times: MW 12:00PM - 1:15PM
• Instructor: Husain, Muhammad Mudabbir
• Room: Shaffer 3
• Status: Reserved Open
• Seats Available: 3/40
• PosTag(s): n/a

An introduction to the economic system and economic analysis, with an emphasis on demand and supply, relative prices, the allocation of resources, and the distribution of goods and services. It covers the theory of consumer behavior, the theory of the firm, and competition and monopoly, including the application of microeconomic analysis to contemporary problems. The course includes lectures twice a week, each 75 minutes, and a TA session once a week for 50 minutes. The TA session is highly recommended, and attendance in both the lecture class and TA section is crucial for a better performance in the course. Students must check the dates and times of the TA sections before registering for a particular section.

• Days/Times: MW 12:00PM - 1:15PM
• Instructor: Husain, Muhammad Mudabbir
• Room: Shaffer 3
• Status: Reserved Open
• Seats Available: 16/40
• PosTag(s): n/a

An introduction to the economic system and economic analysis, with an emphasis on demand and supply, relative prices, the allocation of resources, and the distribution of goods and services. It covers the theory of consumer behavior, the theory of the firm, and competition and monopoly, including the application of microeconomic analysis to contemporary problems. The course includes lectures twice a week, each 75 minutes, and a TA session once a week for 50 minutes. The TA session is highly recommended, and attendance in both the lecture class and TA section is crucial for a better performance in the course. Students must check the dates and times of the TA sections before registering for a particular section.

• Days/Times: MW 12:00PM - 1:15PM
• Instructor: Husain, Muhammad Mudabbir
• Room: Shaffer 3
• Status: Reserved Open
• Seats Available: 15/40
• PosTag(s): n/a

An introduction to the economic system and economic analysis, with an emphasis on demand and supply, relative prices, the allocation of resources, and the distribution of goods and services. It covers the theory of consumer behavior, the theory of the firm, and competition and monopoly, including the application of microeconomic analysis to contemporary problems. The course includes lectures twice a week, each 75 minutes, and a TA session once a week for 50 minutes. The TA session is highly recommended, and attendance in both the lecture class and TA section is crucial for a better performance in the course. Students must check the dates and times of the TA sections before registering for a particular section.

• Days/Times: MW 12:00PM - 1:15PM
• Instructor: Husain, Muhammad Mudabbir
• Room: Shaffer 3
• Status: Reserved Open
• Seats Available: 24/40
• PosTag(s): n/a

Each Wednesday, noon, emerging economic issues, identified throughout the semester, are reviewed. A broad group meets, every other week, overseen by Professor's Robert Barbera and Jon Faust. Other participants include economics department faculty and graduate students, and around 10 undergraduates--afforded access by invitation only. Readings are distributed before the Wednesday meeting. The issues discussed are generally controversial. Undergrads are invited to offer opinions. On off weeks, the undergrads will meet with Professor Jon Faust, and the previous week's discussion will be reviewed. Lunch is provided each week.

• Days/Times: W 12:00PM - 1:00PM
• Instructor: Faust, Jon W
• Room: Wyman Park 350
• Status: Approval Required
• Seats Available: 9/10
• PosTag(s): n/a

In 2001, Jim O’Neill, the Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs, coined the acronym BRIC to identify the four large emerging economies, Brazil, Russia, India and China. These economies had an amazing run for the next decade, and emerged as the biggest and fastest growing emerging markets. However, since 2014 there has been some divergence in the BRICs’ economic performance. In this course, we look at the economic experiences of the BRIC countries for the past several decades. We discuss the reasons that contributed to their exceptional growth rates, with particular emphasis on their transformation into market economies, and the reasons for their eventual divergence. We also analyze some of the challenges that these countries continue to face in their development process.

• Days/Times: TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM
• Instructor: Dasgupta, Somasree
• Room: Hodson 303
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/20
• PosTag(s): INST-ECON, INST-CP, CES-FT, CES-PD

In 2001, Jim O’Neill, the Chief Economist at Goldman Sachs, coined the acronym BRIC to identify the four large emerging economies, Brazil, Russia, India and China. These economies had an amazing run for the next decade, and emerged as the biggest and fastest growing emerging markets. However, since 2014 there has been some divergence in the BRICs’ economic performance. In this course, we look at the economic experiences of the BRIC countries for the past several decades. We discuss the reasons that contributed to their exceptional growth rates, with particular emphasis on their transformation into market economies, and the reasons for their eventual divergence. We also analyze some of the challenges that these countries continue to face in their development process.

• Days/Times: TTh 3:00PM - 4:15PM
• Instructor: Dasgupta, Somasree
• Room: Hodson 303
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/20
• PosTag(s): INST-ECON, INST-CP, CES-FT, CES-PD

Many sub-Saharan African countries are among the least developed countries in the world. In this course, we explore the economic development experiences of African countries, with more focus on sub-Saharan Africa. The course starts with a historical perspective, delves into development strategies, and examines evidence on successes and failures of some case study countries. We conclude by analyzing the many challenges that these countries continue to face in their development process. Elements of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics are required prerequisites. There would be group presentations on assigned readings.

• Days/Times: WF 1:30PM - 2:45PM
• Instructor: Seshie-Nasser, Hellen
• Room: Gilman 75
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/20
• PosTag(s): INST-ECON, CES-PD, CES-TI, CES-RI

Human capital is an important factor of economic growth in South Asian economies, along with physical capital and technology. Addressing health and education challenges has implications for improving a country’s human capital formation and income growth. In this course, we look at past and present health and educational outcomes in South Asian Countries. We discuss the gaps in access to education and health care services, the quality of education and health care services as well as the impacts on the productivity of the labor force. We also empirically analyze the link between economic growth and human capital development. Furthermore, we focus on some challenges and future policy options for economies in South Asia.

• Days/Times: TTh 1:30PM - 2:45PM
• Instructor: Fatehin, Sohani
• Room: Maryland 104
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/15
• PosTag(s): INST-ECON, CES-PD

A key contribution of economics to the policymaking process is understanding and predicting reactions of agents affected by policy changes. Many policies have unintended or indirect effects that are at least as important as their direct impacts, but less obvious. Fortunately, economic theory provides us a framework to understand them. In this course, we will survey a wide variety of subjects, from taxation, to drug policy and harm reduction, to health insurance plan design and regulation, to bankruptcy codes. Working in groups, students will prepare presentations on specific policy proposals not directly covered in class, in which they will describe (with evidence) all the channels by which that policy will act.

• Days/Times: MW 12:00PM - 1:15PM
• Instructor: Fourakis, Stelios Stephen
• Room: Maryland 104
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/15
• PosTag(s): INST-ECON, CES-LSO

This course analyzes the financial and monetary system of the U.S. economy and the design and implementation of U.S. monetary policy. Among other topics, we will examine the role of banks in the economy, the term structure of interest rates, the stock market, the supply of money, the role of the Federal Reserve in the economy, the objectives of monetary policy in the United States and current monetary policy practice.

• Days/Times: TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM
• Instructor: Poliakova, Ludmila
• Room: Ames 234
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 27/60
• PosTag(s): INST-ECON, ECON-FINMIN, CES-FT

This course is an introduction to the financial management of a corporation. Students study the following broad questions. How should a firm decide whether to invest in a new project? How much debt and equity should a firm use to finance its activities? How should a firm pay its investors? How do taxes affect a firm’s investment and financing decisions? What determines the value of a firm? The emphasis throughout the course is on the economic principles that underlie answers to these questions.

• Days/Times: TTh 6:00PM - 7:15PM
• Instructor: Staff
• Room: Gilman 132
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 1/60
• PosTag(s): CES-FT

Understanding design and functioning of financial markets and institutions, connecting theoretical foundations and real-world applications and cases. Basic principles of asymmetric information problems, management of risk. Money, bond, and equity markets; investment banking, security brokers, and venture capital firms; structure, competition, and regulation of commercial banks. Importance of electronic technology on financial systems.

• Days/Times: W 3:00PM - 5:30PM
• Instructor: Feinman, Josh
• Room: Latrobe 120
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/40
• PosTag(s): INST-ECON, ECON-FINMIN, CES-FT, CES-TI

The course will explore the economic rationale for, and consequences of, competition policy and specifically of antitrust laws. By analyzing some of the landmark antitrust cases, we will review the economic theories underlying competition law and we will discuss how competition policy places limits on firms’ behavior and affects firms’ strategic choices. We end this class by reviewing several recent antitrust cases arising in the context of digital economy.

• Days/Times: MW 3:00PM - 4:15PM
• Instructor: Krasnokutskaya, Elena
• Room: Maryland 309
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/15
• PosTag(s): n/a

The precursors to modern hedge funds began more than 50 years ago, but in the 1990s the hedge fund, or alternative investments, industry began a period of rapid growth and evolution. With growth came controversy. Some argue that hedge funds, by allowing immense amounts of capital to be rapidly and freely deployed, play a vital role in pushing prices toward the efficient markets ideal. Others claim that hedge funds may accentuate speculative price dynamics, threatening the stability of the financial sector. While many hedge funds claim to offer outstanding returns to investors, data suggest that many clients end up paying high fees for unspectacular results. This course examines these and other controversies, while tracing the history of the alternative investments industry over the last 25 years.

• Days/Times: TTh 12:00PM - 1:15PM
• Instructor: Heerdt, Kevin M.
• Room: Croft Hall G02
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/18
• PosTag(s): ECON-FINMIN, CES-FT, CES-TI

The precursors to modern hedge funds began more than 50 years ago, but in the 1990s the hedge fund, or alternative investments, industry began a period of rapid growth and evolution. With growth came controversy. Some argue that hedge funds, by allowing immense amounts of capital to be rapidly and freely deployed, play a vital role in pushing prices toward the efficient markets ideal. Others claim that hedge funds may accentuate speculative price dynamics, threatening the stability of the financial sector. While many hedge funds claim to offer outstanding returns to investors, data suggest that many clients end up paying high fees for unspectacular results. This course examines these and other controversies, while tracing the history of the alternative investments industry over the last 25 years.

• Days/Times: TTh 3:00PM - 4:15PM
• Instructor: Heerdt, Kevin M.
• Room: Hodson 216
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 9/18
• PosTag(s): ECON-FINMIN, CES-FT, CES-TI

Application of economic concepts and analysis to the health services system. Review of empirical studies of demand for health services, behavior of providers, and relationship of health services to population health levels. Discussion of current policy issues relating to financing and resource allocation.

• Days/Times: M 4:30PM - 7:00PM
• Instructor: De Broucker, Gatien
• Room: Hodson 316
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/40
• PosTag(s): INST-ECON, PHIL-BIOETH, SPOL-UL, CES-ELECT

An introduction to the modern theory of allocation of resources, starting with the theories of the individual consumer and producer, and proceeding to analysis of systems of interacting individuals, first in the theory of exchange, then to systems which include production as well. A grade of C or higher is recommended in Elements of Micro (AS 180.102) and Elements of Macro (AS 180.101) to take this course.

• Days/Times: TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM, F 9:00AM - 9:50AM
• Instructor: Fatehin, Sohani
• Room: Krieger 205
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 13/42
• PosTag(s): CES-LC

An introduction to the modern theory of allocation of resources, starting with the theories of the individual consumer and producer, and proceeding to analysis of systems of interacting individuals, first in the theory of exchange, then to systems which include production as well. A grade of C or higher is recommended in Elements of Micro (AS 180.102) and Elements of Macro (AS 180.101) to take this course.

• Days/Times: TTh 10:30AM - 11:45AM, Th 9:00AM - 9:50AM
• Instructor: Fatehin, Sohani
• Room: Krieger 205
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 11/42
• PosTag(s): CES-LC

The course provides a treatment of macroeconomic theory including a static analysis of the determination of output, employment, the price level, the rate of interest, and a dynamic analysis of growth, inflation, and business cycles. In addition, the use and effectiveness of monetary and fiscal policy to bring about full employment, price stability, and steady economic growth will be discussed. A grade of C or higher is recommended in Elements of Micro (AS 180.102) and Elements of Macro (AS 180.101) to take this course.

• Days/Times: TTh 1:30PM - 2:45PM, Th 9:00AM - 9:50AM
• Instructor: Poliakova, Ludmila
• Room: Maryland 110
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/42
• PosTag(s): CES-PD

The course provides a treatment of macroeconomic theory including a static analysis of the determination of output, employment, the price level, the rate of interest, and a dynamic analysis of growth, inflation, and business cycles. In addition, the use and effectiveness of monetary and fiscal policy to bring about full employment, price stability, and steady economic growth will be discussed. A grade of C or higher is recommended in Elements of Micro (AS 180.102) and Elements of Macro (AS 180.101) to take this course.

• Days/Times: TTh 1:30PM - 2:45PM, F 9:00AM - 9:50AM
• Instructor: Poliakova, Ludmila
• Room: Maryland 110
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/42
• PosTag(s): CES-PD

Introduction to the methods of estimation in economic research. The course begins with a review of basic statistics. This is followed by developing the primary method employed in economic research, the method of least squares, and an investigation of the performance of this method in a variety of important situations. The course considers a way to handle many of the situations in which ordinary least squares is not useful, the method of instrumental variables. The modeling of economic time series, binary dependent variables, panel data and differences in differences are all also considered. Applications are intended to showcase how the tools of econometrics can be brought to bear on important policy questions.

• Days/Times: MW 1:30PM - 2:45PM, Th 9:00AM - 9:50AM
• Instructor: Li, Lixiong
• Room: Gilman 50
• Status: Reserved Open
• Seats Available: 4/25
• PosTag(s): n/a

Introduction to the methods of estimation in economic research. The course begins with a review of basic statistics. This is followed by developing the primary method employed in economic research, the method of least squares, and an investigation of the performance of this method in a variety of important situations. The course considers a way to handle many of the situations in which ordinary least squares is not useful, the method of instrumental variables. The modeling of economic time series, binary dependent variables, panel data and differences in differences are all also considered. Applications are intended to showcase how the tools of econometrics can be brought to bear on important policy questions.

• Days/Times: MW 1:30PM - 2:45PM, F 9:00AM - 9:50AM
• Instructor: Li, Lixiong
• Room: Gilman 50
• Status: Reserved Open
• Seats Available: 4/25
• PosTag(s): n/a

Introduction to the methods of estimation in economic research. The course begins with a review of basic statistics. This is followed by developing the primary method employed in economic research, the method of least squares, and an investigation of the performance of this method in a variety of important situations. The course considers a way to handle many of the situations in which ordinary least squares is not useful, the method of instrumental variables. The modeling of economic time series, binary dependent variables, panel data and differences in differences are all also considered. Applications are intended to showcase how the tools of econometrics can be brought to bear on important policy questions.

• Days/Times: MW 1:30PM - 2:45PM, Th 3:00PM - 3:50PM
• Instructor: Li, Lixiong
• Room: Gilman 50
• Status: Reserved Open
• Seats Available: 4/25
• PosTag(s): n/a

This course charts a narrative for the evolution of macroeconomics from its very initiation to its present formulation in a way that is sensitive to issues of principle and of policy, and without becoming totally subservient to the disciplinary boundaries within which the problems are formulated and studied. Rather than macroeconomics as a subject that takes its shape in current conventional texts, the focus of the course shall be how it got there. As such, it touches on the development of ideas and intellectual history. The course will be mathematically self-contained but will pre-suppose conceptual sophistication that one expects after completion of courses in micro and macroeconomics at the intermediate level. The course is open to students in the sister-disciplines in anthropology, political science, and sociology, but it would be advisable for interested students in these departments to talk to the instructors.

• Days/Times: T 1:30PM - 4:00PM
• Instructor: Khan, Mohammed Ali
• Room:  
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 4/15
• PosTag(s): CES-FT, CES-PD

The course discusses various issues in labor markets from the perspective of economic theory. We first study the major forces at work that shape labor market behavior; firms’ labor demand and workers’ labor supply. Then we discuss the equilibrium behavior of employment and wages. Using these tools, we also cover various applied topics in labor economics, such as minimum wage regulations, male-female wage differentials, human capital investment, worker mobility, and unemployment.

• Days/Times: MW 1:30PM - 2:45PM
• Instructor: Husain, Muhammad Mudabbir
• Room: Maryland 114
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/15
• PosTag(s): INST-ECON, CES-LC, CES-GI

We apply the tools of economic analysis to understand behaviors that are enjoyable today, but may have negative consequences in the future.

• Days/Times: TTh 1:30PM - 2:45PM
• Instructor: Papageorge, Nicholas W
• Room: Bloomberg 178
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/10
• PosTag(s): SPOL-UL

Investment securities and their markets, especially the stock market. The relations between expected return and risk. The determination of security prices. Financial portfolio selection. The assessment of the performance of managed portfolios.

• Days/Times: TTh 3:00PM - 4:15PM
• Instructor: Wright, Jonathan H
• Room: Maryland 109
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 1/40
• PosTag(s): CES-FT

This course will introduce students to the components involved in writing a research paper in economics or other quantitative disciplines, by spending the semester having them writing such a paper. Early in the semester, each student will pick a topic for their paper, which will consist just of a brief description of the question (probably a topic they have studied in a previous course). As the semester progresses, the student will learn how to flesh out this germ of a topic into a full-length paper using many of the internet and other tools that are used by scholars in their own research. These include tools for exploring a topic (Google Scholar; ChatGPT; Wikipedia); compiling a bibliography of references to your subject (LitMaps; PaperPile); creating a document with appropriate content (Jupyter notebooks); project management and collaboration via GitHub; generation and incorporation of figures and tables; and the preparation of slide presentations. This will be a hands-on course: Students will bring their laptops to the lecture and the use of the tools will be taught live and interactively. Writing assignments will take the form of Jupyter notebooks (or, for any graduate student enrollees, LaTeX documents). Recommended Course Background: some familiarity with python or other modern programming languages (though having taken a formal course in such a language is not required).

• Days/Times: M 3:00PM - 5:30PM
• Instructor: Carroll, Chris
• Room: Krieger 308
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/10
• PosTag(s): n/a

In health care markets, uncertainty and information asymmetries are pervasive problems, which have profound impacts on the health of individuals and populations, and the costs of the health care system. This course uses economic models and methods to understand how these problems affect treatment decisions and therefore health outcomes and costs. We will focus on models that clarify the misaligned incentives among patients, providers, and payers, and on recent research that provides evidence of these problems in specific areas of care and suggests potential solutions. Students will develop an original research project that examines these issues in detail in a specific context, using a mix of data, simulations, and theoretical analysis. Recommended Course Background: AS.180.289 for understanding of the US health care system and AS.180.334 for econometric methods (could be taken concurrently).

• Days/Times: MW 1:30PM - 2:45PM
• Instructor: Richards-Shubik, Seth
• Room: Gilman 134
• Status: Open
• Seats Available: 2/10
• PosTag(s): CES-TI, CES-PD

Economists increasingly incorporate insights from psychology into models of rational decision-making. Known as "behavioral economics", this line of research considers how, for example, emotions, rules-of-thumb, biased beliefs and time-inconsistent preferences influence how we make choices. Behavioral economics increasingly pervades policy discussions on topics as diverse as: obesity, the role of media, subprime mortgages and voting patterns. Behavioral models are certainly novel, but do they help us to design superior social policies? With the goal of preparing students to address this question, this course (1) provides a thorough overview of the main contributions of behavioral economics, highlighting departures from more traditional economic models and (2) emphasizes how behavioral economic models might (or might not) improve how we think about social policy.

• Days/Times: TTh 9:00AM - 10:15AM
• Instructor: Papageorge, Nicholas W
• Room: Hodson 305
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/25
• PosTag(s): INST-ECON, CES-ELECT

We study the relationship between workers and employers in the employment contract, understanding the conflict of interest between the parties to the contract and the opportunities for gains from cooperation. We identify how power is exercised in the employer-worker relationship and we explore the role of technology and innovation, showing how monitoring technologies can make employment outcomes more efficient and more unequal. We examine how trust and reciprocity may substitute for monitoring and how workers may investigate alternative institutional arrangements to exert countervailing power to employers (unions, cooperatives, democratic participation).

• Days/Times: MW 1:30PM - 2:45PM
• Instructor: Halliday, Simon
• Room: SNF Agora 112
• Status: Waitlist Only
• Seats Available: 0/15
• PosTag(s): AGRI-ELECT, CES-LC, CES-TI