41 courses with the subject ECON, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
ECON 102Introduction to Economics1
Economic forces shape our society and profoundly influence our daily lives. This course introduces students to economic concepts and to how economists think about the world. We explore both basic microeconomics - decision making by individuals and firms - and basic macroeconomics - issues related to coordinating individual activities across an entire economy. Topics include demand and supply, market structures, GDP, the business cycle, and monetary and fiscal policies. The Department. Course Format: CLS
Accounting theory and practice, including preparation and interpretation of financial statements. The Department. Not open to first-year students. Course Format: CLS
Topics in contemporary economics, a non-exhaustive survey of topics of interest to economists intended for any student interested in contemporary issues in modern economics (especially non-majors, or students who are not yet sure about their major, but also open to economics majors interested in a broader perspective of the field). Note, this is not the introductory course for the major. For that, please take ECON 102 . Possible topics include: inequality, climate change, immigration, inflation, unemployment, education, economic growth, healthcare, addiction, poverty. The Department. Topic for 2026/27a: This team-taught Intensive focuses on Labor Market and Human Capital, Inequality and Monetary Policy, Inflation Climate Change and Platform Markets. Esteban Argudo, Kyle Coombs, Benjamin Ho, Zhengren Zhu. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: INT
A structured analysis of the behavior of the national and international economies. Alternative theories explaining the determination of the levels of GDP, unemployment, the interest rate, the rate of inflation, economic growth, exchange rates, and trade and budget deficits are considered. These theories provide the basis for discussion of current economic policy controversies. The department. The Department.
ECON 102 and permission of the instructor. NRO for Seniors Only. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall and Spring
ECON 201Microeconomic Theory1
Economics is about choice, and microeconomic theory begins with how consumers and producers make choices. Economic agents interact in markets, so we carefully examine the role markets play in allocating resources. Theories of perfect and imperfect competition are studied, emphasizing the relationship between market structure and market performance. General equilibrium analysis is introduced, and efficiency and optimality of the economic system are examined. Causes and consequences of market failure are also considered. The Department.
ECON 102 and MATH 121 , MATH 125 or MATH 220 . NRO for Seniors Only. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall and Spring
ECON 203Introduction to Econometrics1
An introduction to statistical analysis with emphasis on estimation and hypothesis testing and to the methods required for empirical economic research in industry, government, and academia. Topics covered include simple and multiple regression, violations of the classical assumptions underlying the least-squares model, instrumental variables, and differences-in-differences estimation. The Department.
ECON 102 and MATH 241 . NRO for Seniors only. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall and Spring
ECON 206Gender Issues in Economics1
(Same as WFQS 206 ) An analysis of gender in education, earnings, employment and the division of labor within the household. Topics include a study occupational segregation, discrimination, the role of “protective legislation” in the history of labor law, and effects of changes in the labor market of the U.S. We also study the economics of marriage, divorce, and fertility. A comparative study of gender roles in other parts of the world is the final topic in the course. Sarah Pearlman.
ECON 102 . Two 75-minute periods. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
ECON 215The Science of Strategy1
Strategic behavior occurs in war, in business, in our personal lives, and even in nature. Game theory is the study of strategy, offering rigorous methods to analyze and predict behavior in strategic situations. This course introduces students to game theory and its application in a wide range of situations. Students learn how to model conflict and cooperation as games, and develop skills in the fine art of solving them. Applications are stressed, and these are drawn from many branches of economics, as well as from a variety of other fields. Geoffrey Jehle.
(Same as STS 220 ) Applies theoretical and empirical tools of economics to problems of health and medical care delivery. The main focus of the course addresses how medical care is produced and financed, in both private and public sectors. Emphasis is on the US, and includes a comparison of the US health system to other countries’ health care systems. Alicia Atwood.
ECON 102 . Students with a strong quantitative background may enroll with the instructor’s permission. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
ECON 225Financial Markets and Investments1
Financial Markets and Investments provides an overview of the structure and operation of financial markets, and the instruments traded in those markets. Particular emphasis is placed on portfolio choice, including asset allocation across risky investments and efficient diversification. Theoretical foundations of asset-pricing theories are developed, and empirical tests of these theories are reviewed. The course introduces valuation models for fixed-income securities, equities, and derivative instruments such as futures and options. Throughout the course, students apply investment theories by managing a simulated asset portfolio. Additional topics include financial statement analysis and performance evaluation measures. The Department.
ECON 102 . Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
ECON 235Sports Economics1
Sports economics studies contemporary economic issues in professional and amateur sports. The course analyzes the labor market, public finance, industrial organization, and behavioral economics aspects of both team and individual sports. Topics include player productivity and compensation, discrimination, public financing of sports facilities, economic impact of the Olympic Games, franchise markets, antitrust laws in college sports, competitive balance, wagering markets, and applications of prospect theory in sports. Qi Ge.
ECON 102 . Recommended ECON 203 or 209 . Two 75-minute periods. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
ECON 238Law and Economics1
Law and Economics uses economics to analyze legal rules and institutions. The primary focus is on the classic areas of common law: property, contracts, and torts. Some time is also spent on criminal law and/or constitutional law (e.g., voting, public choice, and administration). Much attention is paid to developing formal models to analyze conflict and bargaining, and applying those models to specific cases. Topics include the allocation of rights, legal remedies, bargaining and transaction costs, regulation versus liability, uncertainty, and the litigation process. Time permitting, the course may also include discussion of gun control, the death penalty, federalism, and competition among jurisdictions. Andrew Lemon.
ECON 102 , and one semester of college-level calculus. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
ECON 240U.S. Economic Issues1
The U.S. economy has dominated the world economy for the last 60 years. With only five percent of the world’s population, it consumes roughly 25 percent of the world’s resources and produces approximately 25 percent of the world’s output. However, U.S. policy makers face substantial challenges in the years to come. The course surveys the causes and possible solutions for numerous issues including increasing international competition for jobs and resources, an aging population, persistent trade and government budget deficits, and rapid growth in entitlement programs. Other topics are studied based on student interests and as time permits. This course utilizes readings, writing assignments and classroom discussion rather than quantitative problem sets. Alicia Atwood.
ECON 102 . Not open to students who have completed ECON 342 . Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
ECON 248International Trade and the World Financial System1
(Same as INTL 248 ) This course covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of international trade, exchange rates, balance of payments, and the international financial and monetary system. We explores common problems and crises that countries on the international stage encounter. Topics include the creation of the Eurozone, currency and sovereign debt crises, the role of global policy institutions (the WTO, the IMF, the World Bank, and the BIS), and the global financial system. The course is designed to give students a better understanding of complex international finance and macroeconomic issues, as well as discuss the current policy debates countries face on the global stage. Harrison Shieh.
ECON 102 . Not open to students who have completed ECON 345 or ECON 346 . Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
ECON 250Labor Economics1
This course examines classical and contemporary topics in labor economics. The class begins with a systematic development of the theory of labor supply and labor demand, which provides a foundation for understanding unemployment, wages, and the effects of income tax and related policy interventions (e.g., unemployment benefits, tax breaks for families). The class continues with a survey of modern literatures surrounding human capital. Topics include economics of education (how human capital is formed), inequality (how human capital is differentially rewarded), and household economics (how humancapital is pooled within household). Throughout, the course emphasizes the interaction between theoretical foundation and empirical methods. Students benefit from familiarity with basic statistics or econometrics, but this is not required. All necessary empirical methodologies are taught without assuming previous knowledge. Zhengren Zhu.
ECON 102 . Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
ECON 261Political Economy1
Political Economy focuses on political strategy, public policy and the private sector and addresses the political, legal and social constraints on economic decision making. While economics typically focuses on strategic interactions in market contexts, e.g., customers, competitors, suppliers, workers—many strategic interactions occur outside of the marketplace. This course uses real world cases to examine strategies in non-market environments. Topics may include: activism, NGOs, the media, lobbying, the US political system, environmental and other regulation, anti-trust, intellectual property, international political economy, IGOs, trade policy, ethics, and corporate social responsibility. Benjamin Ho. Benjamin Ho.
(Same as ENST 267 and STS 267 ) This course examines environmental and natural resource issues from an economic perspective. Particular attention is given to the evidence and analysis presented at the UN climate negotiations and the recent history of climate accords and assesses the case for more drastic commitments. Particular attention is given this year to the evidence and analysis presented at to the UN Conference of the Parties (COP 26). The various possible policies to address the situation are analyzed in economic terms identifying those who gain by, and those who lose by these policies. The goal is for students to develop a framework for understanding environmental problems and then to learn how to analyze policy actions within that framework. Topics include the economics of externalities, free rider issues, global warming, air and water pollution, the loss of biodiversity, energy demand and technology, and natural resource extraction. David Kennett.
ECON 102 or permission of the instructor. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
ECON 271Chinese Economy1
(Same as ASIA 271 ) As the world’s second-largest economy, China has undergone immense structural change and growth in the last 40 years. China’s transformation into what it is today is unprecedented and unique. Understanding what drove China’s economic rise on the international stage is essential for at least three reasons. First, the world economy is increasingly reliant on China’s role in global trade. Second, China’s experience may provide insights into economic development for developing economies. Third, with increasing geopolitical and economic competition with the West, understanding the nature and development of the Chinese economy provides insights into potential solutions to this conflict. This course examines the drivers of China’s explosive economic growth, as well as the challenges it faces in the future. The course is structured as a survey on the following topics: China’s economic institutions and policy-making infrastructure, Chinese industrial policy, the development and role of China’s financial system, and the role of China in global trade. Additional topics are added based on current events and/or student interest. Harrison Shieh.
ECON 102 or permission of the instructor. Two 75-minute periods. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
ECON 273Development Economics1
(Same as INTL 273 ) A survey of central issues in the field of development economics. Topics include economic growth, the role of institutions, trade, poverty, inequality, education, child labor, health, the environment, conflict and impact evaluation. Examples and case studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America provide the context for these topics. The Department.
ECON 102 . Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
ECON 275Money and Banking1
Money and Banking covers the structure of financial institutions, their role in the provision of money and credit, and the overall importance of these institutions in the economy. The course includes discussion of money, interest rates, financial market structure, bank operations and regulation, and the structure of the banking sector. The course also covers central banks, monetary policy, and international exchange as it relates to monetary policy and the banking sector. The ultimate goal is to provide a deeper understanding of the structure of financial markets, the reasons why it is optimal for these markets to be well functioning, and the key barriers to this optimal outcome. Esteban Argudo.
ECON 102 . Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
ECON 281Immigration Policy in America: The Cost of Borders1
(Same as HIST 281 ) This course explores immigration policy in the U.S. from historical, legal, social and economic perspectives. Drawing from a multidisciplinary set of readings that engage both qualitative and quantitative methods, along with data sets and other primary sources, the purpose of the course is to provide students with an evidence based framework to reflect on the current moment of more restrictive immigration policy. To start, the course begins with a thorough overview of the history of immigration policy. This section of the course unpacks the legal arguments and historical context behind policy shifts over time permitting or restricting certain immigration flows. The course then goes on to assess the impact of these policies on the total number of new immigrants and the overall composition of the immigration population, as defined by the sending country. Finally, the course evaluates the economic and societal costs of different immigration policies, specifically emphasizing factors such as labor market outcomes, government expenditures, and human rights. Overall, this course speaks to a broader question of how to define the costs of borders: how those costs vary across different policies, and who pays the heaviest burden. Daniel Mendiola, Sarah Pearlman.
ECON 102 . Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
ECON 284Data Carpentry for Economists1
Economists increasingly work with large, messy, and unstructured datasets—from census microdata and government APIs to online experiments and text scraped from job listings. Data Carpentry for Economists introduces students to the computational and organizational tools needed to transform raw data into reproducible economic evidence. Students learn principles of clean coding, data wrangling, and workflow design in R and Python, with applications drawn from real-world economic contexts such as labor markets, geographic inequality, and text-based measures of sentiment or discrimination. The course emphasizes good coding habits, transparent documentation, and reproducible analysis, while introducing intermediate-level computational methods (bootstrapping, power analysis, text mining, web scraping, geospatial analysis, and parallel programming). The course deliberately stops short of formal econometrics—no regressions or hypothesis tests—so that students can first master the mechanics of data before modeling relationships. Kyle Coombs.
A course in the department. Permission of the instructor.
Corequisite
A course in the department. Permission required. May be elected during the academic year or during the summer. Individual conferences with the instructor. Unscheduled. Course Format: OTH
This class is designed to prepare students for independent economic research. The final project for the class is a detailed proposal for a senior thesis, including a full description of a theoretical model, econometric project and/or completed experimental design. Topics include hypothesis generation, literature review, research design, data collection, causal inference, econometric analysis, making tables, and research paper design. Required of all students who wish to write a thesis in economics but open to senior economics majors who wish to learn research methods. Students may continue with ECON 301 upon completion of ECON 300 with the approval of an advisor and the department. Sarah Pearlman.
ECON 200 or ECON 201 and ECON 203 . Open to senior majors by special permission of the advisor. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
ECON 301Senior Thesis1
The sequel to ECON 300 leading to the completion of the senior thesis. Students will submit the finished thesis by noon on the fourth Friday after spring vacation and give a half-hour oral presentation of their thesis to the department at the end of the semester. Sarah Pearlman. Open to senior majors who have successfully completed ECON 300 and received departmental approval to complete the thesis. Course Format: INT
This course introduces students to modern theoretical methods in microeconomics and their application to advanced topics not typically addressed in ECON 201 . Topics vary from year to year, but typically include: modern approaches to consumer theory, welfare analysis, general equilibrium, and the theory of auctions. Geoffrey Jehle.
ECON 201 and MATH 220 or equivalent, or permission of the instructor. Two 75-minute periods. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
ECON 304Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics1
This course is designed to get you familiar with Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium (DSGE) models, which are the workhorse of modern macroeconomic analysis. We learn how to set up, solve, and estimate DSGE models. The course focuses on the study of business cycles to illustrate how to solve and estimate DSGE models. This type of framework is useful to study the effect of monetary and fiscal policies on the macroeconomy, as well as their impact on the income and wealth distribution across individuals. The models we consider can also be adapted to study topics such as growth, trade, and development among many others. The techniques that we develop are broadly applicable; they can be used to solve and estimate models from other subfields of economics and even models from disciplines other than economics. These techniques rely on numerical methods (i.e., methods that require some coding), which means that the course is a great opportunity for you to develop some serious programming skills. Esteban Argudo.
ECON 200 , ECON 201 , and ECON 203 or ECON 209 ; or permission of the instructor. Two 75-minute periods. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
ECON 307Advanced Topics in Health Economics and Policy1
(Same as STS 307 ) A survey of contemporary issues in the economics of health and health policy including a more detailed examination of select issues from ECON 220 / STS 220 and more advanced topics using recent research in health economics. Alicia Atwood.
ECON 201 and ECON 203 ; or permission of the instructor. Recommended ECON 220 / STS 220 . Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
ECON 320Economics of Inequality and Discrimination1
An investigation of the extent, causes, and consequences of inequality and discrimination in labor markets. Leading economic theories of inequality and discrimination are covered and related to theories of labor supply and labor demand. Topics include the determinants of wages, labor supply decisions, returns to education, and decisions about family size. An applied approach using econometric techniques to understand the current literature is emphasized. The Department.
ECON 201 and ECON 203 . Two 75-minute periods. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
ECON 333Behavioral Economics1
A survey of the empirical and experimental evidence that human behavior often deviates from the predictions made by models that assume full rationality. This course combines economics, psychology, and experimental methods to explore impulsivity, impatience, overconfidence, reciprocity, fairness, the enforcement of social norms, the effects of status, addiction, the myopia that people exhibit when having to plan for the future, and other behaviors which deviate from economic rationality. Benjamin Ho.
ECON 201 or permission of the instructor. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
ECON 342Public Finance1
Public Finance considers the effects that government expenditure, taxation, and regulation have on people and the economy. Attention is given to how government policy can correct failures of the free market system. Topics include the effect taxes have on consumption and employment decisions, the U.S. income tax system, income redistribution, budget deficits, environmental policy, health care, voting, and social security. Kyle Coombs.
ECON 201 . Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
ECON 345International Trade Theory and Policy1
This course examines classical, neoclassical and modern theories of international trade, as well as related empirical evidence. Topics included are: the relationship between economic growth and international trade; the impact of trade on the distribution of income; the theory of tariffs and commercial policy; economic integration, trade and trade policy under imperfect competition. Geoffrey Jehle.
This class presents advanced treatment of issues related to international macroeconomics with more of an international finance flavor. The purpose is to provide students with a better modeling toolkit for evaluating common macroeconomic challenges policymakers in both developing and developed economies face on the international stage. We emphasize the usage of more sophisticated structural and statistical macro models to guide our analysis of the following topics: balance of payments and foreign exchange markets; the international monetary system; global implications of monetary policy; international capital and financial markets; sovereign debt crises; financial crises; push and pull factors. Harrison Shieh.
ECON 200 and ECON 203 ; or permission of the instructor. Two 75-minute periods. Not offered in 2026/27. Course Format: CLS
ECON 350Applied Econometrics with Applications on Economics of Education1
This course builds on intro to econometrics and discuss causal inference techniques in econometrics, including modern advances in difference in differences, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity. Attention is given to theoretical foundations and statistical inference. The course combines the causal inference methods with classical papers on the economics of education as examples. Zhengren Zhu.
ECON 203 . Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
ECON 355Industrial Organization1
Industrial Organization studies the behavior of firms under imperfect competition and examines their strategic interactions through the lens of game theory. This course combines theory with empirical evidence and case studies from various industries. Topics include different market structures and business strategies, such as networks, product differentiation, price discrimination, advertising, and vertical integration, as well as antitrust policies related to mergers, collusion, and exclusive dealings. Qi Ge.
ECON 201 and ECON 203 ; or permission of the instructor. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
ECON 367Comparative Economics1
A study of different economic systems and institutions, beginning with a comparison of industrialized market economies in the U.S., Asia, and Europe. Pre-perestroika USSR is studied as an example of a centrally planned economy and the transition to a market economy is examined, with additional focus on the Czech Republic and Poland. Alternatives to both market and planned systems - such as worker self-management, market socialism, and social democracy - are also explored with emphasis on the experience of Yugoslavia and Sweden. David Kennett. David Kennett.
At least two units of Economics At or above the 200-level. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Spring
ECON 381Litigation Economics: Case Studies in Economic Analysis1
Litigation Economics: Case Studies in Economic Analysis explores the economic analyses plaintiffs and defendants use to advance their interests in the courtroom. Through a series of carefully selected real-world lawsuits, this course introduces students to the economic issues raised in complex commercial litigation and how courts rely on expert witness testimony to address them. Cases span a range of industries and involve alleged violations of antitrust, consumer protection, and intellectual property statutes, among others. This course emphasizes critical thinking, as students read actual legal filings, analyze economic theories raised by litigants, and evaluate whether these theories are supported by evidence. It also enhances students’ ability to write about quantitative analyses through weekly assignments and a term paper. Students aspiring to careers in law, public policy, or related fields, are highly encouraged to take this course. Andrew Lemon.
ECON 201 or permission of the instructor. One 2-hour period. Course Format: CLS
Offered
Fall
ECON 388Latin American Economic Development1
(Same as LALS 388 ) This course examines why many Latin American countries started with levels of development similar to those of the U.S. and Canada but were not able to keep up. The course begins with discussions of various ways of thinking about and measuring economic development and examines the record of Latin American countries on various measures, including volatile growth rates, high income and wealth inequality, and high crime rates. We then turn to an analysis of the colonial and post-Independence period to examine the roots of the weak institutional development than could explain a low growth trajectory. Next, we examine the post WWII period, exploring the import substitution of 1970s, the debt crises of the 1980s, and the structural adjustment of the 1990s. Finally, we look at events in the past decade, comparing and contrasting the experience of different countries with respect to growth, poverty and inequality. Sarah Pearlman.
ECON 200 and ECON 203 or ECON 210 ; or permission of the instructor. Recommended MATH 220 , MATH 221 recommended. Two 75-minute periods. Course Format: CLS
