We are pleased to offer the following new ECON course in the Winter term, 2012

Econ 485: Numerical Methods for Economists

This course considers a number of topics in numerical methods through applications in microeconomics, macroeconomics and econometrics.  For example, the student may be asked to write a program to estimate a nonlinear model, to solve a consumer problem or to analyze the impact of government policies on the economic condition.  Topics include floating point arithmetic, numerical derivative, numerical integration, constrained and unconstrained optimization and efficient programming.  The whole course is based on the open source software R.

Pre-requisites: ECON 421 and either ECON 401 or ECON 402.  Instructor consent.

Econ 487: Topics in Labour Economics

The primary goal of this course is to introduce students to research in various topics in labour economics.  We will study research and policy questions related to the employment relationship (human capital, work incentives, job mobility) and how it is rewarded (compensating differentials, efficiency wage, performance pay). After presenting the basic concepts and methodological (mathematical or statistical) tools associated with the treatment of each topic, we will learn from  the literature  that empirically investigated these topics and discuss the relevance of the conclusions to policymakers and the business community. In particular, we will apply the tools and concepts learned to study issues related to wage and employment discrimination.

Pre-requisites: ECON 301, ECON 321; Honours students or Economics majors; Instructor consent.

Econ 488: Topics in International Trade

This graduate/advanced undergraduate course discusses selected international trade theories and empirical topics representative of recent research. Theory, extensions, applications and empirical tests of models such as: increasing returns to scale and imperfect competition, political economy, heterogeneous agents, trade and environment, economic geography, trade, aid and development will be covered. Additional elective topics include trade and conflict, trade and growth.

Pre-requisites: ECON 231, ECON 301, ECON 321; Honours students or Economics majors; Instructor consent.

We are pleased to offer the following new ECON courses in the Fall term, 2011

Econ 485: Economics of Education

This course provides an introduction to an economic view of education. It introduces and analyzes a wide range of education research streams, including human capital theory, the production of education, costing and financing of education, education planning, teachers and teachers markets, and education markets and choice.  Analysis entails review of underlying economic theory and practical aspects including economic policy pertaining to education. An emphasis on education in developing nations is taken to illustrate many of the course concepts. The course is targeted to upper year economic students interested in  research and analysis in the economic of education,its effect on policy and the developing nations. The course is a heavy reading and writing undertaking - readings and active class participation will be essential to fully benefit from the course.

Pre-requisites: Level at least 3B Economics major; Instructor consent.

Econ 484: Contracts & Mechanism Design

This course is an introduction to contract theory, an important field of microeconomic theory with many applications. Contracts specify how principals (e.g. employers, voters or shareholders) provide incentives to their agents (e.g. employees, politicians or managers) in the presence of hidden actions (moral hazard) and private information (adverse selection). We will study the design of bothcomplete and incomplete contracts in static as well as dynamic environments.

Pre-requisites: Level at least 3B Honours Economics students; Instructor consent.