Course Catalog

INTRO TO INTERNATIONAL ECON. RELATIONS (EC2030)

Deals with the mechanisms of international trade and finance. Topics covered include the theory of trade, commercial policy, the international monetary system, the balance of payments adjustments process, regional economic integration, and the role of international organizations in international economic relations.

THE ECONOMICS AND POLITICS OF INEQUALITY  (EC2045)

This course provides an introduction to the analysis of economic and political inequalities and the interplay between these inequalities and development.

THE COMMONS AND THE MARKET (EC2060)

What are the justifications and implications of using markets, and what arrangements are necessary to establish and protect the commons? This course studies foundational texts of (neo-)liberal economics that aim to legitimize market mechanisms; philosophical treatments and critiques of key concepts, such as rationality and motivation, property and common goods; political analyses of how allocative institutions produce distributional outcomes

TOPICS IN ECONOMICS (EC2091)

Courses on different and emerging topics in the discipline, enriching the present course offerings. These classes are taught by permanent or visiting faculty.

HISTORY OF POLITICAL ECONOMY (EC3001)

The course examines the historical transformations at the roots of modern industrial economies, framing the emergence and evolution of political economy as an intellectual discipline against this background. Students will be taught to consider the importance of various driving factors in economic history, such as demographic shifts, capital accumulation, technological adaptation, and institutional change. They will also learn how to see these historical transformations through the eyes of eminent thinkers from the past, thus acquiring a robust knowledge of the major topics in the history of political economy. After a brief discussion of different interpretations about the origins of the modern economy, each unit will focus on a specific period in modern world history, combining an overview of the socioeconomic transformations taking place at the time with an in-depth discussion of representative works from that era. Assessment will be strongly oriented toward essay writing, giving students an opportunity to learn how to develop an academic argument respecting the disciplinary practices of economics.

INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMICS (EC3010)

Uses the concepts of formal economic analysis to study topics ranging from the theory of consumer behavior to the formation of market demand, economics of the firm, pricing under competition and monopoly, income distribution, general equilibrium, and welfare economics. Emphasizes the application of various theoretical constructs in the analysis and interpretation of problems encountered in the real world.

INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMICS (EC3020)

Studies in depth factors influencing aggregate supply and demand, inflation, unemployment, interest rates, and international payments. Develops an analytic framework for the purpose of investigating the interrelationships among principal macroeconomic aggregates. Discusses current issues and controversies regarding macroeconomic policies.

THE POLITICAL ECONOMY OF MONEY, DEBT, AND TAXES (EC3025)

What is money? Is money related to taxes? What is the role of public debt? Do money, debt, and taxes affect the economy? In this class we will learn how economists answer those questions. We will relate those answers to current and past historical events, as well as analyze how those topics affect global economic governance.

INSTITUTIONAL ECONOMICS (EC3030)

The course will introduce students to the role of institutions in economic life, exploring the different institutional arrangements that sustain the workings of contemporary market societies. After discussing alternative definitions of economic institutions and their different types – formal and informal rules, norms, organizations, etc. – we will proceed to a survey of different approaches to the study of institutional economics. Students will be introduced to classic readings from the original American institutional movement, discussing the legal and cultural foundations of modern capitalism. We will then cover a selection of topics in New Institutional Economics, including transaction costs theory, rent seeking and collective action, and long-run economic performance. Throughout the course, students will be stimulated to reflect on how the adoption of an institutional perspective calls into question some of the basic premises of standard economic theory. They will also explore how the study of institutions can open the door to interdisciplinary engagements between economics and other social sciences.

ECOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ECONOMICS (EC3031)

What are the environmental and ecological challenges economies face today? How can economic policy contribute to tackle those challenges? In this class we will answer those questions adopting the economists’ perspective. Economists have different ways of thinking about the environment and its relation to the economy. To better understand those different approaches, we will adopt a comparative perspective of environmental and ecological economics. The course will focus on the role of economic resources, biodiversity, and climate change in economic growth and equality. After introducing the sources of the discussion of environmental and ecological economics in the 19th century, we will discuss the 20th century debates between environmental and ecological economists on the issues of the limits of growth, natural capital, sustainable development. We will then cover the real-world application of those abstract economic theories by focusing on the different means to measure economic progress, the way the world economy deals with climate change, and on real-world examples of ecological economics. Throughout the course, students will be able to develop a comparative understanding of economic theories and see their importance and application in the real world.