ECON 490

Fall 2014 All Classes

All Classes

Topics in Economics

Credit: 3 OR 4 hours.

Treatment of special topics in economics.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated in the same term to a maximum of 6 undergraduate hours or 8 graduate hours. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 9 undergraduate hours or 8 graduate hours. Prerequisite: ECON 302 or consent of instructor.

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ECON 490 class schedule data for fall 2014
CRN	Type	Section	Time	Day	Location	Instructor	Section Details
61400	Lecture-Discussion	GT3	2:30PM -3:50PM	TR	David Kinley Hall	Dadgar, Y	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Political Economy Section Info: Political Economy studies how self-interested, rational policy-makers make choices in an institutionalized environment. In this course students will utilize utility-maximization theories and tools of microeconomics to understand behavior of rational and goal driven political actors. Students will study political outcomes and the interaction between the actors within the institutional constraints of their environment. We will attempt to explain why the government behaves as it does and how its behavior influences and is in turn influenced by the behavior of private citizens. We will also investigate the effects of political institutions on political and economic outcomes and assess the relative performance of different political systems. Prerequisites: ECON 302 (or equivalent). Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
60362	Lecture-Discussion	HT3	11:00AM -12:20PM	MW	David Kinley Hall	Gottheil, F	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: History of Economic Thought Section Info: The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for Economics students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
60363	Lecture-Discussion	HT4	11:00AM -12:20PM	MW	David Kinley Hall	Gottheil, F	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 4 hours Section Title: History of Economic Thought Section Info: The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for graduate MSPE students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign. Restricted to MS:Economics:Policy Econ -UIUC.
63643	Lecture-Discussion	IF3	10:00AM -11:20AM	MW	Architecture Building	Dias, D	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: International Finance Section Info: This course will expose students to the main topics in International Financial (Macro) Economics. In the course we will study how exchange rates are formed, how to analyze the balance of payments, the implications/constraints of monetary policy conduction in open economies, how to evaluate and think about sovereign debt. As much as possible, I will try to discuss current topics/research in the areas related to the course. Prerequisites: ECON 302 and 303 required. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
63647	Lecture-Discussion	IT	11:00AM -12:20PM	MW	David Kinley Hall	Elosegui, P	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: International Trade Section Info: This course will enable students to apply economic theory to analyze the trends and patterns of international trade and to understand the interaction between economic development, policy and trade. Students are expected to develop: ? An understanding of why nations trade and the role of supply and demand factors in determining trade; ? a basis for evaluating international competitiveness and comparative advantage; ? an appreciation for how trade is related to growth and development; an ability to evaluate the welfare implications of policies affecting production, consumption, and trade; ? an understanding of the implications of protectionism, free trade, managed trade, regional trade blocs, and multilateral trade liberalization, and the role for international trade institutions; ? an understanding of the implications of global value added chains and recent developments in international trade. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
60114	Lecture-Discussion	LA3	11:00AM -12:20PM	TR	David Kinley Hall	Arvan, L	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: The Econ of Organizations Section Info: The course focuses on the dual problems of first, providing coherence to activities within the organization and second, providing suitable motivation for organization members. Different members of the organization have different pieces of information. An effective organization addresses the dual problems by managing well the information asymmetries. This economics approach to organizations is compared and contrasted to non-economic approaches. The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for Economics students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
60115	Lecture-Discussion	LA4	11:00AM -12:20PM	TR	David Kinley Hall	Arvan, L	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 4 hours Section Title: The Econ of Organizations Section Info: The course focuses on the dual problems of first, providing coherence to activities within the organization and second, providing suitable motivation for organization members. Different members of the organization have different pieces of information. An effective organization addresses the dual problems by managing well the information asymmetries. This economics approach to organizations is compared and contrasted to non-economic approaches. The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for graduate MSPE students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign. Restricted to MS:Economics:Policy Econ -UIUC.
63573	Lecture-Discussion	MB3	1:30PM -2:50PM	MW	David Kinley Hall	Borgschulte, M	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Public Policy for an Aging Pop Section Info: Population aging is occurring around the world, bringing aging-related issues to the forefront of public policy discussions. This course will examine the economic lifecycle and aging at the societal and individual level. We will cover population aging, labor force participation, unemployment and discrimination, the history of retirement, savings, pensions and life insurance, social insurance, health and disability, intergenerational transfers, aging and the family, and aging and inequality. An international context will be presented, with a focus on US policy and programs. Goals and Appeal: The goal of the course is to connect the classic economic literatures on aging-related topics---savings, retirement, insurance, health and family---to modern policies, programs and products for the middle-aged and elderly. The course will be of particular interest to students of public policy and health-related fields, with some connections to history, business, finance, family and social work, and international affairs. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
63574	Lecture-Discussion	MB4	1:30PM -2:50PM	MW	David Kinley Hall	Borgschulte, M	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 4 hours Section Title: Public Policy for an Aging Pop Section Info: Population aging is occurring around the world, bringing aging-related issues to the forefront of public policy discussions. This course will examine the economic lifecycle and aging at the societal and individual level. We will cover population aging, labor force participation, unemployment and discrimination, the history of retirement, savings, pensions and life insurance, social insurance, health and disability, intergenerational transfers, aging and the family, and aging and inequality. An international context will be presented, with a focus on US policy and programs. Goals and Appeal: The goal of the course is to connect the classic economic literatures on aging-related topics---savings, retirement, insurance, health and family---to modern policies, programs and products for the middle-aged and elderly. The course will be of particular interest to students of public policy and health-related fields, with some connections to history, business, finance, family and social work, and international affairs. Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign. Restricted to MS:Economics:Policy Econ -UIUC.
63644	Lecture-Discussion	PA	9:30AM -10:50AM	TR	David Kinley Hall	Osman, A	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Econ of Poverty Alleviation Section Info: This class will study what works, what does not, and why, in the fight against poverty in developing countries. The course will have a strong methodological and analytical component, specifically focusing on articulating the why behind interventions and policies, and the how behind establishing evidence on the effectiveness of specific interventions and policies. The class will also discuss some fundamentals of behavioral economics, and learn how and when to apply such ideas to policy and program design. The course will focus on interventions and policies that apply to households, small firms, and farms, with particular but not exclusive focus on four sectors: microfinance, health, agriculture and education. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
63419	Lecture-Discussion	RS1	9:30AM -10:50AM	MW	David Kinley Hall	Shafer, R	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Auctions Section Info: Economic analysis of auctions. Topics include: an introduction to standard auction formats, the independent private values auction model and revenue equivalence, common value auctions and the winner's curse. Applications include eBay and spectrum auctions. The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for graduate MSPE students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
59696	Lecture-Discussion	U3A	12:30PM -1:50PM	MW	David Kinley Hall	Baerlocher Carvalho, D	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Topics in Economic Growth Section Info: Why are some countries rich and others poor? This course will provide a theoretical and empirical examination of economic growth and income differences across countries. It will focus on both the historical experience of countries that are currently rich and the process of catch-up among poor countries. The idea is to introduce students to the latest theoretical tools, data, and insights underlying this pivotal question. Topics include facts and puzzles related to economic growth, accumulation of physical and human capital, technological change, natural resources, finance and economic efficiency. The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for Economics students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
59652	Lecture-Discussion	U3D	2:00PM -3:20PM	TR	David Kinley Hall	Chung, E	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Topics in Econometrics Section Info: The goal of this course is to develop basic tools to understand and use modern econometric methods. We focus on estimating and making inference for causal effects with a special attention to policy relevant problems. Topics include randomized experiments, natural experiments, matching methods, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity. We discuss theoretical aspects of these methods with detailed applications. The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for Economics students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
58146	Lecture-Discussion	U3F	4:00PM -5:20PM	MW	David Kinley Hall	Fung, J	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Game Theory Section Info: This course is the introduction of game theory and strategic decision making. We will cover basic concepts and topics in modern game theory, such as Nash equilibrium, dominance, voting, bargaining, auction, adverse selection, etc, which have broad applications in economics, politics, psychology, and everyday life. The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for Economics students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
59655	Lecture-Discussion	U3H	12:30PM -1:50PM	TR	David Kinley Hall	Malasquez Carbonel, E	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Economics of the Household Section Info: The basic idea of the course is to use economic analysis to study the decision making process of the household, rather than the individual. Using economic analysis we will try to explain decisions related to household formation (models on marriage), basic models of household production (division of labor within the family), decisions on fertility, time devoted to domestic production, women on the economy (women labor supply), among others. The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for Economics students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
63472	Lecture-Discussion	U3I	2:00PM -3:20PM	TR	David Kinley Hall	DiIanni, I	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: American Economic History Section Info: This course is a survey of the history of the American economy from the colonial era to the present. We will study the features and development of the American economy and examine the watershed events that have transformed it over its history. This section is reserved for Economics students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
61740	Lecture-Discussion	U3J	9:30AM -10:50AM	TR	David Kinley Hall	Marx, B	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: The Nonprofit Economy Section Info: Many economic activities do not appear to maximize profits. Nonprofit organizations make up a large and growing share of the economy, while businesses engage in ?corporate social responsibility,? and governments and individuals give away resources. This course uses economics to understand these activities and evaluate policies that influence them. Topics include market failure, redistribution, theories of nonprofit organizations, evidence on determinants of charitable donations, and analysis of the for-profit/not-for-profit balance within major industries. ECON 302 is recommended as a prerequisite for this course- if you have not taken 302, but have an interest in this course and a strong background in economics, please speak to the instructor. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.
63575	Lecture-Discussion	U4D	2:00PM -3:20PM	TR	David Kinley Hall	Chung, E	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 4 hours Section Title: Topics in Econometrics Section Info: The goal of this course is to develop basic tools to understand and use modern econometric methods. We focus on estimating and making inference for causal effects with a special attention to policy relevant problems. Topics include randomized experiments, natural experiments, matching methods, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity. We discuss theoretical aspects of these methods with detailed applications. The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for MSPE students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.
62356	Lecture-Discussion	U4J	9:30AM -10:50AM	TR	David Kinley Hall	Marx, B	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 4 hours Section Title: The Nonprofit Economy Section Info: Many economic activities do not appear to maximize profits. Nonprofit organizations make up a large and growing share of the economy, while businesses engage in ?corporate social responsibility,? and governments and individuals give away resources. This course uses economics to understand these activities and evaluate policies that influence them. Topics include market failure, redistribution, theories of nonprofit organizations, evidence on determinants of charitable donations, and analysis of the for-profit/not-for-profit balance within major industries. ECON 302 is recommended as a prerequisite for this course- if you have not taken 302, but have an interest in this course and a strong background in economics, please speak to the instructor. Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.
58500	Lecture-Discussion	WIG	11:00AM -12:20PM	TR	David Kinley Hall	Williams, S	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 4 hours Section Title: Economics of Information Section Info: Microeconomic theory has focused during the past 40 years on information known privately by individual agents and the incentives that they may have to misrepresent that information. A standard example of private information is one?s preferences over goods that may be traded; it is common in bargaining to misrepresent one?s true preferences (e.g., denying that one wants to acquire an item) as a means of influencing the outcome of trading. Private information and the misrepresentation that it permits can cause inefficiency in economic problems and in political choices for groups. The course will cover a number of economic and political problems in which private information affects the outcome. In some problems, mechanisms have been devised to address the problems caused by private information. The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for graduate MSPE students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Graduate - Urbana-Champaign.
58499	Lecture-Discussion	WIU	11:00AM -12:20PM	TR	David Kinley Hall	Williams, S	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 08/25/14-12/10/14 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: Economics of Information Section Info: Microeconomic theory has focused during the past 40 years on information known privately by individual agents and the incentives that they may have to misrepresent that information. A standard example of private information is one?s preferences over goods that may be traded; it is common in bargaining to misrepresent one?s true preferences (e.g., denying that one wants to acquire an item) as a means of influencing the outcome of trading. Private information and the misrepresentation that it permits can cause inefficiency in economic problems and in political choices for groups. The course will cover a number of economic and political problems in which private information affects the outcome. In some problems, mechanisms have been devised to address the problems caused by private information. The prerequisite Econ 302 will be enforced for this course. If you do not have Econ 302 completed before this course begins, you will be dropped. This section is reserved for Economics students until after August 18th, 2014 at 9:30am. Restriction(s): Restricted to Undergrad - Urbana-Champaign.