ECON 490

Spring 2026 Part of Term 1

Part of Term 1
Jan 20-May 6

Topics in Economics

SHOW FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE

Credit: 3 OR 4 hours.

Special topics in advanced economics within a variety of areas. See course schedule for topics.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated in the same or separate terms to a maximum of 9 undergraduate hours or 8 graduate hours if topics vary. Prerequisite: ECON 202; ECON 302 or ECON 303; MATH 220 or MATH 221 or other Calculus course. Some topics may require additional prerequisites, read the section text for each topic.

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ECON 490 class schedule data for spring 2026
CRN	Type	Section	Time	Day	Location	Instructor	Section Details
59202	Lecture-Discussion	A3	9:30AM -10:50AM	TR	119 David Kinley Hall	Foy, M	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: ECONOMICS OF EDUCATION Section Info: FIELD: Micro \| DESCRIPTION for ECONOMICS OF EDUCATION: Examines how and why we invest in education, the impact of education on long-term economic outcomes, and the design of public policies that shape the level and distribution of education resources. Topics include the returns to education, government funding in K-12 and higher ed, teacher labor markets, and school choice mechanisms. PREREQUISITES: ECON 302 or equivalent. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu/SpringRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to Economics or Econometrics & Quant Econ or Computer Science & Economics major(s) or minor(s).
62505	Lecture-Discussion	A4	9:30AM -10:50AM	TR	119 David Kinley Hall	Foy, M	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Special Approval: Advisor Approval Required Credit: 4 hours Section Title: ECONOMICS OF EDUCATION Section Info: Open seats are restricted to MSPE students. Students registered for graduate credit must complete additional work beyond the undergraduate requirements. Contact instructor for details when instruction begins. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu/SpringRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to MS:Economics:Policy Econ -UIUC.
64018	Lecture-Discussion	C3	3:30PM -4:50PM	MW	123 David Kinley Hall	Liu, J	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: TECH, GROWTH, AND JOBS Section Info: FIELD: Macro \| DESCRIPTION for TECHNOLOGY, GROWTH, AND THE FUTURE OF WORK: This course examines the role of technology in driving economic growth and shaping the future of work. We begin by exploring why some countries grow faster than others, how innovation and ideas fuel productivity, and how new technologies diffuse across firms and borders. We then turn to the labor market, asking how automation, AI, and other new technologies impact jobs, skills, and wages. Throughout the semester, we connect theory, data, and policy to help students critically assess how technology creates opportunities and challenges for economies. PREREQUISITES: ECON 202; ECON 302 or 303; MATH 220 or 221 or another Calculus course. RECOMMENDED: Basic knowledge of econometrics and any statistical software. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu/SpringRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to Economics or Econometrics & Quant Econ or Computer Science & Economics major(s) or minor(s).
67075	Lecture-Discussion	C4	3:30PM -4:50PM	MW	123 David Kinley Hall	Liu, J	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Special Approval: Advisor Approval Required Credit: 4 hours Section Title: TECH, GROWTH, AND JOBS Section Info: Open seats are restricted to MSPE students. Students registered for graduate credit must complete additional work beyond the undergraduate requirements. Contact instructor for details when instruction begins. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu/SpringRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to MS:Economics:Policy Econ -UIUC.
57211	Lecture-Discussion	D3	12:30PM -1:50PM	MW	243 Wohlers Hall	Chi, F	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: CORPORATE FINANCE Section Info: FIELD: Micro \| DESCRIPTION for CORPORATE FINANCE: Analyzes how firms make financial decisions at different stages of their life cycle. Topics include valuation of investment projects and firms, financing through debt and equity issuance, capital structure choices, payout policy, and real options, with applications to both mature public companies and startups. Prerequisites: ECON 202; ECON 302. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu\SpringRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to Economics or Econometrics & Quant Econ or Computer Science & Economics major(s) or minor(s).
64025	Lecture-Discussion	D4	12:30PM -1:50PM	MW	243 Wohlers Hall	Chi, F	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Special Approval: Advisor Approval Required Credit: 4 hours Section Title: CORPORATE FINANCE Section Info: Open seats are restricted to MSPE students. Students registered for graduate credit must complete additional work beyond the undergraduate requirements. Contact instructor for details when instruction begins. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu/SpringRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to MS:Economics:Policy Econ -UIUC.
57365	Lecture-Discussion	E3	11:00AM -12:20PM	TR	113 David Kinley Hall	Sun, Y	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: INTERNATIONAL LABOR MARKETS Section Info: FIELD: Macro. DESCRIPTION for Int'l Labor Mkts: This course provides an overview of labor markets in a number of countries that represent different stages of economic development, with an emphasis on labor market regulations. We will focus on the impact of various labor market regulations, including minimum wages, employment protections, collective bargaining rights, and social security laws, on various labor market outcomes (earnings, employment, productivity, and a country’s overall economic growth). Students are expected to gain an in-depth understanding of the huge variations in labor market regulations around the world, and critically analyze its important impact on various labor market outcomes and a country’s overall economic growth. PREREQUISITES: Econ 302 & Math 220 or equivalent. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu/SpringRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to Economics or Econometrics & Quant Econ or Computer Science & Economics major(s) or minor(s).
57366	Lecture-Discussion	E4	11:00AM -12:20PM	TR	113 David Kinley Hall	Sun, Y	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Special Approval: Advisor Approval Required Credit: 4 hours Section Title: INTERNATIONAL LABOR MARKETS Section Info: Open seats are restricted to MSPE students. Students registered for graduate credit must complete additional work beyond the undergraduate requirements. Contact instructor for details when instruction begins. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu/SpringRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to MS:Economics:Policy Econ -UIUC.
60458	Lecture-Discussion	G3	3:30PM -4:50PM	TR	113 David Kinley Hall	Ernette, A Perry, M	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: CONSUMER & INVESTOR PROTECTION Section Info: FIELD: Micro. DESCRIPTION for Consumer & Investor Protection: This course examines the legal protections for consumers and investors from false or misleading advertising and other deceptive marketing practices. The course discusses the legal remedies under the common law doctrine of fraud, but spends most of the time on the laws and regulations against these practices that are enforced by government agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission. For each topic, we will discuss the economic arguments for and against the regulations. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu/FallRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to Economics or Econometrics & Quant Econ or Computer Science & Economics major(s) or minor(s).
59280	Lecture-Discussion	G4	3:30PM -4:50PM	TR	113 David Kinley Hall	Ernette, A Perry, M	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Special Approval: Advisor Approval Required Credit: 4 hours Section Title: CONSUMER & INVESTOR PROTECTION Section Info: Open seats are restricted to MSPE students. Students registered for graduate credit must complete additional work beyond the undergraduate requirements. Contact instructor for details when instruction begins. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu/SpringRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to MS:Economics:Policy Econ -UIUC.
64019	Lecture-Discussion	H3	12:30PM -1:50PM	TR	113 David Kinley Hall	Ernette, A Perry, M	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: CORPORATE LAW AND ECONOMICS Section Info: Description for CORPORATE LAW AND ECONOMICS: This course first examines the legal origins of corporations and their rights to own property and make contracts under state incorporation laws and the U.S. Constitution. The course then explains the duties of corporate managers to their shareholders and illustrates these duties in the context of takeover defenses. Finally, the course examines product liability in tort law and how the bankruptcy laws have been used to resolve large damage awards against corporations. Restriction(s): Restricted to Economics or Econometrics & Quant Econ or Computer Science & Economics major(s) or minor(s).
54978	Lecture-Discussion	H4	12:30PM -1:50PM	TR	113 David Kinley Hall	Ernette, A Perry, M	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Special Approval: Advisor Approval Required Credit: 4 hours Section Title: CORPORATE LAW AND ECONOMICS Section Info: Open seats are restricted to MSPE students. Students registered for graduate credit must complete additional work beyond the undergraduate requirements. Contact instructor for details when instruction begins. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu/SpringRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to MS:Economics:Policy Econ -UIUC.
70388	Lecture-Discussion	I3	12:30PM -1:50PM	MW	125 David Kinley Hall	Wang, C	Part of Term: 1 Date Range: 01/20/26-05/06/26 Credit: 3 hours Section Title: INTERNATIONAL TRADE Section Info: FIELD: Macro. DESCRIPTION for International Trade: This course is about the causes and consequences of the international trade of final goods, services, and production inputs. Throughout the course, we will cover the main topics related to international trade that are at the center of the public debate using rigorous economic models. We will discuss issues including the benefits and costs of trade, the effects of trade policies, such as tariffs and quotas, the role of international institutions such as the World Trade Organization; also questions such as what products are traded, who trades them. and at what quantities and prices are they sold. RESTRICTION INFO: https://go.economics.illinois.edu/SpringRestrictions Restriction(s): Restricted to Economics or Econometrics & Quant Econ or Computer Science & Economics major(s) or minor(s).