( ) Year of initial appointment at Binghamton
Basmann, Robert L., Professor, PhD, 1955, Iowa State University: Statistics, econometrics. (1988)
Bischoff, Charles W., Professor, PhD, 1968, Massachusetts Institute of Technology: Macroeconomics, fixed investment, monetary and fiscal policy, econometrics. (1977)
Britto, Ronald, Professor, PhD, 1966, Brown University: Macroeconomic theory, business cycles, risk and uncertainty. (1974)
Carlip, Alfred B., Professor Emeritus, PhD, 1959, Columbia University: Microeconomic theory, industrial organization and public control. (1960)
Christianson, Kenneth W. Jr., Adjunct Lecturer, MPA, 1983, Syracuse University: Macroeconomics. (1998)
Clark, Clifford D., University Professor Emeritus and President Emeritus, PhD, 1953, University of Chicago: Public finance, economic growth. (1973)
Cohn, Stanley H., Professor Emeritus, PhD, 1952, University of Chicago: Soviet economics, economic systems, social accounting. (1966)
Cowing, Thomas G., Professor and Director of Graduate Studies, PhD, 1970, University of California at Berkeley: Microeconomic theory, public regulation, econometrics. (1969)
Greene, Kenneth V., Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, PhD, 1968, University of Virginia: Public economics, urban public finance, law and economics, microeconomics. (1968)
Jones, Barry E., Assistant Professor, PhD, 1999, Washington University: Macroeconomics, monetary economics. (1999)
Kang, In-bong, Assistant Professor, PhD, 1994, University of Rochester: Macroeconomics, econometrics, international economics. (1995)
Kern, Clifford R., Associate Professor, PhD, 1974, Harvard University: Urban economics, housing economics, economics of transportation. (1971)
Khanna, Neha, Assistant Professor, PhD, 1998, Cornell University: Environmental economics. (1998)
Kokkelenberg, Edward C., Professor and Chair, PhD, 1981, Northwestern University: National income accounts, macro-labor economics, energy forecasting, econometrics. (1980)
Leamer, Laurence E., Professor Emeritus, PhD, 1950, University of Chicago: Economic education. (1951)
Leighton, Richard I., Associate Professor, PhD, 1961, Duke University: International trade. (1964)
Leiman, Melvin, Associate Professor Emeritus, PhD, 1963, Columbia University: History of economic thought, radical political economy, Marxism. (1963)
Masters, Stanley H., Professor, PhD, 1965, Princeton University: Labor economics, economics of poverty and discrimination. (1981)
Melville, Robert F., Professor Emeritus, PhD, 1961, Harvard University: Public finance. (1963)
Michal, Jan M., Professor Emeritus, LLD, 1946, Charles University, Prague: Comparative economic systems, international economics, economics of central planning, macroeconomics. (1964)
Nelson, Phillip J., Bartle Professor, PhD, 1957, Columbia University: Industrial organization, economics of population, microeconomics. (1969)
Nishiyama, Yasuo, Visiting Assistant Professor, PhD, 1986, University of California at Berkeley: International finance, money and banking. (2000)
Ofek, Haim, Professor, PhD, 1971, Columbia University: Advanced microeconomic theory, labor economics, industrial organization. (1981)
Pantsios, Archontis, Visiting Assistant Professor, PhD, 1991, State University of New York at Binghamton: Labor economics, industrial organization. (2000)
Plassmann, Florenz, Assistant Professor, PhD, 1997, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University: Public economics, applied microeconomics. (1999)
Polachek, Solomon W., Distinguished Professor, PhD, 1973, Columbia University: Labor economics, human capital and income distribution, econometrics. (1983)
Scalet, Steven, Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics and Philosophy, PhD, 1999, University of Arizona: Ethics and economics, property rights. (1999)
Wong, Linda, Assistant Professor, PhD, 1998, University of Iowa: Labor economics, gender issues economics. (1999)
Yoon, Bong J., Associate Professor, PhD, 1978, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: Econometrics, microeconomics, labor economics. (1983)
Jones, Mingmei, Visiting Assistant Professor, PhD, 1999, Washington University: Public economics, information economics. (1999)
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The economics curriculum provides understanding of the origins, characteristics and functions of our economic organization, and develops ability to appraise the functioning of the economy and proposals for its improvement. The curriculum emphasizes the development of tools of economic analysis and the study of current institutional arrangements and their consequences. Attention is focused on the effects of individual and collective actions on the economic process.
The department offers the BA and BS degrees in economics. The BA degree offers an excellent background for students planning to enter careers or professional schools in business, law or public policy. The BS offers two specializations. The BS specialization in Economic Analysis provides the essential mathematical background for employment or graduate study in economics, especially for students planning to enroll in economics doctoral programs. The BS specialization in Financial Economics is offered for students planning employment or graduate study in financial analysis. Moreover, the department offers concentrations in five areas of economics. The department also offers a minor.
The Economics Department views the grade of C– as passing but unsatisfactory. Therefore, a course in which a grade of C– or less was received is not acceptable as a prerequisite and cannot be used to fulfill the requirements for a major or minor in economics. A course taken under the Pass/Fail option cannot be used to fulfill the requirements for a major or minor in economics.
Courses numbered 110 and below are intended for non-majors and may not be used to fill major requirements. Courses numbered in the 400s are advanced courses open to students with the proper prerequisites.
Departmental requirements for a BA degree in economics are 10 full courses in economics, or their equivalent, distributed as listed below. At least five of these courses, and two at the 400 level, must be taken at Binghamton.
1. ECON 160 and 162
2. ECON 360 and 362
3. ECON 366, MATH 147, MATH 448, PSYC 243 or QMMG 111
4. Five other full courses in economics numbered above 110, or their equivalent, of which at least three must be chosen from courses numbered 400-489 (hence practica, independent studies, internships and honors courses do not count for this requirement) and no more than one may be chosen from courses numbered in the 100s.
Departmental requirements for the BS specialization in Economic Analysis are 16 full courses from economics and mathematics distributed as listed below. At least six courses in economics, including two at the 400 level, must be taken at Binghamton.
1. ECON 160 and 162
2. ECON 360 and 362
3. ECON 366, MATH 147, MATH 448, PSYC 243 or QMMG 111
4. ECON 464 and 466
5. MATH 221, 222, 304 and 323
6. Three additional full courses (or equivalent) chosen from economics courses numbered 400-489 (hence practica, independent studies, internships and honors courses do not count for this requirement)
7. Two full courses (or equivalent) chosen from courses in economics numbered above 110, no more than one of which may be numbered in the 100s, or from the following courses in mathematics or computer science: MATH 314, 357, 371, 447, 448, 461, 471, 478, CS 140. Other mathematics courses numbered 300 and above may be substituted after written petition to the economics undergraduate director.
Departmental requirements for the BS specialization in Financial Economics are 16 full courses distributed as listed below. No course may be counted toward more than one requirement, and at least six courses in economics, including two at the 400 level, must be taken at Binghamton.
1. ECON 160 and 162
2. ECON 360 and 362
3. ECON 366, MATH 147, MATH 448, PSYC 243 or QMMG 111
4. ECON 466 or 467
5. MATH 220 or MATH 323
6. RHET 346
7. CS 205
8. Two courses chosen from ECON 467, ACCT 211 or FIN 311
9. Five other full courses in economics numbered above 110, or their equivalent, of which: (a) no more than one may be chosen from courses numbered in the 100s; (b) at least three must be chosen from courses numbered 400-489; and (c) at least two must be chosen
from one of the following three concentrations:• Financial Economics — ECON 350, 442, 450
• International Economics — ECON 414, 436, 437
• Industrial Economics — ECON 440, 441, 446, 461.
Inclusion of an internship (ECON 395 or 495) among or in addition to the courses chosen for requirement (9) is strongly recommended.
Departmental requirements for the BS specialization in Economic Policy Analysis are 16 full courses, distributed as listed below. At least six courses in economics, including two at the 400 level, must be taken at Binghamton.
1. ECON 160 and 162
2. ECON 360 and 362
3. ECON 366, MATH 147, MATH 448, PSYC 243 or QMMG 111
4. ECON 463
5. ECON 466
6. MATH 220 or MATH 323
7. RHET 346
8. CS 205
9. Two courses chosen from PLSC 215, 320, 328, 337, 454, 456, ENVI 212, ENVI 215, ENVI 317, ENVI 320, ENVI 339, ENVI 340, ENVI 413, ENVI 415, ENVI 482
10. Four other full courses in economics numbered above 110, or their equivalent, of which: (a) at least three are numbered 400-489; and (b) at least two must be chosen from one of the following four concentrations:
• Environmental and Urban Policy: ECON 430, 433, 445
• Human Resources Policy: ECON 343, 443, 444
• Government: ECON 349, 445, 446
• International Policy: ECON 414, 436, 437.
An internship in public affairs, taken as ECON 495, is strongly recommended for inclusion among the elective courses.
Graduation with honors in economics may be earned by completing a BA or BS degree program that includes ECON 498, Honors Research Design (2 credits), and ECON 499, Honors Thesis (4 credits), and submitting a thesis judged worthy of honors in conjunction with ECON 499. ECON 498 may be counted as one-half course and ECON 499 as one course toward satisfaction of BA or BS requirements.
Admission to the honors program and to ECON 498-499 is limited to majors with a 3.2 GPA in economics and a 3.0 GPA overall. Completion of or concurrent enrollment in ECON 466 and MATH 222 is recommended but not required. Requests for admission to the program should be directed to the instructor of ECON 498 in the second semester of the junior year.
Departmental requirements for a minor in economics are six full courses or their equivalent, distributed as listed below. At least four of the courses must be taken at Binghamton.
1. ECON 160 and 162.
2. ECON 360 or 362.
3. Any three full courses in economics or their equivalent in addition to those used to satisfy requirements 1 and 2, at least one of which must be chosen from courses numbered 400-489. Students taking both ECON 360 and ECON 362 may credit one toward satisfaction of requirement 2 and one toward satisfaction of requirement 3.
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The department offers graduate programs leading to both MA and PhD degrees. The focus of the programs is on the applied aspects of the discipline. A strong foundation in economic theory is initially developed, followed by specialization in several sub-disciplines of economics. Emphasis is usually placed on the specialization’s empirical and policy applications. The programs provide a flexible framework adaptable to a wide variety of professional objectives.
The MA program may lead to a terminal degree preparing students for employment in economic research at government and private organizations. The MA program may also provide a base for further graduate work in economics.
The PhD program prepares individuals for careers in teaching, government and research. The program offers the opportunity to specialize in various fields.
Graduate students are strongly encouraged to develop a working knowledge of the computer and its application to economic analysis. Graduate students receiving assistantships are usually assigned responsibilities that prepare them for teaching and research.
The department offers the following fields of specialization at the MA and PhD levels:
• Econometrics — applied and theoretical
• Finance (School of Management)
• Labor economics
• International economics
• Monetary economics
• Public economics
• Urban economics
Qualified students holding a bachelor’s or master’s degree are eligible for admission to the programs. An undergraduate major in economics is desirable but not essential for admission. Students considered by the graduate committee to be insufficiently prepared for graduate-level work may be required to:
1. take additional courses over and above those normally needed for the degree, or
2. register for additional independent study in those areas in which the student may be deficient.
All applicants are required to submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination.
Course Requirements
| credits | |
| Traditional Program | |
| ECON 500 (or 611). Microeconomic Theory* | 4 |
| ECON 501 (or 613). Macroeconomic Theory* | 4 |
| ECON 594. MA Workshop | 4 |
| Economics electives (500 or 600 level) | 20 |
| TOTAL | 32 |
| Applied Economics Program | |
| ECON 500 (or 611). Microeconomic Theory* | 4 |
| ECON 501 (or 613). Macroeconomic Theory* | 4 |
| ECON 502 (or 615 and 616) | |
| Econometric Methods* | 4 (8) |
| ECON 594. MA Workshop | 4 |
| Economics electives (500 or 600 level) | 16 (12) |
| TOTAL | 32 |
| Economics and Finance Program | |
| ECON 500 (or 611). Microeconomic Theory* | 4 |
| ECON 501 (or 613). Macroeconomic Theory* | 4 |
| ECON 502 (or 615 and 616). | |
| Econometric Methods* | 4(8) |
| ECON 594. MA Workshop | 4 |
| Finance courses (SOM)** | 8 |
| Economics electives (500 or 600 level) | 12(8) |
| MGMT 501. (or previous accounting course) | 4 |
| TOTAL | 40(36) |
*MA students may elect to substitute those indicated in parentheses
for the one initially designated.
**See graduate director for list of possible finance courses
Students in all MA programs must submit an acceptable research paper written in conjunction with the MA Workshop (ECON 594), in addition to completing at least 32 credits of 500- or 600-level courses.
The elective courses are normally taken in economics, although, with the consent of the department’s director of graduate studies, one course may be taken in another department.
Courses presented for the degree must be completed with a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 (B average). Students studying toward the doctoral degree may request that the MA degree be awarded once they have fulfilled all the MA degree requirements, and may substitute a paper from a four-credit 600-level course for the ECON 594 requirement. Alternatively, a B average in ECON 611, 612, 613 and 614, or passage of both PhD theory comprehensive exams, may be substituted for ECON 594.
Course Requirements
| credits | |
| Economics | |
| ECON 500, 611, and 612 | |
| Microeconomic Theory | 12 |
| ECON 501, 613 and 614. | |
| Macroeconomic Theory | 12 |
| ECON 615 and 616. Statistics and
Econometrics |
8 |
| Economics electives (500 or 600 level) | 24 |
| ECON 693 and 694. | |
| PhD Seminar in Economics | 4 |
| ECON 699. Dissertation | |
| TOTAL | 60 |
| Economics with Specialization in Finance | |
| ECON 500, 611, and 612. | |
| Microeconomic Theory | 12 |
| ECON 501, 613 and 614. | |
| Macroeconomic Theory | 12 |
| ECON 615 and 616. Statistics and | |
| Econometrics | 8 |
| Finance courses (SOM)** | 12 |
| Economics electives (500 or 600 level) | 12 |
| ECON 693 and 694 | |
| PhD Seminar in Economics | 4 |
| ECON 699. Dissertation | |
| TOTAL | 60 |
The elective courses, except where noted above, are normally taken in economics. Ordinarily the University-wide residence requirement is met by registration in 24 credits, excluding ECON 597, 697 and 699.
Courses presented for the degree must be completed with a
cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 (B average). Except for ECON 503,
courses used to fulfill the department’s MA requirements may also be used to
fulfill the department’s PhD elective requirements. Only two of ECON 500, 501
and 502 may be counted toward the PhD elective course requirements.
** See graduate director for list of required finance courses. Students without
previous exposure to financial accounting must first take MGMT 501.
The student must submit a dissertation that embodies original work on some significant topic in theoretical or applied economics. Before undertaking the dissertation, the student is assigned an advisory committee consisting of faculty whose research interests are appropriate to the proposed problem.
After completing all comprehensive examinations and course requirements, the student must develop a written prospectus of the dissertation topic and obtain the approval of the prospectus by the thesis committee. The prospectus should include a brief statement of the problem and the student’s proposed approach to answering the problem. In the case of empirical studies, the student should also include a discussion of the data.
When the initial prospectus has been developed to the extent that it is ready for examination by the entire department, the student must present and defend the prospectus to a graduate seminar of faculty and students. The presentation should be made with the advice of the student’s dissertation committee. This seminar provides feedback on the dissertation topic. It must be presented at least six months prior to the final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.
The two-course sequence ECON 693 and ECON 694 is normally taken during the third year of graduate work. All resident PhD candidates who have completed their comprehensive examinations are required to register for either ECON 693, 694, 698 or 699.
The student who satisfies the following requirements is recommended for candidacy for the doctor of philosophy in economics.
1. Course requirements: complete the program of coursework described above.
2. Other requirements: fulfill these as specified above.
3. Comprehensive examinations: The PhD theory comprehensive exams in microeconomic theory and macroeconomic theory must be taken at the end of the spring semester following completion of the six required theory courses — ECON 500, 611 and 612 for microeconomic theory, and ECON 501, 613 and 614 for macroeconomic theory. These exams are offered within several days of each other toward the end of May and prior to June 1. Students who do not pass one or both exams will be required to retake the exam(s) not passed within one month, i.e., no later than July 1 of the same year. If a student fails either theory exam the second time, that student is terminated from the economics PhD program; a third attempt is not allowed.
Within two years of passing these examinations, the student must pass examinations in two elective fields, selected from the list of specializations appearing under "Fields of Specialization.’’ For students in the economics and finance specialization, one of the elective field comprehensive examinations must be in finance. No exam may be taken more than twice. Students not meeting the comprehensive exam requirements are terminated from the PhD program.*
* Permission to take any examination may be denied students whose cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken for credit in the Economics Department is below 3.0 (B).
After the student’s admission to candidacy, the degree of doctor of philosophy in economics is recommended by the department for the student who has completed an approved program of study; submitted a dissertation acceptable to the advisory committee; and passed a final oral examination in defense of the dissertation.
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NOTE: Unless otherwise noted, all undergraduate courses carry four credits.
ECON 103. INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMY
International monetary and trade theory, policies and institutions. Monetary
topics include exchange rate determination, trade balances, the international
debt crisis and the global economic system. Trade topics include commodity
flows, impacts of free trade on economic well-being, trade policies and their
consequences. Intended for non-majors. May be used to satisfy economics minor
but not major requirements.
ECON 144. POVERTY AND DISCRIMINATION
Conservative, liberal and radical perspectives for analyzing problems of
poverty and racial discrimination. Analysis of public policies such as income
maintenance programs, minimum wage legislation, affirmative action, education
and housing policies. Not open to students with junior or senior standing.
ECON 160. PRINCIPLES OF MICROECONOMICS: COMPETITION, MONOPOLY AND ECONOMIC
WELFARE
Examination of contemporary economic systems based on tools of
microeconomics. Theoretical analysis of prices and profits as guides to resource
allocation, industrial structure, meaning of economic welfare, proper function
of government in the economy, distribution of income. Students may take ECON 160
and 162 in either order they choose.
ECON 162. PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS: INFLATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT
Determinants of the Gross National Product, incomes and employment. Sources
of demand for goods and services; problems of unemployment and inflation; use of
taxes, government spending and control over supply of money to fight
unemployment and inflation. Economic growth: its causes, and arguments for and
against growth. Students may take ECON 160 and 162 in either order they choose.
ECON 181. SELECTED topics IN ECONOMICS offered as needed
Introduction to study and analysis of selected economic issue. Specific
topic determined in advance. May be repeated for credit with consent of
department.
ECON 182. SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED MICROECONOMICS offered as needed
Introduction to study and analysis of selected microeconomic issue. Specific
topic determined in advance. May be repeated for credit with consent of
department.
ECON 183. SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED MICROECONOMICS offered as needed, 2
cr.
Introduction to study and analysis of selected microeconomic issue. Specific
topic determined in advance. May be repeated for credit with consent of
department.
ECON 185. SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED MACROECONOMICS offered as needed,
var. cr.
Introduction to study and analysis of selected macroeconomic issue. Specific
topics determined in advance. May be repeated for credit with consent of
department.
ECON 313. INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL ECONOMY
National and international economic policy. The U.S. has made significant
contributions to international trade and financial practices during the past
half century. Its policies in the future will change as nationals organize in
blocs, as environmental issues take precedent, as population increases and as
disparities in income levels become more evident. The course evaluates economic
concepts that have supported national directions in the past and explores
promising ideas to help in the future.
ECON 314. ECONOMICS OF DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
Major problems of development: institutional factors, resources, population.
Various theories of development process. Policy implementation; regional
programs, international cooperation, aid. Problems, theories, policies, in terms
of recent data of selected developing countries. Prerequisite: ECON 160.
ECON 315. COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC SYSTEMS
Analysis of differences in economic organization and performance across
countries. Issues involving formerly communist countries: evolution of
economies, failure of communism, difficulties in reorganizing economies and
introducing market reforms. Differences among capitalist countries, emphasizing
comparisons between Japan and U.S. Prerequisite: ECON 160. Recommended
prerequisite: ECON 162.
ECON 317. THE ECONOMY OF CHINA
Institutional and policy framework of Chinese economy: five-year plans,
capital formation, industrial development, pricing, technical progress.
Development strategies, achievements and limitations assessed analytically and
quantitatively. Alternatives for future development. Chinese system compared
with other socialist economies. Prerequisite: ECON 160.
ECON 331. ECONOMICS OF POPULATION AND ENVIRONMENT
Preliminary examination of relationships between economic system and
environmental system. Pollution as economic phenomenon, theory of externalities,
scarcity and growth. Appropriate public policies to deal with these problems. No
credit toward requirements for major or minor in economics is given for ECON 331
if student has already passed or is currently enrolled in ECON 433.
Prerequisite: ECON 160.
ECON 343. INTRODUCTION TO LABOR ECONOMICS AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Introduction to labor markets, theoretical and institutional analysis. Labor
force trends, unions and collective bargaining, the relation between education
and earnings, alternative theories of the labor market. Analysis of current
policy issues such as unemployment, inflation, productivity growth, and
discrimination. No credit toward requirements for major or minor in economics is
given for ECON 243 if student has already passed or is currently enrolled in
ECON 443. Prerequisite: ECON 160.
ECON 349. ECONOMICS OF LAW AND PROPERTY RIGHTS
Consideration of economic analysis of law; economic reasoning behind law of
property, contracts, crimes and torts. Economics of property rights.
Contractarian analyses of development of constitutions. Public regulations:
their economic bases and effects. Law and distribution of income and wealth.
Economic analyses of court system and bail procedures, crime and its punishment.
Prerequisite: ECON 160. Not open to students with credit for ECON 449.
ECON 350. U.S. FINANCIAL SYSTEM — MARKETS AND INSTITUTIONS
Nature, function and economic significance of money market and other
securities markets. Role of financial intermediaries, commercial banks and
government in financial markets. Flow of funds among financial sectors and
determinants of market interest rates. Impact of Federal Reserve on financial
markets and real side of economy. Prerequisite: ECON 162.
ECON 360. MICROECONOMIC THEORY
Contemporary microeconomic analysis; demand, supply, price theory,
allocation of economic resources. Tools of micro theory applied to solving
theoretical and social problems. Prerequisites: ECON 160.
ECON 362. MACROECONOMIC THEORY
Theories of levels of income, employment, growth, savings, investment, money
and prices, applied to solving theoretical and social problems. Prerequisite:
ECON 162.
ECON 366. STATISTICAL METHODS
Introduction to theory and techniques of statistics as applied in economics.
Probability theory, descriptive statistics, statistical inference. Not open to
students who have credit for MATH 147, MATH 448, PSYC 243 or QMMG 111.
ECON 381. SELECTED TOPICS IN ECONOMICS offered as needed, var. cr.
Intermediate study and analysis of selected economic issue. Specific topic
and prerequisites (normally ECON 160 or 162, or both) determined in advance. May
be repeated for credit with consent of department.
ECON 383. SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED MICROECONOMICS offered as needed,var.
cr.
Intermediate study and analysis of selected microeconomic issue. Specific
topic and prerequisite (normally ECON 160) determined in advance. May be
repeated for credit with consent of department.
ECON 385. SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED MACROECONOMICS offered as needed,
var. cr.
Intermediate study and analysis of selected macroeconomic issue. Specific
topic and prerequisite (normally ECON 162) determined in advance. May be
repeated for credit with consent of department.
ECON 395. INTERNSHIP IN SECURITIES MARKETS 2 cr.
Application of economic analysis to practical experience in a securities
brokerage firm, under joint supervision of firm’s representative and a member
of the economics faculty. Open only to economics majors and economics minors in
Harpur College. May not be repeated for credit. Not open to students with credit
for ECON 295 or any other internship in a securities firm. Prerequisite: ECON
350, 442 or FIN 311.
ECON 397. INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ECONOMICS var. cr.
Tutorial study for intermediate students of special topics not offered
elsewhere in the curriculum. Prerequisites: ECON 160 or 162 as appropriate to
the topic, and consent of faculty sponsor.
ECON 414. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: EAST ASIA
Meaning and measurement of economic underdevelopment, entrepreneurship and
technical change, balanced vs. unbalanced growth, optimal allocation of
investment. Relationships of disguised unemployment and population growth to
development. Examples from and applications to East Asia. Prerequisites: ECON
360 and 362.
ECON 426. HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT
Evolution of economic doctrine from emergence of national states in Europe
to present: survey of ideas of economists, such as Smith, Ricardo, Malthus,
Mill, Marshall, Veblen and Keynes. Interaction of methods of economic theorizing
with changing socioeconomic conditions. Prerequisites: ECON 162 and 360.
ECON 430. URBAN ECONOMICS
Economic functions of cities; economic interrelationships between urban core
and greater metropolitan area. Problems of location, land use, industrial and
population distribution, race, housing, transportation. Prerequisite: ECON 360.
ECON 433. ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS
Market failures in the allocation of environmental and natural resources.
Efficiency and equity implications of environmental policies. Topics include
acid rain, global warming, water pollution, fisheries, air pollution, species
extinction and loss of habitat, such as tropical forests. Prerequisite: ECON
360.
ECON 436. INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Theories of international trade, tariffs, import quotas, commercial policies
and agreements. Foreign trade, trade policies of the United States. GATT, NAFTA,
EC and other world economic organizations. Prerequisite: ECON 360.
ECON 437. INTERNATIONAL MONETARY ECONOMICS
Topics covered in this course are: the balance of payments, exchange rate
determination, monetary and fiscal policies for external stability, capital
mobility, and the international monetary system. Various policy questions such
as persistent U.S. deficit in the balance of payments, the debt crisis of
developing countries, the European Currency Unit, etc., will be explored along
with theories. Prerequisites: ECON 160
and 362.
ECON 440. INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATION AND PUBLIC POLICY
Relationship between behavior of firm and market structure: how these
relationships affect public welfare and are regulated by social intervention.
Prerequisite: ECON 360.
ECON 441. ECONOMICS OF ORGANIZATIONS
Issues of economic organization, such as coordination and motivation.
Problems of contracts, information and incentives. Emphasis on both basic
concepts and case studies. Examination of differences across countries and
historical periods. Prerequisite: ECON 360.
ECON 442. FINANCIAL ECONOMICS
Investment decisions for businesses and households, involving a knowledge of
security market operations and investment theory. Prerequisites: ECON 360 and
366 or equivalent.
ECON 443. ECONOMICS OF LABOR
Labor supply; determinants of population growth, labor force participation,
education, training and health of labor force. Specific labor market problems:
wage determination, labor’s share of national income, unemployment, impact of
unions. Prerequisite: ECON 360. Suggested prerequisite: ECON 366.
ECON 444. COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
Bargaining and its role in economics. Unions, their history and how they
operate. Collective bargaining between management and unions. Effects of unions
on their members, employers and the entire economy. Prerequisite: ECON 360.
ECON 445. PUBLIC EXPENDITURES AND PUBLIC CHOICE
Government as the agency that corrects for market defects. Theories of
public goods, externalities and Pareto optimal redistribution of income. Topics
in the modeling of government or public choice, including economic analysis of
coalition formation, governmental size, behavior of voters, behavior of
political representatives and bureaucrats and support for certain types of
legislation, including regulation. Prerequisite: ECON 360. Suggested
prerequisite: ECON 366.
ECON 446. ECONOMICS OF TAXATION
Criteria for evaluation of tax structures: concepts of economic efficiency
and equity. Evaluation of contemporary United States federal, state and local
tax structures using these criteria; role of tax reform. Study of effects of
personal income, corporate income, consumption, excise, social security and
property or wealth taxes on choices made by economic agents. Evaluation of
alternative methods of governmental finance such as inflation and debt
financing. Prerequisite: ECON 360. Suggested prerequisite: ECON 366.
ECON 450. MONETARY ECONOMICS
Supply and demand for money, theory and evidence. Function of money,
interest rates and banking system in credit and income determination process.
Instruments, techniques, theory of monetary policy. Prerequisite: ECON 362.
ECON 459. ECONOMIC GROWTH AND FISCAL POLICY
Interconnections between theories of growth and supply-side economics.
Determinants of growth. Optimal growth. Explanations of recent productivity
growth slowdown. Effects of taxes on labor supply, savings and investment.
Popular treatments of supply-side economics. Has supply-side economics succeeded
or failed? Prerequisites: ECON 160 and 362.
ECON 461. GAME THEORY
Introduction to and survey of the theory of games and applications. Modeling
and analysis of strategic interactions amongst groups of people. Economic,
political and social applications such as Cournot oligopoly, competitive
equilibria, the free rider program, choice of party platforms, and punishment as
deterrent. Prerequisite: ECON 360.
ECON 463. PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS
Concepts and tools for policy analysis using economics. Consumer and
producer surplus, discounting, uncertainty, option prices and values, existence
values, hedonic techniques, contingent valuations, shadow prices, distributional
analysis and positive analysis of policy choice (public choice). Prerequisites:
ECON 360 and 366.
ECON 464. MATHEMATICAL ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Application of mathematical tools to study of contemporary economic
problems. Prerequisites: ECON 360 and 362 and MATH 221, 222, 304 and 323, or
consent of instructor. BA majors in economics may not use both this course and
ECON 466 to fulfill the required three courses numbered 400-489.
ECON 466. INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMETRICS
Econometric techniques necessary for understanding economic literature;
application of these techniques. Treatment of multiple regression and
multicolinearity; introduction to simultaneous equations systems; additional
topics, such as identification, autocorrelation, errors in variables, use of
computers in econometric research. Prerequisite: ECON 366 or equivalent.
Recommended prerequisite: ECON 360 or 362. BA majors in economics may not use
both this course and ECON 464 to fulfill the required three courses numbered
400-489.
ECON 467. ECONOMIC FORECASTING
Forecasting with econometric models, time series models and vector
autoregressions. Hands-on forecasting experience. Choosing among models.
Diagnostic statistics. Includes summary of required mathematical and econometric
background. Prerequisites: ECON 362 and 366.
ECON 481. SELECTED TOPICS IN ECONOMICS offered as needed, var. cr.
Advanced study and analysis of selected economic issue. Specific topic and
prerequisites (normally ECON 360 or 362, or both) determined in advance. May be
repeated for credit with consent of department.
ECON 483. SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED MICROECONOMICS offered as needed,
var. cr.
Advanced study and analysis of selected microeconomic issue. Specific topic
and prerequisite (normally ECON 360) determined in advance. May be repeated for
credit with consent of department.
ECON 485. SELECTED TOPICS IN APPLIED MACROECONOMICS offered as needed,
var. cr.
Advanced study and analysis of selected macroeconomic issue. Specific topic
and prerequisite (normally ECON 362) determined in advance. May be repeated for
credit with consent of department.
ECON 491. PRACTICUM IN COLLEGE TEACHING IN ECONOMICS
Independent study by teaching in ECON 160, 162 and other courses. Various
assignments closely directed by instructor, including leading discussion
section, maintaining office hours, reading examinations. Does not satisfy major
or all-college requirements. Pass/Fail option only. Prerequisites: superior
achievement in ECON 360 or 362, or other appropriate courses, consent of
instructor and director of undergraduate studies.
ECON 495. INTERNSHIP IN ECONOMICS var. cr.
Internship applying economic analysis in business or public agency under
supervision of faculty sponsor. Prerequisites: ECON 360 or 362 as appropriate to
emphasis of the internship, and consent of faculty sponsor. May not be used for
securities firm internships. Students with securities firm placements must
register for ECON 395. May not be repeated for credit. Open only to majors and
minors in Harpur College.
ECON 497. INDEPENDENT STUDY IN ECONOMICS var. cr.
Tutorial study for advanced students of special topics not offered elsewhere
in the curriculum. Prerequisites: ECON 360 or 362 as appropriate to the topic,
and consent of faculty sponsor. May be repeated for credit with consent of
department.
ECON 498. HONORS RESEARCH DESIGN 2 cr.
Design of honors research project and preliminary research under the
supervision of director of honors program. Prerequisite: admission to honors
program.
ECON 499. HONORS THESIS
Execution of research project developed in ECON 498 and writing of honors
thesis under supervision of faculty sponsor. Prerequisite: successful
development of research project in ECON 498.
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ECON 500. MICROECONOMIC THEORY fall
Review of neo-classical price theory; analytically rigorous geometrical
presentation with occasional use of elementary calculus.
ECON 501. MACROECONOMIC THEORY fall
Macroeconomic theory, problems of macroeconomic policy and recent U.S.
experience. Neo-classical, Keynesian, monetarist and supply-side models.
Primarily for master’s degree candidates and those with limited undergraduate
background in economic theory.
ECON 502. ECONOMETRIC METHODS spring
Introductory course that applies regression analysis to economic problems.
Required course for all MA students working on applied or economics and finance
degrees. Prerequisite: statistical methods or equivalent.
ECON 503. MATHEMATICAL ANALYSIS FOR ECONOMISTS fall
Sharpens students’ mathematical skills in areas of mathematical analysis
important in study of economic theory. No previous knowledge of higher
mathematics assumed. Course covers topics that normally constitute two or three
semesters of calculus, one semester of linear algebra.
ECON 509. SELECTED TOPICS IN ECONOMIC POLICY — MA
Framework for offering courses on various topics in economic policy. Topics vary
from semester to semester, usually representing application of economics to
current social problems such as health, environmental, natural resources, urban,
public finance, international trade and finance, macroeconomics, monetary.
ECON 591. SEMINAR ON THE TEACHING OF COLLEGE ECONOMICS fall/spring, 1 cr.
sem.
Graduate seminar course on teaching of college economics. Class
presentations on teaching/student topics, discussions, student presentations. No
exams, but extensive class participation required. Fall course required for all
first-year graduate TAs; PhD students interested in earning Certificate in
College Teaching must complete both fall and spring versions of this course.
ECON 594. MA ECONOMICS WORKSHOP fall
Defined research project for each student. Topic chosen by faculty and
individual student related to area of specialization offered by department.
Discussions of these projects, research procedures in general, economic
background relevant to projects. Required course for all MA students.
ECON 597. READINGS AND RESEARCH FOR MA CANDIDATES 1-4 cr.
Independent reading and research.
ECON 609. SELECTED TOPICS IN ECONOMICS ANALYSIS — PHD
Framework for offering courses in applied economics. Topics vary from
semester to semester, usually represent application of economics to current
social problems such as health, pollution, natural resources, regulation,
education, public finance, urban, international trade and finance,
macroeconomics, monetary.
ECON 611. MICROECONOMIC THEORY I spring
Techniques of constrained optimization, comparative static analysis.
Consumer theory, production and cost theory, theory of the firm. Problem sets
required. Prerequisites: ECON 500 and 503, or equivalents.
ECON 612. MICROECONOMIC THEORY II fall
Welfare economics, consumer theory under uncertainty, production and cost
theory, general equilibrium analysis, intertemporal theory, including both
capital and investment theory. Prerequisites: ECON 611 or equivalent, and ECON
503 or equivalent.
ECON 613. MACROECONOMIC THEORY I spring
Classical theory of income and employment; aggregate supply and demand
analysis; inflation; disequilibrium macroeconomics; modern theories of
consumption, investment and money; monetarism; new classical and new Keynesian
approaches to macroeconomics.
ECON 614. MACROECONOMIC THEORY II fall
Growth theory and growth accounting; inflation and unemployment, including
Phillips curve, its microeconomics foundations; rational expectations school;
stabilization policies; macroeconometric models; international macroeconomics.
ECON 615. ECONOMIC STATISTICS fall
Basic theory of probability, sampling, estimation, hypotheses testing,
correlation and regression analysis, analysis of variance, with applications to
economic research. Undergraduate course in statistics, year of calculus
essential.
ECON 616. ECONOMETRICS spring
Focus on basic linear regression model within framework of classical general
linear model. Desirable properties of estimators; hypothesis testing;
prediction; autocorrelation and heteroskedasticity, dynamic equations; problems
and techniques involving simultaneous equations. Prerequisite: ECON 615 or
equivalent.
ECON 617. APPLIED ECONOMETRICS
Further development of econometric theory, combined with applications.
Simultaneous equation estimation techniques; time series methods; rational
expectations and econometrics; tests of causality; non-nested hypothesis tests;
extensive computer applications. Prerequisite: ECON 616 or equivalent.
ECON 618. TOPICS IN ECONOMETRICS
Applications of econometrics, both theoretical and empirical. Frontier
function estimation, limited dependent variables, censoring and truncation,
model specification testing, longitudinal data analysis and unobservable
variables.
ECON 622. HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT
Evolution of economic doctrine from emergence of national states in Europe
to present. Survey of ideas of prominent economists, including Smith, Ricardo,
Malthus, Mills, Marshall, Veblen, Keynes and contemporaries like Friedman,
Galbraith, Sweezy.
ECON 631. MONETARY THEORY AND POLICY
Overview of pre-war and post-war monetary theory. Velocity, demand for and
supply of money, money substitutes, portfolio theory. Theory of monetary policy,
including channels of monetary policy, lags, targets, indicators. Monetary
policy in foreign sector.
ECON 633. SEMINAR IN MONETARY THEORY
Critical analysis of current macroeconomic theorems, models, hypotheses, in
static and dynamic setting. Prerequisite: ECON 613 or equivalent.
ECON 636. PUBLIC REVENUES
Application of welfare economics to broad range of problems concerning
incidence and effects of tax and debt policy. Personal and corporate income tax,
consumption taxes, social security tax, property tax, value added tax, etc., and
public debt.
ECON 637. PUBLIC EXPENDITURES
Applications of welfare economics to normative theory of public sector.
Intensive analysis of public goods theory, demand revealing processes,
externalities, free rider problem, Coase theorem. Positive theory of public
sector. Public supply of private goods.
ECON 641. LABOR ECONOMICS
Factors affecting quantity, quality of labor supply; economic determinants
of population size, labor force participation, education, training. Factors
determining demand for different types of labor. Special features of labor
markets, effects of unions, inflation and unemployment.
ECON 642. SEMINAR IN LABOR ECONOMICS
Investment in human capital: schooling, on-the-job training, job search,
occupational choice, unemployment, labor force participation. Economics of labor
demand and trade unions. Development of analytical tools and application of
these tools to current issues.
ECON 651. INTERNATIONAL TRADE THEORY
Real trade theory; theory of comparative advantage, determinants of
commodity composition and factor content of trade, empirical tests of
international trade theories, theory of commercial policy, monopolistic
competition in international trade, uncertainty in international trade models.
ECON 652. SEMINAR IN INTERNATIONAL MONETARY THEORY
Advanced topics in international monetary theory. Balance of payments and
foreign exchange market; asset markets (international portfolio
diversification); models of exchange-rate determination; balance-of-payments
adjustment; policies for internal and external balance. Prerequisite: ECON 651.
ECON 656. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Economic development and problems of measurement; critical review of
theories and policies.
ECON 681. URBAN ECONOMICS
Economics of cities, and patterns of urban location. Sources of growth and
decline for regions, metropolitan areas, cities, suburbs. Interaction of urban
location decisions with housing markets, racial problems, local governments,
transportation system.
ECON 682. ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS
Topics include externalities, market intervention, policy instruments and
equity and efficiency criteria, measuring costs and benefits of environmental
improvement, and optimal use of natural resources with emphasis on energy
resources and renewable open access resources such as marine resources.
Prerequisite: ECON 637.
ECON 693. PRE-DISSERTATION fall, RESEARCH SEMINAR IN ECONOMICS
I 2 cr.
PhD pre-dissertation research seminar to introduce advanced graduate
students to economic research and to help them select and begin work on suitable
dissertation topics.
ECON 694. PRE-DISSERTATION spring, RESEARCH SEMINAR IN ECONOMICS II 2 cr.
Continuation of ECON 693.
ECON 696. SEMINAR IN SPECIAL TOPICS
Content determined by instructor.
ECON 697. READING AND RESEARCH FOR PhD CANDIDATES 1-4 cr.
Independent reading and research.
ECON 698. PRE-DISSERTATION RESEARCH 1-9 cr./sem.
Independent reading and/or research in preparation for comprehensive
examinations for admission to PhD candidacy, and/or preparation of dissertation
prospectus.
ECON 699. DISSERTATION 1-9 cr./sem.
Research for and preparation of the dissertation.
ECON 700. CONTINUOUS REGISTRATION 1 cr./sem.
Required for maintenance of matriculated status in graduate program. No
credit toward graduate degree requirements.
ECON 707. RESEARCH SKILLS 1-4 cr.
Development of research skills required within graduate programs. May not be
applied toward course credits for any graduate degree. Prerequisite: approval of
relevant graduate program directors or department chairs.
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