Course Descriptions

This course traces the development of, and conflicting views on, the nature of economic systems throughout history. It focuses on the historical development of economic society and the divergent interpretations of the operation of capitalism as found in the writings of such economists as Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Karl Marx, J.M. Keynes and Milton Friedman. It also deals with contemporary issues and such basic concepts as supply and demand.

This course presents a study of the theoretical constructs of consumer behaviour and the operation of business firms in the market economy under conditions of perfect competition, oligopoly, monopoly and monopolistic competition. Included is an evaluation of these different markets.

This course presents a model of income determination and explains how the various parts of the macro-economy are interrelated. Included is the study of the possible causes and solutions to unemployment and inflation and the importance of the international economy. Government fiscal and monetary policies are examined in detail.

This course is the application of microeconomic theory to a variety of management and planning decisions such as output maximization and cost minimization given the constraints faced by firms.

This course is an introduction to the role of money and banks within the general functioning of the financial markets and is designed to facilitate an understanding of financial markets both in Canada and in other major industrial countries. Topics include, the theory of bank behaviour, the tools, the conduct and the evolution of monetary policy, present value analysis, interest rate determination, and exchange rates.

This course presents an in-depth look at such topics as consumer behaviour, production, exchange, equilibrium of the firm under different market structures, factor markets, and economic welfare.

The course presents an in-depth look at such topics as income and employment theory, monetary theory, the open economy, economic fluctuations and growth.

This course examines the interconnection between the economy and the natural environment and introduces students to the different approaches used to integrate the two, and to design policies to meet the challenge of sustainability. The course also examines the historical evolution of economic thought and economic policies with respect to ecological and environmental issues.

This course provides a broad sweep of economic history from the Old Stone Age to the Industrial Revolution. The economies of the prehistoric era, the river civilizations, classical antiquity and Europe in the middle ages are studied, while emphasis is placed on the transition from feudalism to early forms of capitalism in Europe.

This course provides a study of the Industrial Revolution and subsequent economic growth in the context of several countries, including Canada. Contrast is made between the paths of development of today's industrial economies and those nations now attempting to industrialize.

Examine the effects of globalization on the world's economic, political and social landscape. The course will focus on international trade, capital movement, division of production and migration.

The course involves an examination of the current government microeconomic policies which are important to Canada, including resource management, utility regulation and pricing, international trade, income distribution, taxation, education, health care and environmental protection.

The course involves an examination of current government macroeconomic policies, including fiscal and monetary policies, debt management policies, international finance and exchange rate management, federal provincial relations, etc.

This course will examine the causes and implications of differences in economic growth around the world. Economic theory is used to analyze issues of traditional fertility and mortality patterns, demographic transition, well-being and nutrition, international and internal migration, epidemics and growth spurts.

This course, which requires no prior knowledge of Economics, will examine both the major changes in the way humans have organized their economic systems and in the ways in which these economic systems has been understood and explained. Among the major themes will be the decline in self-sufficiency, the rise of regional and national markets and the transition to a global economy.

This course will examine the rise and fall of economic systems of the Four Cs - Co-operation, Command, Custom and Competition - over the ages. It will look at the features of each system, examining the strengths and weaknesses of each, and will explain why eventually most of them fail. This course will also explain where each of the isms - capitalism, socialism, feudalism, imperialism and market socialism - fits into this schema.

This course provides qualitative and quantitative methods, including benefit/cost analysis, to quantify the effects of public policies on the economy, business and consumers. It analyzes international trade and investment, resource management, environmental protection, competition, industry entry and pricing regulation and tax policies with a combination of lectures, case studies and class debates.

This course covers the emerging field of Circular Economies, which can be characterized as economic systems that aim for minimal waste and pollution. These economies involve models of production and consumption that include sharing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing, and recycling existing materials and products with the goal of maximizing their value and life cycle. The course will study the history of the theory of circular economies; it will discuss specific examples of transitions from linear to circular economies in various industries, communities, countries, and regions. It will also explore the theoretical and empirical frameworks used to plan, assess, and evaluate policies that pursue the implementation of circular economies.

Students will work with an Economics faculty member to guide them in the development of a research-based project. Specific course details will be arranged between individual students and faculty members. See the Department of Economics website for complete details on the application process.