Courses

    Understand the conceptual tool kit of the New Institutional Economics. The concepts include transaction costs, property rights, credible commitment, and most importantly the roles of formal and informal institutions. We will examine the impact of institutions on contracting and organizations. The goal is to understand how the underlying institutions determine the degree to which societies improve their economic performance. Prereqs., ECON 3070, 3080 and 3818.

    Covers evolution of modern economic growth and development in Europe, emphasizing institutional change. Prereqs., ECON 3070 or 3080. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: historical context.

    Evolution of modern economic growth and development in the U.S. from colonial times to the present emphasizing institutional change. Prereq., ECON 3080. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: United States context.

    Surveys the economic history of China in a comparative perspective, to understand the history of economic development in China in terms of existing economic theories of growth. The approximate timeline is from the 18th century to the 20th century. Recommended prereq., ECON 3070.

    Examines North America's past from the perspective of economics. Topics include growth and welfare in the colonial period; staple products, agricultural development, and the emerging industrialism in the antebellum period; transformation of the North American economy to 1914; the interwar years and the Great Depression; and economic integration since 1945. Prereqs., ECON 6070 and 6080, or ECON 7010.

    Covers in historical perspective the causes of economic development including why some areas develop faster than others and why development occurs more rapidly in some eras than others. Prereqs., ECON 6070 and 6080, or ECON 7010. Prerequisites: Restricted to graduate students only.