ECON 401(F) Senior Seminar
The primary emphasis of this senior course is to strengthen the student's skill and sensitivity in applying economic analysis and research methods to social policy problems and theoretical issues. A series of current issues will be examined in seminars, with students carrying substantial responsibility in investigating relevant theoretical analyses and empirical information, and conducting the seminar discussion. Format: seminar. Requirements: one long and one short paper, and an oral exam. Students must pass the oral exam as a requirement to completing the major. Prerequisites: Economics 251, 252, 253/5 or Statistics 201, plus Statistics 346 or the equivalent. Required of all senior Economics majors. Incoming seniors should leave both 401 time slots open for maximum choice of modules.
Hour: BRADBURD, MANI, S. SHEPPARD
ECON 401T(F) Senior Seminar-Economics of Community Development
This course focuses attention on the economic issues that arise in understanding community development. Students will address such questions as: why do some cities grow, while others lose population? Why are some communities successful in attracting new firms and getting existing ones to expand? Why are some communities regarded as offering better 'quality of life' than others? Why do employees of local governments join unions in higher proportions than any other sector of the economy? How do decisions made in local governments affect the overall economy, and how does the economy and competition between communities affect local decisions? Thinking about such questions helps to develop skills in economic analysis and understanding of communities, the challenges they confront, and how to improve them. Students will be expected to read, discuss, and synthesize a variety of analytic approaches into their own analysis of particular community development questions. Students will be expected to work with and analyze data and to present the results of their analysis. Format: tutorial. Requirements: students will meet with the instructor in pairs for an hour each week; they will write a paper every other week, and comment on their partner's papers every other week. Students enrolled in this tutorial are required to participate for the full semester, even if pursuing a thesis by the specialized route. Enrollment limit: 10 (expected: 10). Preference given to senior Economics majors who have previously taken an urban course.