Economics
Course Descriptions for Graduate Credit
Courses with an asterisk (*) are not offered every year. |
Ec 501
Research (Credit to be arranged.)
Consent of instructor.
Ec 503
Thesis (Credit to be arranged.)
Ec 504
Cooperative Education/internship (Credit to
be arranged.)
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Ec 505
Reading and Conference (Credit to be
arranged.) Consent of instructor.
Ec 507
Seminar (Credit to be arranged.)
Consent of instructor.
Ec 510
Selected Topics (Credit to be arranged.)
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Ec 511
Cultural Economics (4)
Focus is on a general theory of economic development
and growth, in the conceptual framework
of culture and its evolution. The economic
process fed by the dynamics of technological
change is analyzed in cultural and social terms in
the tradition of institutional and/or evolutionary
economics. This framework is relevant and will
be applied to current issues such as: globalization,
trade, jobs and the environment, sustainable
development, corporate power, cultural lags
and social justice.
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*Ec 517
Women in the Economy (4)
Different economic theoretical perspectives are
presented to account for women’s particular economic
roles currently and historically. Emphasis
on women’s responsibility for child rearing and
housework; women’s relatively low wages; occupational
segregation by gender; economic differences
among women due to ethnicity,
generation, and class; and policy issues with particular
importance for women’s economic situation.
Recommended prerequisite: Ec 201.
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Ec 519
Economics of Race and Ethnicity (4)
Survey of the economic history of ethnic groups
in the United States, various economic theoretical
perspectives advanced to account for past
and current experience of people of color in the
U.S. economy, and examination of selected economic
policy issues. Recommended prerequisite:
Ec 201.
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Ec 520
Money And Banking (4)
Functional and empirical definitions of money
and interest rates. Characteristics and role of
bank and non-bank financial institutions in
determining the level of money and interest
rates. History of the Federal Reserve System.
Instruments of monetary control by the Federal
Reserve. Alternative models of monetary influence
on the economy. Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202.
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Ec 526
Economics of Regulation (4)
Study of government regulation designed to
control—or at least to influence—the performance
of the market in specific ways. Historical
and economic analyses of three main forms of
regulation: direct regulation of monopoly and
competition, and social regulation to protect the
environment and the individual. Prerequisite: Ec
201.
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Ec 527
Applied Energy Economics (4)
Covers applications of microeconomics to energy.
Consumer behavior, demand, production, costs,
market structure, and price theory (including
tariff design). Prerequisite: bachelor's degree. |
Ec 528
Energy Modeling (4)
Covers applications of energy modeling. Optimization
with linear programming as well as statistical
models including regression analysis and
econometrics. Prerequisite: bachelor's degree.
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Ec 529
Energy Regulation and Policy (4)
Covers the creation and enforcement of legislation
as it affects the production, distribution,
and consumption of energy. Social and economic
forces along with technical change are examined
for their roles in the creation of regulations for
the energy industry. Current policy issues, such
as deregulation of the energy industry, are analyzed.
Prerequisite: bachelor's degree.
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Ec 530
Energy Economics Practicum (4)
Students will take classroom knowledge into the
field. A current topic in energy economics and/
or policy will be selected. Students will work
with private and public agencies, collecting and
processing information and offering advice on
improvements in the energy industry. Prerequisites: |
Ec 531
Urban Economics (4)
Functions of the urban economy: the market
sector and the public sector. Economic analysis
of issues such as land use, environmental quality,
transportation, housing, income distribution,
and the organization and financing of urban
public services. Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202. |
*Ec 532
Environmental Economics (4)
An examination of the alternative and sometimes
conflicting evaluation and decision-making criteria
of economics and physical sciences as they
pertain to the material environment. An evaluation
of policy alternatives. Prerequisites: Ec 201,
202. |
*Ec
533
Natural Resource Economics (4)
An examination of the economic concepts and
theories for analyzing natural resource use and
related environmental pollution, including the
economics of sustainability. Discussion of renewable
and non-renewable natural resource issues
in the Pacific Northwest and policy alternatives.
Prerequisite: Ec 201. |
*Ec 534
Business Environmental Management
Economics (4)
Examines the economic costs and benefits that
affect the decisions of business firms to develop
integrated environmental management systems.
Analysis of policy options to foster business
environmental management for public goods.
Case studies of selected firms. Prerequisite: Ec
201. |
Ec 535
Public Spending and Debt Policy (4)
Analysis of the role of the state in a competitive
economy. Development of decision rules for
state economic action. Includes a detailed study
of the principles of voting, public budgeting
including cost benefit analysis and PPBS, the
theory of fiscal federalism and the theory and
principles of public debts. Prerequisites: Ec 201,
202. |
Ec 536
Taxation and Income Policies (4)
Principles and problems of government financing.
Critical analysis of alternative taxes as
sources of public revenue with emphasis on theories
of incidence and economic effect. Prerequisites:
Ec 201, 202. |
Ec 537
Public Utility Economics (4)
Examines the rationale, economic principles,
and institutions of historic economic regulation.
Contemporary theory of the firm and microeconomic
pricing are analyzed. Technological
changes suggest that to achieve economic effi-
ciency it may no longer be necessary or appropriate
to subject energy and telecommunications
firms to traditional utility regulation. There is
academic enthusiasm for displacing economic
regulation with competition. Deregulation and
restructuring are explored with emphasis on
contemporary issues in Oregon, the Pacific
Northwest, and the nation. In particular, diffi-
culties in transformation to the marketplace will
be examined. Expert guest lecturers from the
utility and regulatory communities will be
scheduled, and contemporary scholarly literature
will be reviewed. Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202. |
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Ec 540
International Trade Theory and Policy (4)
Theories of international trade. Analysis of the
normative aspects of trade including the gains
from trade and the effect of trade on economic
welfare. Examination of international trade
policy and issues of economic integration, economic
growth, and current trade problems. Prerequisites:
Ec 201, 202; Ec 376 recommended.
Ec 340 and Ec 440 cannot both count towards a
degree or major requirements.
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Ec 541
International Monetary Theory
and Policy (4)
Balance of payments theory including balance of
payments accounting and foreign exchange market;
theoretical models of fixed and flexible
exchange rate systems using both Neoclassical
and Keynesian approaches. Historical evolution
of the international monetary system. Current
international monetary policies and problems.
Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202; Ec 375
recommended. Ec 340 and Ec 440 cannot both
count towards a degree or major requirements.
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Ec 542
The Multinational Enterprise
in the World Economy (4)
The study of the multinational (transnational)
enterprise as a form of direct foreign investment.
Analysis of theories of direct investment; the
impact of the multinational enterprise on the
national and international economy and the relationship
of such firms to the concept of the
nation-state. Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202.
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| *Ec 543
Global Environmental Economics (4)
An examination of economic forces and theories
to understand the causes of global environmental
problems and to evaluate policy options to
remedy serious problems. Analyses of the economic
effects of global environmental agreements
and the environmental effects of trade and
global commerce in developed and developing
countries.
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Ec 545
Comparative Economic Systems (4)
Introduces the evolutionary-institutional
method of analysis, incorporating history, the
legacy of ideas, and the dynamics of change over
time. Using this method, we shall examine economic
systems of Ancient Rome, Medieval Feudalism,
the Laissez-Faire Market Economy,
Fascist Command Economy, and others.
Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202.
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Ec 546
Institutional Economics (4)
Considers the contributions of seminal thinkers
to what is regarded as an alternate or heterodox
school in economic science. Contribution of
Thornstein Veblen, John R. Commons, Wesley
Mitchell, Simon Kuznets, Clarence Ayres,
Gunnar Myrdal, and John Kenneth Galbraith, as
well as more contemporary thinkers will be
explored. Institutional theory will be compared
and contrasted with neoclassical economics, and
shown as a viable theory posing a formidable
challenge to the dominant paradigm of orthodoxy.
Neo-institutionalist challenges will also be
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Ec 547
Economics of Transition (4)
Examines the formation of the Soviet-type economic
system in the 1920s and 30s and its dissemination
after World War II to Eastern
Europe, China, and other selected countries.
Emphasis is placed on the history of ideas and
the historical setting which gave rise to the
Soviet model. Includes the examination of the
internal contradictions of the model, the
“unwinding” of planned socialism, and the prospects
for the move toward mixed market economies.
Prerequisite: Ec 201, 202.
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Ec 550
Third-World Economic Development (4)
Examines problems of post-colonial legacy:
underdevelopment and persistent poverty. Rapid
population growth, uneven development, capital
flight, dual economy, brain drain. Industrialization
strategies, foreign trade, education and
human capital, population slowdown, microcredit
institutions, role of women. Recommended
prerequisites: Ec 201, 202.
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*Ec 551
Small Businesses in Developing Areas (4)
Examines role of small businesses in promoting
economic development in low income areas in
Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Entrepreneurship
as motor of economic growth and social
transformation. Appraisal of institutions as constraints
and advantages. Consideration of complex
political environments affecting small
business. Survival strategies of entrepreneurs.
Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202.
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Ec 553
Theory of Economic Growth (4)
Introduction to the theory of economic growth.
This course will emphasize the theoretical basis
and the models developed to measure growth
and change in modern industrial societies.
Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202.
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Ec 556
American Economic History:
the First Century (4)
The economic background of the War of Independence
and the seeds of the Civil War. Industrialization,
urbanization, and development of
the frontier. Rise of big business and organized
labor. Laissez-faire, federalism, and the gradual
emergence of the national government in economic
policy. Changes in foreign trade and in
the international position of the U.S.
Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202.
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Ec 557
American Economic History:
the 20th Century (4)
Economic impact of U.S. involvement in World
War I. Postwar structural changes. Waning of
laissez faire. Causes of the Great Depression.
Economic policies of Hoover and Roosevelt
administrations. The New Deal reforms. World
War II and emergence of the administered system.
Evolution of the mixed economy and
growing role of the government. The industrialmilitary
complex. Social imbalance.
Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202.
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Ec 560
History of Economic Thought (4)
Selections from the economic writings of various
thinkers from antiquity through the Reformation.
A survey of the work of the most important
economic theorists of the 18th, 19th, and 20th
centuries including Adam Smith, Ricardo, Marx,
Marshall, Veblen, and Keynes. Readings include
original writings and interpretations by later
economists. Scholars will be studied in terms of
their historical context and the contemporary
relevance of the theories and policy recommendations.
Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202.
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Ec 570
Econometrics (4)
Covers the theory and application of statistical
regression, hypothesis testing, and simulation of
econometric models. Emphases are placed on
model construction and efficient use of economic
data. Problems of multicolinearity, heteroscedasticity,
autocorrelation, and distributed
lags are discussed. Some familiarity with calculus,
matrix algebra, and computer applications
are assumed. Prerequisite: Ec 370.
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Ec 571
Advanced Econometrics (4)
Advanced econometrics topics including systems
of linear equations, panel data, nonlinear
models, nonparametric estimation and prediction,
and applications in consumption and production
models. Data resources available to the
practicing economist will be covered. Prerequisite:
Ec 570. |
Ec 575
Advanced Macroeconomics (4)
Theories of national income, employment and
price levels with special emphasis on recent
developments in analytical techniques and
empirical findings. Prerequisite: Ec 375. |
Ec 576
Advanced Microeconomics (4)
Theory of consumer behavior and of the firm.
Market and multimarket equilibrium and stability.
Varieties of imperfect competition. Prerequisite:
Ec 376. |
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Ec 580
Mathematical Economics (4)
Mathematics for economists. Applications of
differential calculus and matrix algebra to
economics. Topics include consumer theory,
production functions, and applied general
equilibrium models. Prerequisites: Ec 201, 202.
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Ec 583
Impact Assessment (4)
Empirical techniques employed in measuring
the impacts associated with land use change.
Topics: goals achievement matrix approaches to
impact assessment; trade-offs between community
and regional welfare; distance and times in
urban analysis; estimating the social profitability
of land development; cost-benefit analysis
applied to freeway location techniques for valuation
of nonpriced resources; measuring municipal
revenue and expenditure impacts; gravity
models and transport demand estimation; economic
base analysis for employment and population
impact assessment; and estimating air and
noise pollution associated with land development.
Prerequisite: Ec 376.
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*Ec 585
Cost-benefit Analysis (4)
Identification and estimation of direct and indirect
inputs and outputs. Valuation of commodities
and of factors. Present social value and time
discounting. Uncertainty. Prerequisite: Ec 376.
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*Ec 586
Project Evaluation (4)
Cost and benefit evaluation. Choice of projects.
Case studies related to water resources, transportation,
and industrial projects. Prerequisite: Ec 376.
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*Ec 587
Economic Planning (4)
Aspects of the economic planning process
including target setting, tests of feasibility, consistency,
optimality, and plan implementation.
Prerequisite: Ec 376.
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Ec 590
Applications of Advanced Macroeconomic
Theory (4)
Coverage includes current topics of interest in
macroeconomics. The focus is on the applications
of neoclassical and Keynesian theories of
macroeconomic theory to a variety of real world
problems. The various sub-disciplines of macroeconomics
that may be covered include: financial
economics, monetary economics, economic
growth models, labor economics, public finance,
international economics, and radical macroeconomic
thought. Prerequisite: Ec 575. |
Ec 591
Applications of Advanced Microeconomic
Theory (4)
Applies theories of consumer and producer
behavior to a variety of real world problems. Different
sub-disciplines of microeconomics will be
covered, which may include two or three of the
following: information economics, environmental
economics, economics of regulation, industrial
organization, law and economics, natural
resource economics, labor economics, regional
economics, urban economics, and the economics
of contracting. For each sub-discipline covered,
the most important economic model will
be discussed and a review of major research
studies and techniques will be undertaken. Prerequisite:
Ec 576. |
Ec 595
Applied Advanced Econometrics (4)
Covers advanced topics related to methodological
issues in econometrics, with emphases on
computation, simulation, and non-linear methods
in econometrics. Nonlinear econometric
models including Box-Cox variable transformation,
autoregressive time series analysis, and
qualitative choice models. Simulation-based
econometrics covers topics of Monte Carlo
experiments and bootstrapping methods. Prerequisites:
Ec 570, 571.
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