Economics (ECON)

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ECON 1A.     Introduction to Macroeconomic Analysis. 3 Units

General Education Area/Graduation Requirement: GE AREA D

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Introductory inquiry into the workings and interrelationships of the aggregate economic system. The primary focus is on total production and its distribution, employment and price levels, and the forces influencing them. Other considerations are the roles of government, the monetary sector, and related areas.

ECON 1B.     Introduction to Microeconomic Analysis. 3 Units

General Education Area/Graduation Requirement: GE AREA D

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Introductory microeconomic analysis of the workings of supply and demand in the determination of price, resource allocation, and distribution. Markets are analyzed as they affect economic efficiency and income distribution.

ECON 21.     First Year Seminar: Becoming an Educated Person. 3 Units

General Education Area/Graduation Requirement: Understanding Personal Development (E)

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Introduction to higher education for an economics major or student interested in social sciences, to the resources of the University, and to the skills for lifelong learning. Designed to help students develop academic success strategies, time management, and to improve information literacy, intercultural competence, and integrative thinking. Special attention to how economists view the world and an understanding of current events and social issues. Provides students with the opportunity to interact with peers and faculty, building a community of support.

ECON 100A.     Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A, ECON 1B, and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Analysis of the determinants of the aggregate level of output, income, employment and prices.

ECON 100B.     Intermediate Microeconomic Theory. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Analysis of household and firm behavior as the foundation of supply and demand.

ECON 101.     History of Economic Thought. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A, ECON 1B.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Analysis of the development of economic theory from the predecessors of Adam Smith through John Maynard Keynes. The contributions made to the discipline by its principal figures are compared and evaluated.

ECON 104.     Introduction to the United States Economy. 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

One semester survey of the principles of economics, basic methods of economic analysis, and their application to public policy and current events.

Note: Not open to students who have had ECON 1A or ECON 1B or those majoring in economics.

ECON 110.     Cost Benefit Analysis. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Examines the rationale for government provision of goods and services and presents cost-benefit analysis as a method to evaluate public participation in a market economy.

ECON 112.     European Economic History. 3 Units

General Education Area/Graduation Requirement: Humanities (Area C2)

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Analysis and evaluation of the economic forces and institutions shaping European economic development through the present period. Attention will be paid to the relationship between changes in the economic environment and attendant cultural, political, and ideological developments in the stages of tribalism, slavery, feudalism, capitalism, and socialism.

ECON 113.     Economic History of the United States. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A or ECON 104.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Consideration of the economic growth and development of the U.S. with emphasis on a theoretical analysis of the economic factors shaping the national destiny.

ECON 114.     The California Economy. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A and ECON 1B, or ECON 104.

Term Typically Offered: Fall only

Examination of the process of the development of the State's economy as well as analysis of the various public economic issues that are of contemporary concern to Californians.

ECON 120.     Economics and Environmental Degradation. 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Analyzes environmental issues as economic issues. Economics as both a cause and cure for environmental destruction.

ECON 123.     Resource Economics. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Analyzes the economic based problem of exhaustion in both renewable and non-renewable resources. Emphasis is given to the optimal use of these resources over time and the effects that various market and non-market factors have on their future availability.

ECON 130.     Public Finance. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A, ECON 1B, and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade; ECON 100B recommended.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Economic analysis of the public sector and its impact on the allocation of resources and the distribution of income. Emphasis given to the economics of government expenditure and taxation.

ECON 132.     State and Local Government Finance. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A, ECON 1B, and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall only

Analysis of the economics of state and local government finance, with an emphasis on California's fiscal system.

ECON 135.     Money and Banking. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Examines the role of financial markets, the banking system, and the Federal Reserve System in the economy. Included are an introduction to present value and the behavior of interest rates, analysis of money creation, and evaluation of monetary policy.

ECON 138.     Monetary and Fiscal Policy. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 100A and ECON 140 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Analyzes the policies of central banks and fiscal authorities as they relate to the stability and growth of the macroeconomy. Examines the theoretical and empirical literature regarding the conduct of monetary and fiscal policy and applies the tools of economic analysis to understand macroeconomic policy debates.

ECON 140.     Quantitative Economic Analysis. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A, ECON 1B, STAT 1, and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Examination of the basics of conducting quantitative economic analysis. Included are basic concepts and methods of data analysis and research. Students will examine economic data using spreadsheets, will develop presentation skills, and be introduced to career opportunities.

ECON 141.     Introduction to Econometrics. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A, ECON 1B, ECON 140, and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade; ECON 100A or ECON 100B recommended.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Covers the basics of regression analysis, estimation, and forecasting.

ECON 145.     Economic Research Methods. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 100A, ECON 100B, ECON 140 with a minimum "C" grade; GWAR certification before Fall 09, WPJ score of 70+, or at least a C- in ENGL 109 M/W.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Covers the basics of conducting applied economic research: the selection of topic, literature survey, choice of research method, formulation of hypothesis, testing of hypothesis using empirical analysis, and summary and conclusions. Designed to enhance the students ability to integrate economic theory, quantitative research skills, and research.

ECON 150.     Labor Economics. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A, ECON 1B, and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Spring only

Economic analysis of labor markets, with special reference to employment, wage determination, and the role of government.

ECON 152.     Economics of Education. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall only

Introduction to the various aspects of the economics of education. Applies the tools of economic analysis to education policy and problem solving. Topics include cost-benefit analysis of education, the signaling vs. human capital debate, race and gender issues in education, education production functions, and financing education at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels. Emphasis placed on individual and social choice in education.

ECON 153.     Health Economics. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall only

Introduction to the field of health economics. Applies the tools of economics to the production of health and health care. Special emphasis on health care institutions, the role of industry, health care reform, and the role of government, in addition to the public provision of care to the disadvantaged.

ECON 160.     Industrial Organization. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Spring only

Analyzes firm decision-making in a variety of market settings. Topics include pricing and output decisions, entry and exit issues, marketing strategies, horizontal mergers, vertical integration, technological change, and U.S. antitrust policy.

ECON 161.     Fundamentals of Game Theory. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1B, STAT 1, and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Spring only

An analysis of strategic games with sequential or simultaneous moves under complete information and uncertainty. Discussion of theory and techniques is combined with examination of specific classes of games and their application to real-world examples such as markets, voting, auctions, and international relations

ECON 162.     Energy Economics. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Analyzes the structure, conduct, and consequences of domestic and international energy markets. Particular emphasis on regulated industries including petroleum, electrical, and other power sources. The economic impact on energy markets of emerging technology is examined.

ECON 163.     Behavioral and Experimental Economics. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 100B

Term Typically Offered: Fall only

Introduction to the fields of behavioral and experimental economics. Applies tools of microeconomic theory to the decisions made by individuals. Special emphasis on the utility maximization hypothesis, decision making in the face of risk and uncertainty, intertemporal choice, other regarding preferences, game theory, and neuroeconomics.

ECON 170.     Public Economics and Regulation. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Spring only

Examination of government regulation of industry in the North American context: transportation, communication, energy, and other industries. Issues include deregulation, public ownership, pricing, and investment.

ECON 180.     Urban Economics. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Spring only

Economic analysis and appraisal of models of urban development. Includes consideration of the rise of cities, land use, unemployment, poverty, housing, urban renewal, transportation, and the local public sector.

ECON 181.     Economics of Racism. 3 Units

General Education Area/Graduation Requirement: Race & Ethnicity Graduation Requirement (RE), GE AREA D

Term Typically Offered: Spring only

Economic analysis of the origins and development of racism, focusing mainly on its impact in the U.S. Differing theoretical explanations surrounding racism will be compared and evaluated.

ECON 184.     Women and the Economy. 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall only

Investigation of the current economic status of women in the U.S., of past and present economic discrimination experienced by women in the labor market, of the historical reasons for that discrimination and of the means and methods of ending that discrimination.

ECON 186.     Sports Economics. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Applies the essential economic concepts and develops them with examples and applications from the sports industry. Covers basic economic concepts: economic principles, supply and demand, perfect competition, and monopoly behavior. It also applies these concepts to a variety of topics: the public finance of sports franchises, the costs/benefits of a sports franchise to a city, labor markets and labor relations, discrimination, and amateurism and college sports.

ECON 189.     Economics at the Movies. 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall only

Analysis of the use and treatment of economic theory and history in popular American films. Emphasis is placed on the topics of game theory, industrial organization, entrepreneurship, law and economics, labor economics, the stock market, and American economic history. The entertainment industry will also be examined from an economic perspective.

ECON 190.     International Trade. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A, ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Analysis of the causes and results of trade among nations. Introduction to modern trade theory is combined with examination of trade instruments and policy analysis.

ECON 192.     International Finance. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A, ECON 1B and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Critical examination of the theories and practices of financing trade among nations. International financial and monetary theories focus on how the world and financial system works, given globalization and international economic integration.

ECON 193.     Development Economics. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A, ECON 1B, and MATH 24 or MATH 26A or MATH 30 with a minimum "C" grade.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

An analysis of the factors involved in the growth of economies. The focus is on the application of development economics and growth theory to the process of economic growth in developing countries. Particular attention is given to variables that explain growth, namely, technological progress, population growth, saving, trade, human capital and education, and the role of institutions.

ECON 195.     Economic Internship. 1 - 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Supervised economic-related work experience, research, or teaching assistance to provide an opportunity for the student to apply principles and theories learned in the classroom to the "real world."

Credit/No Credit

ECON 196P.     Economics of Personal Finance. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 1A or ECON 1B

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Applies economic tools and models to evaluate personal financial decisions including investment in higher education, housing, retirement accounts, and traditional and emerging financial markets with a focus on risk and return. Assessment of personal decision-making including career choice, marriage, divorce, and retirement timing to maximize utility and smooth consumption throughout the lifecycle.

ECON 196R.     Economic Programming and Data Analysis. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Econ 1A, Econ 1B, and Econ 140

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Inquiry into the basic principles of data analysis and computer programming. The primary focus is on data management and the associated visual optimization and statistical inference in economics using programming languages, such as R and Python. More advanced topics include the use of cross validation, algorithms, and theoretical modeling for data analysis and problem-solving.

ECON 196S.     Economics of Financial Markets. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): STAT 1, ECON 1A, ECON 100B

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Study and critical analysis of economic theories of financial markets to include rational expectations, the efficient markets hypothesis, roles of time, uncertainty and information in economic transactions, risk aversion in the context of utility maximization and portfolio choice theory, the Capital Asset Pricing Model and multi-factor asset pricing models, an introduction to behavioral finance, and an examination of financial instability and distributional effects of increasing financialization. Includes rigorous development of relevant theories and study of published empirical literature.

ECON 197A.     Economics Exchange Mentee. 1 Unit

Prerequisite(s): Instructor permission.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Provides opportunity for lower division students, transfer students, and newly declared majors to be mentored by more advanced upper division students or graduate students. The peer mentoring will help students meet academic deadlines, achieve academic success, become engaged in campus activities and get integrated into the Economics Department.

Note: Units may not be applied towards unit requirement of the Economics major.

Credit/No Credit

ECON 197B.     Economics Exchange Mentor. 1 - 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Upper division or graduate student standing and instructor permission.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Provides opportunity for advanced upper division students or graduate students to mentor lower division students. The peer mentoring will help students meet academic deadlines, achieve academic success, become engaged in campus activities and be integrated into the Economics Department.

Note: Units may not be applied towards unit requirement of the Economics major; May be repeated for up to 3 units credit from ECON 197A & ECON 197B combined.

Credit/No Credit

ECON 198.     Tutoring in Economics. 1 - 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Supervised tutorials at educational institutions including Sacramento State where and when appropriate arrangements can be made. Prior approval for tutoring must be obtained from the Economics Department. Emphasis is on the development of effectiveness in the teaching of economics.

Credit/No Credit

ECON 199.     Special Problems. 1 - 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Individual projects or directed reading. Admission requires approval of the faculty sponsor and the Department Chair.

Credit/No Credit

ECON 200A.     Advanced Macroeconomic Theory. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 141 and ECON 200M.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Theories of the determinants of aggregate income, employment and prices. May be taken independently of ECON 200B.

ECON 200B.     Advanced Microeconomic Theory. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 200M.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Theories of the consumer, producer, and market structure. May be taken independently of ECON 200A.

ECON 200C.     Advanced Applied Economics. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 200A, ECON 200B, and ECON 241.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Applies empirical analysis to topics in microeconomics and macroeconomics. Topics may include stationarity, vector autoregression, vector error correction models, calibration, fixed effects, instrumental variables, multinomial logit, and duration models. Students implement these models using econometric software. Students will write an empirical paper intended to become a prospectus for the master's thesis.

ECON 200M.     Mathematics for Economists. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 100A, ECON 100B, MATH 26A.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Equips students with the mathematical techniques necessary for the study of economics and econometrics at the graduate level. Covers linear algebra, derivatives, comparative static analysis, optimization, integrals, and differential equations, with specific applications from economic and econometric theory.

ECON 204.     Business Economics. 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Intensive one-semester course covering both macroeconomics and microeconomics. Emphasis is on economic analysis and policy. Designed for graduate students who have not taken ECON 1A and ECON 1B or their equivalents.

ECON 213.     U.S. Economic Development in Historical Perspective. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Admission to MA program in Economics.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Introduction and analysis of American economic development from a historical perspective, focusing on the trajectory of American economic development from recent advances in theoretical and empirical economics literature. Cover topics on long-term economic growth, technological change, business cycles and fluctuations, financial markets, labor markets, and economic impacts of social change.

ECON 230.     Public Finance. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 200B.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

An analysis of the allocation and distribution effects of government expenditures and taxation.

ECON 238.     Monetary and Fiscal Policy. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 200A.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Analyzes the policies of central bank and fiscal authorities as they relate to full employment and stability of the national economy.

ECON 241.     Applied Econometric Analysis. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): ECON 141

Corequisite(s): ECON 200M

Term Typically Offered: Fall only

Applied econometric analysis emphasizes the use of econometric techniques in actual economic research settings and expressing economic theory in the form of econometric models, data collection, estimation, and interpretation of results. Students will develop an understanding of the econometric tools used to analyze empirical economic questions by working individually on a research project developed in consultation with the instructor.

ECON 251.     Urban Problems, Economics and Public Policy. 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Historical development, economics and possible policy solutions of the most pressing problems facing central cities and urban areas in the U.S. are presented. Problems discussed include poverty, crime, urban abandonment/suburban sprawl, edge cities, deteriorating infrastructures, and fiscal stress.

Cross Listed: PPA 251; only one may be counted for credit.

ECON 260.     Industrial Organization and Performance. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Classified graduate status in Economics or instructor permission.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

A modern analysis of industry structure, conduct, and performance. Emphasis is placed on the use of game theory to address firm behavior, including price and output decisions, entry and exit, horizontal mergers, technological change, and marketing issues.

ECON 263.     Food Economics. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Graduate standing or instructor permission.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Introduction to advanced economic theory and econometric methods applied to the economics of food with emphasis on food consumption and the complexity of individual food choices. Utilizing cost-benefit analyses and concepts like constrained utility maximization, household production, opportunity costs of time, and information search, implications for a global food system will be derived. We will apply learned concepts to health and environmental concerns by discussing the recent applied economics and policy evaluation literature.

ECON 265.     Cost Benefit Analysis. 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Examination of the theories, foundations, and philosophies of economic welfare. Specifically, the basic techniques of cost-benefit analysis will be presented and applied to various policy issues.

ECON 290.     International Trade. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Classified graduate status in Economics or instructor permission.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Analysis of modern trade theories, their empirical relevance, and the role of multinational firms in the evolution of international trade patterns. Discussion focuses on theoretical and empirical evaluation of trade policy instruments. Various trade agreements are also discussed in the context of economic integration and globalization. Attention is also given to foreign direct investment as a vehicle of globalization and the challenges it poses to both multinational firms and host countries.

ECON 295.     Economic Internship. 1 - 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Supervised work experience or research on economic topics in government, financial, business, charitable or other kinds of institutions to provide an opportunity for the student to apply principles and theories learned in the classroom to the "real world." Partial supervision may be supplied by persons in the institution under study.

Credit/No Credit

ECON 298.     Tutoring In Economics. 1 - 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Supervised tutorials at educational institutions including Sacramento State where and when appropriate arrangements can be made. Prior approval for tutoring must be obtained from the Economics Department. Emphasis is on the development of effectiveness in the teaching of economics.

Credit/No Credit

ECON 299.     Special Problems. 1 - 3 Units

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Individual projects or directed reading. Admission requires approval of the faculty sponsor and the Department Chair.

Credit/No Credit

ECON 500.     Master's Thesis. 3 Units

Prerequisite(s): Advanced to candidacy and chair permission of his/her thesis committee.

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Completion of a thesis approved for the Master's degree. Should be taken in final semester prior to the completion of all requirements for the degree.