• ECON 4170

    The Economics of Risk, Uncertainty, and Information
     Rating

    3.86

     Difficulty

    3.17

     GPA

    3.64

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    The principles of microeconomics are used to examine decision making under uncertainty: finance, learning, savings, contracts, and oligopoly. Prerequisite: ECON 3010 or ECON 3110.

  • ECON 4190

    Industrial Organization
     Rating

    3.39

     Difficulty

    3.48

     GPA

    3.24

    Last Taught

    Fall 2025

    Studies market structure, firm strategy, and market performance. Topics include strategic interactions among firms, as well as business practices such as mergers and acquisitions, price discrimination, advertising, product selection, innovation, vertical restraints, cartels, and exclusionary conduct. Prerequisite: ECON 3010 or 3110.

  • ECON 4210

    International Trade: Theory and Policy
     Rating

    3.39

     Difficulty

    3.33

     GPA

    3.16

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    Studies the nature and determinants of international trade and factor movements; the effects of international trade on prices of goods and factors; the consequences of tariffs, quotas, customs unions, and other trade policies and agreements, national or international; and international trade and the balance of payments. ECON 3010 or 3110 AND ECON 3720 or ECON 4720 or STAT 3220

  • ECON 4220

    International Finance and Macroeconomics
     Rating

    3.18

     Difficulty

    3.03

     GPA

    3.35

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    Studies fixed and floating exchange rate systems. Topics include determinants of a nation's balance of international payments; macroeconomic interdependence of nations under various exchange-rate regimes and its implications for domestic stabilization policies; and the international coordination of monetary and stabilization policies. Prerequisite: ECON 3020.

  • ECON 4240

    Economics of Immigration
     Rating

    2.58

     Difficulty

    2.50

     GPA

    3.48

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    This course offers an introduction to the economics of immigration, with an emphasis on the effects of immigrants on receiving countries, including effects on workers, crime, inequality, and fiscal effects. The prerequisites are Econ 3010 and Econ 3720 (or equivalents), since the course will heavily use theory from intermediate micro and will do close readings of empirical studies.

  • ECON 4310

    Economics of the Public Sector
     Rating

    3.83

     Difficulty

    3.30

     GPA

    3.21

    Last Taught

    Fall 2025

    Studies the justifications for government activities, the design of programs consistent with these justifications, the effects of major existing and proposed expenditure programs and taxes, and positive and normative analyses of political systems. Prerequisite: ECON 3010 or 3110.

  • ECON 4340

    The Theory of Financial Markets
     Rating

    3.26

     Difficulty

    2.87

     GPA

    3.26

    Last Taught

    Fall 2025

    Studies the theory and operation of financial markets and the role of financial assets and institutions in the economic decisions of individuals, firms, and governments. Prerequisite: ECON 3010 or 3110, 3030, and STAT 2120 or equivalent. .

  • ECON 4350

    Corporate Finance
     Rating

    3.33

     Difficulty

    2.60

     GPA

    3.43

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    Analyzes the theory of financing corporate operations and corporate decisions regarding the allocation of capital among alternative projects; includes the nature of financial instruments and the behavior of capital markets. Prerequisite: ECON 3010 or 3110, 3030, and STAT 2120 or equivalent.

  • ECON 4360

    Empirical Finance
     Rating

    4.33

     Difficulty

    3.00

     GPA

    3.33

    Last Taught

    Spring 2026

    Develops and tests models of asset pricing and allocation in finance, to determine both the validity of the theories and the extent to which they should guide us in financial decision-making. Prerequisite: Must have met the Financial Economics concentration declaration prerequisites.

  • ECON 4365

    Global Financial Markets
     Rating

    3.29

     Difficulty

    3.88

     GPA

    3.53

    Last Taught

    Fall 2025

    Study the role and the importance of the financial system in the global economy. Construct general equilibrium models that encompass the financial markets as well as the rest of the economy. These models will be used to understand the recent subprime crisis, the European sovereign debt crisis, and many market phenomena such as extreme volatility and contagion. Prerequisites: ECON 3010 or 3110 (ECON 3020 is recommended).