Courses

Students must demonstrate competence in Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Statistics by enrolling in this course and obtaining a passing grade. Note: The Mathematics Cognate Requirement will not be included among the eight half courses required for the Masters degree. All M.A. students must successfully complete this course.

This is a self-contained course in macroeconomics, emphasizing macro models designed to explain current fiscal and monetary policies and possible alternative policies with respect to stabilization and also growth. Students may not receive credit for both GS/ECON 5011 3.00 and GS/ECON 5110 3.00.

M.A. course. This course will focus on the understanding of single and multiple equation regression models and their development in Economics. Specific topics include: demand and supply functions, cost and production, models of labour supply, and time series analysis including unit roots, cointegration and forecasting, hedonic decomposition; valuation models and limited dependent variables. Course credit exclusion: GS/ECON 5250 3.00.

The course focuses on making the transition from an asset pricing model to an econometric model and provides a comprehensive knowledge of the econometric methods and techniques used in modern empirical finance. Theoretical analysis of the problems is combined with empirical exercises based on the use of real financial data.

A prequel of GS/ECON 6100 3.00. Topics include: Consumer and Producer Theories; Choice under Uncertainty, including: Portfolio Choice; Capital Structure; Stochastic Dominance; General Equilibrium; Social Welfare Functions; Arrow's Impossibility Theorem; Second Best; Moral Hazard; Adverse Selection; Signalling; Dynamic Competition; Bargaining; Incomplete Contracts. Course credit exclusion: GS/ECON 5010 3.00.

Offers an intensive training in contemporary macroeconomic analysis. This course along with GS/ECON 6110 3.00 constitutes our basic core requirement as preparation for the comprehensive examination in macroeconomic theory. Students may not receive credit for both GS/ECON 5110 3.00 and GS/ECON 5011 3.00.

This course covers selected inference methods in cross-section and time series analysis. It introduces various modelling and estimation techniques for data, which do not satisfy the assumptions of the classical general linear model. Topics include elements of the asymptotic theory, the random regressors model, linear models with heteroscedastic and auto correlated errors, the simultaneous equations models and basic time series analysis techniques.

This course focuses on the methodological and practical issues that arise when economists harness data to answer questions of economic and policy interest. This course covers techniques in modern data analysis for cross-section and panel settings: regression and instrumental variables, regression discontinuity, differences-in-differences, with an emphasis on data visualization and program evaluation. Projects include analysis of data with a written description and interpretation of results; may involve gathering of original data or use of existing data sets. Applications drawn from real world examples and frontier research. Instruction in use of the statistical package R and/or Stata.

The theory of taxation, including; tax incidence; the effects of taxation on saving; investment and labour supply; optimal taxation; fiscal federalism; the choice of tax base; economic effects of some specific taxes.

An examination of certain aspects of monopoly, oligopoly and competition among them: product selection and quality; vertical controls; strategic behaviour and innovation games.

This is an introductory graduate course in the economics of education and is designed to provide students with a broad coverage of the field. We will cover both classic and emerging topics, mainly from an empirical microeconomic perspective.

The nature and implications of monetary phenomena in the economy with emphasis on the empirical importance of monetary factors in inflation and business cycle fluctuations; the channels of influence of monetary policy on the economy; optimal stabilization policy.

The objective of this course is to undertake a rigorous study of the theoretical foundations of modern financial economics. The course covers the central themes of modern finance including individual investment decisions under uncertainty, stochastic dominance, mean-variance theory, capital market equilibrium and asset valuation, arbitrage pricing theory, option pricing, and the potential application of these themes.

Topics include: Neoclassical and structural (dual economy) models; poverty, inequality and underemployment; international trade, investment, aid and debt; development planning; rural development and problems of urbanization; financial and fiscal aspects of development.

This course will cover further topics in microeconomic theory including market failure, externalities, public goods, incentive compatibility, social choice and welfare measures, expected utility analysis, portfolio theory, general equilibrium analysis under uncertainty, imperfect competition, monopoly, Cournot duopoly, monopolistic competition, entry deterrence, product selection, oligopoly and game theory. Prerequisite: GS/ECON 5100 3.00 or permission of the Instructor.

This course will aim at providing an overview of recent topics in Macroeconomics. The aim will be to introduce not only the recent important issues in macroeconomics but also the tools used in their discussion. Topics to be covered will include: the time inconsistency problem, neoclassical growth theory, endogenous growth theory, search theory, Real Business Cycle theory, asset pricing, and models with asymmetric information. Prerequisite: GS/ECON 5110 3.00 or permission of the Instructor.

This course will extend the General Linear Model examined in GS/ECON 5250 3.00 in several directions. The topics covered will include simultaneous equations, method of moments estimators, time series models, nonlinear estimation, limited dependent variables and duration models. Prerequisite: GS/ECON 5250. 3.00 or equivalent.

All PhD students are required to attend this course from their third-year of study and continue until the completion of their dissertation. Each student is required to give a presentation each year. Regular attendance at and participation in the seminars is also required. This seminar course helps students develop their dissertation proposals and research-paper writing skills, and provides an opportunity for students to present and discuss each others research. This course is required of all doctoral students in their third-year or above.

This course covers frontier research topics in microeconomics and helps second-year PhD students develop the necessary skills to undertake their own research in the field. Potential topics covered include, but are not restricted to, general equilibrium theory, game theory, social choice theory, decision theory, contract theory, auction theory and mechanism design, bargaining theory, labor economics, industrial organization, public finance, international trade, experimental microeconomics, health and education economics, gender economics, environmental economics, urban economics, development economics, political economy, and analysis of microeconomic data.

This course covers frontier research topics in microeconomics and helps second-year PhD students develop the necessary skills to undertake their own research in the field. Potential topics covered include, but are not restricted to, general equilibrium theory, game theory, social choice theory, decision theory, contract theory, auction theory and mechanism design, bargaining theory, labor economics, industrial organization, public finance, international trade, experimental microeconomics, health and education economics, gender economics, environmental economics, urban economics, development economics, political economy, and analysis of microeconomic data.

This course covers frontier research topics in microeconomics and helps second-year PhD students develop the necessary skills to undertake their own research in the field. Potential topics covered include, but are not restricted to, general equilibrium theory, game theory, social choice theory, decision theory, contract theory, auction theory and mechanism design, bargaining theory, labor economics, industrial organization, public finance, international trade, experimental microeconomics, health and education economics, gender economics, environmental economics, urban economics, development economics, political economy, and analysis of microeconomic data.

This course covers frontier research topics in microeconomics and helps second-year PhD students develop the necessary skills to undertake their own research in the field. Potential topics covered include, but are not restricted to, general equilibrium theory, game theory, social choice theory, decision theory, contract theory, auction theory and mechanism design, bargaining theory, labor economics, industrial organization, public finance, international trade, experimental microeconomics, health and education economics, gender economics, environmental economics, urban economics, development economics, political economy, and analysis of microeconomic data.

This course helps develop the skills and competencies necessary to conduct empirical research. It expands students’ empirical skills in terms of how to identify an empirical problem and how to choose an appropriate econometric approach to address the problem. The aim is to help students link their economics and econometrics training to their own research. Topics include recent developments in empirical approaches and they may vary from year to year reflecting new developments and the instructor’s research interests.

This course helps develop the skills and competencies necessary to conduct empirical research. It expands students’ empirical skills in terms of how to identify an empirical problem and how to choose an appropriate econometric approach to address the problem. The aim is to help students link their economics and econometrics training to their own research. Topics include recent developments in empirical approaches and they may vary from year to year reflecting new developments and the instructor’s research interests.