Economics

NOTE: See the beginning of Section F for abbreviations, course numbers and coding.

ECON1004Economics and Society (O)3 ch (3C)

Designed for students who do not intend to major in economics. Examines the working of the market system, competition policy, price supports and regulation, labour markets and unions, and social issues. NOTE: BBA students cannot take this course for credit. Credit cannot be counted for both ECON 1013 and ECON 1004.

ECON1013Introduction to Microeconomics3 ch (3C)

Concerned with how modern mixed economies operate. Behaviour of consumers and business firms. Theory of the firm, production, costs and market structures, and distribution.

ECON1023Introduction to Macroeconomics3 ch (3C)

Concerned with the causes of unemployment and inflation, the determination of total output, investment, and interest rates. Stabilization policies, exchange rates and balance of payments.

ECON1073Economics for Engineers3 ch (3C)

An introductory course for students in Engineering and Computer Science. Topics include theory of markets, production, costs, externalities, and the macroeconomics of aggregate output determination and growth. NOTE: Credit will not be given for both ECON 1073 and ECON 1013/ECON 1023.

ECON2013Intermediate Microeconomics3 ch (3C)

This course develops material from ECON 1013. Applications of microeconomic theory are emphasized.

Prerequisite: ECON 1013.

ECON2023Intermediate Macroeconomics3 ch (3C)

This course develops material from ECON 1023. Applications of macroeconomic theory are emphasized. It focuses on inflation, the determinants of interest rates and exchange rates, standard macroeconomic models of closed and open economies, and short run fluctuations of macroeconomic variables such as unemployment and output. Alternative stabilization policies are evaluated with reference to the Canadian economy. 

Prerequisite: ECON 1023.

ECON2091Contemporary Issues in the Canadian Economy I (O)3 ch (3C)

Concerned with current issues in the Canadian Economy. Topics may include public policy towards unemployment, inflation, foreign investment, poverty, income distribution and regional development.

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023.

ECON2092Contemporary Issues in the Canadian Economy II (O)3 ch (3C)

Analysis of specific economic phenomena in Canada.

PrerequisitesECON 1013 and ECON 1023.
ECON2103Financial Institutions and Markets3 ch (3C)

An introduction to the microeconomic aspects of monetary theory and policy. Topics include how money is defined and measured, portfolio theory, theories of the interest rate, the determination of the money supply, and bank regulation. 

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023.

ECON2213Poverty, Inequality and Income Redistribution (O)3 ch (3C)

Definition, extent and causes of poverty. Distribution of income and wealth in Canada and abroad. Rationales for and effectiveness of income redistribution policies. 

Prerequisites: ECON 1013.

ECON2503Regional Economic Development2 ch (3C)

Why do some regions prosper while others flounder? The course introduces how key theories use economic principles to explain differential regional performance, as well as core tools used to undertake regional economic analysis.

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023.
ECON3013Microeconomics I 3 ch (3C)

The theory of consumer demand and of production costs. The elementary theory of the firm: pure competition and pure monopoly; an introduction to monopolistic competition and oligopoly.

Prerequisites: ECON 2013 and one of: MATH 1853 (with MATH 2853 strongly recommended), MATH 1003, or permission of the instructor.

ECON3023Macroeconomics I3 ch (3C)

An advanced course in macroeconomic theory and analysis, with emphasis on the theory of economic growth, investment, consumption, money, and employment. Neoclassical monetary equilibrium, and the Keynesian and post-Keynesian models.  

Prerequisites: ECON 2023 and one of: MATH 1853 (with MATH 2853 strongly recommended), MATH 1003, or permission of the instructor.

ECON3091Urban Economics (O)3 ch (3S)

An introduction to the economic analysis of the development of urban areas. Topics include the evolutionary development of cities, the location of cities and of activities within them, and theories of urban growth. 

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023.

ECON3099History of Economic Thought (O)3 ch (3C)

A study of the major contributions to economic analysis from Adam Smith to Alfred Marshall. 

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023.

ECON3114International Financial Institutions and Markets3 ch (3C)

This course examines the macroeconomic aspects of monetary theory and policy. Topics include how central banks influence interest rate and inflation rate, the demand and supply for money, international financial markets, international banking, applications of the IS-MP curves, and other monetary policy related issues. 

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023. 

ECON3213Public Sector Economics (O)3 ch (3C)

The nature and role of the public sector in a market economy. Topics include taxation and government expenditure and their effects on the allocation of resources and the distribution of income, and the growth of the public sector. NOTE: Credit will be granted either for ECON 3213 or for ECON 3203 / ECON 3233.

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023

ECON3375Labour Economics (O)3 ch (3C)

Determinants of labour supply and demand. Includes structure of wages, male-female earnings differentials, employment insurance, unions, strikes, and labour relations. 

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023.

ECON3401International Trade & Trade Policy (O)3 ch (3C)

The principles of international trade and issues in trade policy.

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023.

ECON3412International Macroeconomics and Finance3 ch (3C)

The economics of exchange rate determination, the balance of payments, international borrowing and lending. Role of international financial institutions. 

Prerequisite: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023

Recommended: ECON 2023

ECON3531International Development (O)3 ch (3C)

Development theory at both sectoral and aggregate level; analysis of growth, employment, distribution of income, intersectoral investment allocation, and investment in human capital. 

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023.

ECON3542Topics in International Developments (O)3 ch (3C)

An analysis of the international dimension of economic problems faced and policies adopted by developing countries of Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Topics include: international trade, direct foreign investment, technology transfer, regional economic blocks, structural liberalization, debt and development financing, high rate of population growth and exhausting of natural resources.

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023.

ECON3613Game Theory3 ch (3C)

An introduction to game theory - a type of applied mathematics that describes strategic behaviour. Examples will be drawn from economics, political science, sociology and biology. 

Prerequisite: This interdisciplinary course is open to students who have successfully completed 15 term-courses (45 ch) or by permission of the instructor.
ECON3665Mathematical Economics 3 ch (3C)

A course in economic theory concerned with topics in micro-and macroeconomics. Emphasis is on the use of mathematics in the development of economic theory, particularly calculus and matrix algebra.

Prerequisites: ECON 2013, ECON 2023. Also, Mathematics requirement for Majors must be completed before a student is admitted.

ECON3702Cost Benefit Analysis (O)3 ch (3S)

Comparative study of costs and benefits and the impact of public projects and policy initiatives. 

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 and ECON 1023.

ECON3755Environmental Economics (A)3 ch (3C)

Examines interaction of ecological and economic systems, considering population growth, food supply, non-renewable resources. 

Prerequisites: ECON 1013 or ECON 1023.

ECON3813Health Economics3 ch (3C)
Health Economics is an applied economics course drawing heavily upon microeconomic theory. Through the application of economic principles, the course evaluates healthcare institutions and markets with an emphasis on Canadian issues and policies. The topics covered include the determinants of healthcare, the economics of insurance and risk aversion, the behaviour of consumers and healthcare providers, asymmetric information, and the nature of the market for healthcare services.

Prerequisite
: ECON 1013 or permission from the instructor.
ECON3835Market Strategies and Organization (O)3 ch (3C)

The analysis of market structure, firm strategy and performance, and public policy issues.

Prerequisite: ECON 2013.

ECON4035Macroeconomics II3 ch (3C)

Topics include neoclassical theories, Keynesian and post-Keynesian models, static and dynamic equilibrium models.  

Prerequisite: ECON 3023.

ECON4045Microeconomics II3 ch (3C)

Topics may include theories of imperfect competition, search and information, market failures, property rights, simple general equilibrium models.

Prerequisite: ECON 3013.

ECON4645Introduction to Applied Econometrics (O)3 ch (3S)

The objective of the course is to explain the problems and issues associated with empirical measurement of economic relationships, and an assessment of the techniques by which those problems may be solved. NOTE: Credit cannot be counted for both ECON 4645 and STAT 4703.

Prerequisites: STAT 1793 and STAT 2793 (or equivalent), and 4 term-courses in Economics. 

ECON4665Mathematical Economics II3 ch (3C)
This course extends the work from ECON 3665, building upon the student's background in algebra and multivariate calculus. Emphasis is placed on both static and dynamic optimization models.

Prerequisite: ECON 3665.
ECON4998Topics in Economics I (O)3 ch (3WS/S)

Directed study/reading programs. Workshops or seminars will be held as required. Students should apply to the Department in September or January for permission to take this course.

Prerequisites: ECON 2013 and ECON 2023.

ECON4999Topics in Economics II (O)3 ch (3WS/S)

Directed study/reading programs. Workshops or seminars will be held as required. Students should apply to the Department in September or January for permission to take this course. 

Prerequisites: ECON 2013 and ECON 2023.

ECON3765Sustainability Economics3 ch (3C/PRAC) EL

In this research and projects-based course we explore the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each student will produce an individual annotated bibliography that integrates economic thinking and one or more of the SDGs. At the same time, each student will work as part of a group to select an SDG-inspired project either on campus or in the City of Saint John.   

Prerequisites: ECON1013 and ECON1023