IX. Graduate Programs
Economics
Courses
Economic Theory
| ECON*6000 Microeconomic Theory I U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| A first graduate course in microeconomics, presenting a rigorous treatment of consumer theory, producer theory, applications of duality, partial equilibrium, general equilibrium and the fundamental theorems of welfare economics. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6010 Microeconomic Theory II U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| Advanced topics in modern microeconomics to include elements of game theory, information economics, economics of risk and uncertainty, the theory of incentives and others. | |
| Prerequisite(s): | ECON*6000 |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6020 Macroeconomic Theory I U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| A first graduate course in macroeconomics, presenting a rigorous introduction to the tools and basic models of dynamic general equilibrium theory. The topics covered include economic growth and development, economic fluctuations, and monetary and fiscal policies. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6040 Macroeconomic Theory II U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course considers the dynamics resulting from intertemporal optimization models. Foundations of unemployment theory. Approaches to business cycles. Models of long-run growth. | |
| Prerequisite(s): | ECON*6020 |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6060 Mathematical Methods for Economics F [0.00] | |
|---|---|
| This course is designed to provide students with the necessary mathematical tools to follow the contents of the core economics and econometrics courses in the MA program and successfully complete them. The material covered will include advanced topics in linear algebra, multivariate optimization techniques and comparative statics. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6090 Game Theory U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course introduces the student to game theory, which is an important tool for modelling economic situations with multi-person interaction. Economic applications such as oligopoly, bargaining, auctions, and public goods provision will be discussed. Broader applicaitons to voting games, candidate strategy, war games, and parlour games will also be briefly discussed. Students need to be very familiar with optimization and single person decision-making. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6100 Experimental Economics U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course examines the use of the experimental methodology in economics. We will study how experiments have been used to test theories in many subfields within economics. In the process, students will learn how to construct and run economics experiments and analyze experimental data. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6110 Mathematical Economics U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course introduces students to the mathematical techniques used in advanced economic analysis. Topics covered in any year: analysis of dynamic economic models and optimization in dynamic economic models. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
Econometrics
| ECON*6050 Introduction to Econometric Methods U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| Introduction to the specification, estimation and testing of economic models. Topics include the classical linear regression model, t tests, structure tests, specification error, the consequences of the violation of the classical assumptions, detection and correction of autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6140 Econometrics I U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| Topics include a review of the classical linear regression model, applications of generalized least squares, maximum likelihood methods and various statistical test procedures. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6160 Econometrics II U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| Topics include maximum likelihood as a method of estimation and inference, nonlinear estimation and simultaneous equations. Also more specialized topics such as limited-dependent-variable models and non-parametric regression methods may be covered. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6170 Topics in Econometrics U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This is an advanced econometrics topics course that covers the area of non-parametric and semiparametric estimation and testing of econometrics models, including time series and panel data semiparametric models. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6180 Econometric Methods U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course follows ECON*6050. It covers estimation by instrumental variables, estimations of simultaneous systems, asymptotic distribution theory, maximum likelihood estimation, binary choice and limited dependent variable models, and issues in time series analysis. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
Economic History
| ECON*6200 Economic History U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course considers topics in economic history which vary from year to year. The emphasis will be usually on late-19th or 20th century topics and often involves a world emphasis. Student presentations and papers form a large part of the course. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6370 Economic Development in Historical Perspective U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course will examine the experience of economic development focusing on the emergence of the Third World. Topics for discussion will vary from year to year; they may include the impact of trade expansion during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the role of manufacturing as a leading sector, statist vs. the new classical approaches to government policy, and others. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
Money and Finance
| ECON*6320 International Finance U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course deals with the theoretical policy and issues of international finance. Topics may include exchange rate determination, capital flows in international markets, the financing of trade flows, and open economy macroeconomic models and policy issues. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6380 Financial Economics U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course has three objectives: (i) build a common background for all students in asset pricing and corporate finance in order to facilitate discussion of finance research; (ii) provide an in-depth look at selected finance topics, and (iii) expose students to top published research papers. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6390 Empirical Finance and Financial Econometrics U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course covers topics in empirical finance, involving the integration of financial theory, financial econometrics, and data analysis. Students will learn how empirical research in finance is conducted through reading involving both textbooks and journal articles and from conducting an independent research project. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6490 Money and Banking U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course studies monetary economies using overlapping generations models, MIU models and CIA models. More specifically, we will study major issues in money and banking, such as the role of money and banks, the cost of inflation, and the optimal monetary policies. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
Developmental Economics
| ECON*6350 Economic Development U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course examines economic development from an international perspective: theories, history, policies and prospects. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
Labour Economics
| ECON*6600 Labour Economics U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| Major themes in labour market theory including static and dynamic labour demand and supply, migration and wage structures and dynamics, unemployment, migration and the role of social programs. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6610 Topics in Labour Economics U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course complements ECON*6600. Topics include advanced issues in family labour supply, human capital, wage bargaining and contract theory, search theory, duration analysis and its application to major labour market spells such as employment and unemployment. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
Environmental and Resource Economics
| ECON*6800 Environmental Economics U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| A topics course concerning the interrelationships between economic activities and the state of the natural environment. Topics may include: pollution and economic growth; energy use and environmental quality; international trade and pollution; policies for controlling pollution; techniques for assessing the benefits of environmental improvement. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6810 Economic Theory of Natural Resources Use U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course examines economic models of the use of non-renewable resources to analyze issues such as resource conservation, sustainable development, taxation of resource rents, and price determination in resource markets. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
Other
| ECON*6300 International Trade Theory U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course provides a rigorous treatment of both positive and normative aspects of trade theory through extensive use of general equilibrium models under varying assumptions. Topics may also include barriers to trade, international factor movements, growth and development, and strategic trade policy. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6400 Public Finance U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course surveys the normative theory of the public sector. Topics may include public expenditure theory, tax theory, cost benefit analysis and fiscal federalism. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6650 Economics of Social Welfare U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course deals with the analysis of social welfare programs, concentrating on national health insurance. It covers their structure, incentives and distribution effects, and includes empirical analysis of existing programs. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6700 Industrial and Market Organization U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| The major topics of industrial organization are analyzed from both a game theoretic perspective and from a Structure-Conduct-Performance perspective. Typical topics include: oligopoly theory, determinants of industrial structure, Coase theorem, market entry, advertising, research and development, product differentiation, and price discrimination. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6750 Managerial Economics U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| The course introduces students to the latest developments in the economic analysis of the inside workings and organization of firms. The course tries to explain the diversity of economic organizations, and more generally why economic activity is sometimes carried out through firms and sometimes through markets. For graduate students outside the Department of Economics and Finance. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6770 Financial Management U [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This course examines the implications of financing decisions made by firms in a world of uncertainty. Topics such as capital budgeting, capital structure, dividend policy, market efficiency and capital asset pricing will be analyzed from the perspective of corporate finance and portfolio management theory. Co-requisite: AGEC*6070. For graduate students outside the Department of Economics and Finance. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6930 Reading Course U [0.50] | |
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| In some circumstances, students may arrange to take a reading course under the direction of a faculty member. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6940 Research Project U [1.00] | |
|---|---|
| All students who choose the research project option in the MA program will register in this course. Research projects are written under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Normally, research projects are completed within one or two semesters. Students must make a presentation of their work and a copy of the final report must be submitted to the Department before the final grade is submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies. | |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |
| ECON*6950 Finance Research Project S [0.50] | |
|---|---|
| This program is a supervised research project exclusively for students in the Finance Specialization stream in the MA program. Students may elect either to write a major paper in a finance-related topic of to do a placement in a financial consulting company to conduct a structured portfolio analysis. Students must indicate their preference prior to the start of the summer semester to the Graduate Program Coordinator, who will oversee placements. | |
| Prerequisite(s): | ECON*6000, ECON*6140, ECON*6380, ECON*6390, AND ECON*6930, |
| Restriction(s): | For students in the MA Economics Finance Specialization |
| Department(s): | Department of Economics and Finance |