Economics elective courses, Winter 2025

The prerequisites for the following 300-level courses are ECON 201 and 203.

ECON 318 Canadian Economic Policy and Institutions
This course focuses on economic policies and institutions related to contemporary issues in the domestic economy. It is guided by the application of economic principles to such issues as regional disparities, income distribution and inequality, intra‑provincial trade, social security policies, welfare programs, foreign ownership and control, competition policy, government regulation of business, unemployment, inflation, and environmental policy.

ECON 319 International Economic Policy and Institutions
This course focuses on economic policies and institutions related to issues such as protectionism, regionalism, and globalization. Selected topics in exchange rate and currency convertibility, liberalization of economic systems, and international economic development are also covered.

ECON 331 Money and Banking
Overview of a monetary economy: nature, forms, and the economic role of money. Monetary standards: markets, prices, and the value of money; the payments system; financial markets. Determinants of size and distribution of wealth portfolios. Supply of money: measure, composition, and size determination. The economic role of commercial banks and non‑bank financial intermediaries. Central banking and monetary policy. The international monetary system. (Topics covered within the Canadian banking institutional framework.)

ECON 377 The Asia-Pacific Rim Economies
This course analyzes the economic growth, industrial policies and crisis experiences of selected Asian economies. It provides an analysis of the policies and factors that have contributed to the economic transformation of these economies since World War II. It examines how these economies were affected by the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and their economic performance since then. The economic challenges that these economies are likely to face in the future may also be explored.

ECON 391 Economics of the Environment
The subject of this course is environmental quality. It proceeds through an analysis of the relationships among the natural environment, economics, and institutions. The objective is to depict the problem of environmental quality as an economic problem whose solution demands major changes in economic, political, and legal institutions. Attention is also given to policies of collective environmental actions in which the effective management of common property resources is discussed. The course concludes with a discussion of some broader issues, such as the consistency of improved environmental quality with continued economic and population growth.

Please consult the Concordia Class schedule for each course's prerequisites, course delivery, and class notes. Kindly note that restrictions apply for access to ECON classes for non-program students.

ECON 413 Economic Growth and Fluctuations
This course reviews various theories explaining the causes of economic fluctuations and the determinants of economic growth. It also examines issues relevant to macroeconomic stabilization policies.

ECON 430 Transportation Economics
This is a course in the field of applied economics, with a focus on transportation economics. Topics may include the evaluation of the economic benefits of various transportation systems, the social costs of transportation, road pricing, government participation in transportation finance and urban planning, the redistributive and other economic effects of transportation investment.

ECON 432 Monetary Theory
This course examines the nature of the Monetarist-Keynesian controversy and gives a critical appraisal of the IS-LM-AS model. Topics covered may include the term structure of interest rates, post-Keynesian theories of money supply and demand as well as issues in macroeconomic policy theory such as transmission mechanisms, policy coordination and implementation lags, and international constraints.

ECON 440 Market Design
This course focuses on the design and analysis of market mechanisms, which are concerned with how to construct rules for allocating resources and how to structure successful marketplaces. It draws on tools of game theory to identify why certain market rules or institutions succeed and why others fail. Topics may include matching markets, auctions, contracts, economic platforms and network effects. The main objectives of this course are to introduce students to some of the fundamental concepts and ideas in the theory of market design and to connect this theory to real‑life markets and to practical aspects of market design policy.

ECON 442 International Economics: Trade Theory
This course examines the foundations of international trade, the origins of gains from trade, factor-price equalization, tariffs, Canadian trade policy, the role of trade in development, and economic integration.

ECON 443 International Economics: Finance
This course is an introduction to theory of national income determination in open economies with capital mobility. It includes analyses of balance of payments, exchange rate, and the role of monetary and fiscal policies under different exchange rate regimes. Among other issues covered are international policy coordination, optimum currency areas, and features of the international monetary system.

ECON 464 Game Theory, Information, and Economic Modelling
This introductory course on game theory is a collection of mathematical tools to model and analyze strategic interactions in a variety of settings, from economic and social situations to politics and international relations. The course focuses on both non-co-operative and co-operative game theoretic modelling, in particular, strategic and extensive form games, Bayesian games, and coalitional games. Students learn to solve games using the concepts of dominant strategies, Nashequilibrium, subgame perfection, Bayesian equilibrium, and the core. Applications may include repeated games, auctions, bargaining, oligopoly games, entry deterrence, pricing strategies, and collusion.

ECON 491 Environmental Economics
This course provides a survey, from the perspective of economics, of public issues regarding the use of environmental resources, ecosystems and the management of environmental quality. The course covers both conceptual and methodological topics with recent and current applications. It begins with an introduction to the theory and methods of environmental and natural resource economics and concepts of sustainable development. Then the emphasis is shifted to the optimal use of natural resources, both non‑renewable resources (mineral and energy) and renewable resources, and the valuation of environmental resources. The last part of the course examines national and international environmental policy issues, including intergenerational equity and environmental ethics.

ECON 497 Income Distribution and Economic Inequality
This course examines the extent and dimensions of economic inequality among households both domestically and internationally. Topics covered include theories of income inequality, wealth inequality, recent trends in polarization, poverty, intergenerational bequests, the welfare state, and the role of government economic policy.

ECON 498 Advanced Topics: Capstone Research Paper
This course provides a hands-on introduction to economic research. It guides students through the process of conducting independent empirical research in economics based on their interests, with the ultimate goal of producing a complete research paper. The course is organized around the steps involved in conducting research such as formulating a clear research question, searching and reviewing the relevant literature, designing an appropriate econometric strategy, finding data, and writing about research. Through this course, students gain the opportunity to apply the skills developed throughout the program, paving the way for success in both academic and professional endeavours within the field.

ECON 498 Advanced Topics: Economics of Education
Education is a major driver of private economic gains and productivity growth for society. This course examines how education is produced and its return. Topics covered include the human capital model, the signaling model, returns to education, financial aid, and peer effects.