Economics Courses

ECON 100

Introduction to Economic Issues

An introduction to the economic way of thinking. Basic economic concepts are used to explore current economic issues such as unemployment, inflation, economic growth, taxation, competition, pollution reduction, health care, and more.
*Note: Students who have received credit for either ECON 201 or 202, or any ECON course numbered 300 or higher may not take ECON 100 for credit.*

ECON 201

Introductory Microeconomics

Theory of how individual consumers and firms behave in a market economy. Emphasis is on evaluating how well markets deliver efficient and fair outcomes.
***Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100 or Pre-Calculus 20 (or equivalent)***
*Note: Students who have already received credit for both ECON 201 and ECON 301 may not retake ECON 201 for credit.*

ECON 202

Introductory Macroeconomics

Basic economic concepts are used to explain how economies operate at a national or regional level, with a focus on production, income, interest rates, prices, inflation, and unemployment. Principles are introduced for understanding and evaluating the methods by which governments can smooth fluctuations in overall economic activity.
***Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100 or Pre-Calculus 20 (or equivalent) ***
*Note: Students who have already received credit for both ECON 202 and ECON 302 may not retake ECON 202 for credit.*

ECON 211

Development Economics

Problems and challenges facing developing countries in their attempts to improve living standards.
*** Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100 ***

ECON 224

Empirical Economics

This course introduces students to various sources of economic data. Using Excel, students will perform analyses of data, and conduct hypothesis tests and simple regressions.
*** Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100 ***

ECON 231

Money, Banks & Financial Institutions

How did money evolve and who controls its supply? How do banks work and what is the role of the central bank? How do stock and bond markets work and what purpose do they serve?
***Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100.***

ECON 232

Government and the Economy

Considers rationales for government intervention in the economy. Assesses the impact of government activity on the economy and on the economic welfare of the population. Includes a comprehensive survey of Canadian tax and spending programs and policies.
***Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of ECON 232, BUS 340, or ADMN 340.*

ECON 233

Issues in Canadian Agriculture

Applies economic theory to current problems facing Canadian and world agriculture. Supply and demand conditions in world markets. Causes and effects of government support programs. Impact of WTO agreements.
***Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100.***

ECON 234

Monetary and Financial Crises

Why do stock markets and national currencies occasionally collapse and what lessons can we learn from such crises? These questions are examined through a study of classic cases like the Asian currency crisis of 1997-98 and the global financial crisis of 2007-8.
***Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100***

ECON 236

Economics of Crime

Does crime pay? Do governments punish and regulate crime too much or too little? Basic economic concepts are used to analyze criminal behaviour and anti-crime measures. Covers such issues as the underground economy, costs and benefits of anti-drug laws, and policies for preventing crime.
*** Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100. ***

ECON 237

Economics of Canadian Regionalism

Examines the disparities in economic development among the various regions of Canada and analyzes how governments have tried to balance regional and national interests in designing, delivering and financing public programs.
***Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100***

ECON 238

Economics of Sports

Are professional athletes paid too much? Should governments pay for stadiums? Can small-market franchises survive?
***Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100.***

ECON 253

Economic Issues in the Canadian Health Care System

Surveys the Canadian health care system from an economic perspective. Discusses common misconceptions about health care. Examines the economic costs and socio-economic benefits of health care in this country, and compares the health care system here with those prevailing in other countries.
*** Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100 ***

ECON 269

The Economics of Beer

This course explores the economics of the multi-billion dollars industries of brewing and selling beer; along with the myriad of regulations surrounding the production and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
***Prerequisite: ECON 100 or 15 credit hours***
* Note: Formerly numbered ECON 296AJ. Students may receive credit for only one of ECON 269 or ECON 296AJ.*

ECON 273

Environmental Economics

A study of contemporary environmental issues using economics. What are the economic costs and benefits of pollution? How do emission standards, environmental taxes, and tradable permits work in reducing pollution? What are the cost-effective ways to address environmental challenges like climate change?
***Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100.***

ECON 274

Ecological Economics

A study of the economy as a system embedded within earth systems. The course explores questions like: What are the key energy and material flows in the economy? Can economic activity be decoupled from environmental impact? How should we define and achieve sustainability?
***Prerequisite: ECON 100 or 15 credit Hours.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of ECON 274 or ECON 296AH.*

ECON 275

Energy Economics

A study of basic economic concepts underlying energy production and consumption. Topics include: the structure of the energy sector including ownership structures and regulation; conventional and emerging energy resources; environmental impacts, economic development, and geopolitics surrounding energy production and consumption.
***Prerequisite: ECON 100 or 15 credit hours.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of ECON 275 or ECON 296AL.*

ECON 280

Writing for Economists

Students will work, on a variety of writing assignments to develop skills in practical research and writing. Students will utilize quantitative and qualitative economic analysis to produce briefing notes and reports that facilitate decision making in organizations. The goal is to help prepare students for careers as analysts.
***Prerequisite: 9 credit hours of ECON courses.***

ECON 281

Wages & Employment in Canada

How are wages determined? What are the causes of unemployment? What policies are best suited for dealing with industrial injuries, part-time work, employee health, and retirement?
***Prerequisite: 15 credit hours or ECON 100.***

ECON 296AM

Crowns, Commissions, and Agencies in Canada

An introduction to Crowns, Commissions, and Agencies, with an emphasis on Saskatchewan and Canada. The course examines the economic and ethical rationales for these institutions and their evolution over time; and reviews major Crown Corporations, agencies and commissions, their origins, and structure, together with their impact on the Canadian economy.
***Prerequisites: ECON 100 or 15 credit hours***

ECON 296AN

Economics of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Examines the short, medium and potentially long-term impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Canada from a micro and macroeconomic perspective. The course will specifically examine demographic, behavioural, governance, health, and financial impacts at the local, national, and international levels as well as the comparative impacts from historically similar events.
***Prerequisite: ECON 100 or 15 credit hours.***

ECON 296AO

Introduction to the Economic Analysis of Law

A study of the economic logic underlying common law, corporate law, criminal law, and family law. Following the idea that 'people respond to incentives,' we use fundamental, intuitive concepts to ask why the laws are what they are and how people have adapted over time to changes in various laws.
***Prerequisite: ECON 100 or 15 credit hours.**

ECON 301

Intermediate Microeconomics l

Presents a more advanced theory of the behaviour of households and firms in competitive and non-competitive markets. Examines consumer preferences and their optimal choices, and cost structures and firm behaviour in various market structures.
***Prerequisite: ECON 201 with a minimum grade of 60%***

ECON 302

Intermediate Macroeconomics l - Economic Fluctuations

Advanced economic concepts are used to explain how economies work at a national or regional level, with a focus on booms, recessions, government spending, taxation, and monetary policy.
*** Prerequisite: ECON 202 with a minimum grade of 60%***

ECON 307

Intermediate Microeconomics ll

A continuation of ECON 301. Topics include: producer and consumer choice over time and under uncertainty, market failure (public goods, externalities, and asymmetric information), factor markets, introductory general equilibrium, game theory, welfare economics and behavioural economics.
***Prerequisite: ECON 301 and MATH 103 or equivalent, or permission of Department Head***

ECON 308

Economic Growth

This course surveys theories and models of economic growth, along with growth and development experiences of various countries.
***Prerequisite: ECON 202 and MATH 103 or 110 or permission of Department Head***

ECON 309

Game Theory

This course introduces students to the tools and logic of game theory to broaden the range of situations and actions to be considered in the study of microeconomics. The strategic behaviour of firms and other agents will be explored in cases when the actions of one agent have an impact on the actions of others. Topics include Nash equilibrium, sub-game perfection, asymmetric information and risk. ***Prerequisites: Econ 301 and Math 103 or equivalent, or permission of Department Head***

ECON 310

Intermediate Macroeconomics II

A continuation of Econ 302. Topics include: growth theories, the life-cycle consumption-saving, work – leisure decisions of the representative household, investment theories, issues in fiscal sustainability, the Ricardian equivalence, and time-inconsistency of government policies.
***Prerequisite: Econ 302 and MATH 103 or equivalent***

ECON 311

Economics of Developing Countries

Comparative case studies of attempts by Third World countries to improve their living standards. Introduction to theories of how economies develop.
***Prerequisite: ECON 202 or ECON 211***

ECON 321

Econometrics

This course covers estimation and hypothesis testing in the simple and multiple regression model, consequences and remedies of estimation under non-classical conditions. Students will use econometric software in a laboratory setting.
***Prerequisite: ECON 224, or STAT 160 or 200 or equivalent***

ECON 322

Mathematical Economics

This course develops mathematical techniques used to conduct economic analysis, including differentiation, logarithmic and exponential functions, maximization and minimization.

*** Prerequisite: ECON 201 & one of MATH 103, 105 or 110 ***

ECON 331

Monetary Theory and Domestic Financial Markets

Examines theories of money, financial markets, and institutions in a Canadian context.
*** Prerequisite: 45 credit hours or three ECON courses ***

ECON 332

Issues in Government Economics

A continuation of ECON 232. Topics may include: rationale and financing options for the Canada Pension Plan; inter-provincial transfers (fiscal federalism); tax treatment of retirement savings and families; financing public education and health care; influence of the electoral process on government policies.
*** Prerequisite: ECON 232 or BUS/ADMN 340 ***

ECON 341

International Trade

Uses theories of international trade to examine trade patterns, the impact of trade and trade agreements on economies, and the effects of trade policies.
***Prerequisite: ECON 201***

ECON 342

Global Financial Markets

A survey of international monetary and financial institutions and arrangements. Topics include foreign-exchange markets, international banking, hedge funds, currency speculation, alternative exchange-rate regimes, and regulation of global financial markets.
*** Prerequisite: ECON 202 ***

ECON 351

Cost Benefit Analysis

Introduces techniques for estimating in dollar terms the costs and benefits of real-world projects and policies.
***Prerequisite: ECON 201***

ECON 353

Health Economics

Examines the Canadian health care system from an economic perspective. Uses models of patient, physician and institutional behaviour to analyze the factors governing health and the demand for health care, and to evaluate competing proposals for health care reform.
***Prerequisite: ECON 201 or ECON 253***

ECON 354

Economics of Cities

Applies economic analysis to important questions regarding urban areas: Why do they exist? What determines their location? What is their role in the Canadian economy? Other issues considered are: zoning policies, local government spending and taxation, urban economic development policy, and urban transportation policy.
***Prerequisite: ECON 201***

ECON 361

Industrial Organization

A study of how strategic interactions of firms in various market structures affect economic performance. Topics may include: monopolies and public policy toward crown corporations; competition policy of mergers and acquisitions in oligopolistic industries; causes and effects of government intervention in private economic activities such as, price discrimination, advertisement, and innovation.
*** Prerequisite: ECON 201 ***

ECON 363

Population Economics

Examines the impact of changing population age structures on economic performance and public well-being.
***Prerequisite: 45 credit hours or three ECON courses***

ECON 364

Economics of Corruption

The Course analyzes the incentives and deterrent of corrupt behaviour through the use of various economic models of corruption. The course examines causes and consequences of corruption, with a particular focus on transition economies and developing countries. In addition, the course analyzes corruption from an institutional and transaction economics approach and as it sustains other illicit activities such as tax evasion, the underground economy, and organized crime.
***Prerequisites: 45 credit hours or 3 Econ courses.***

ECON 366

Financial Economics and Investment Analysis

A study in the economic theory of financial decision making and asset pricing. Course topics include, risk measurement, portfolio optimization, and the pricing of risky assets and derivative instruments. Additional topics may include firm valuation techniques, capital structure decisions, and financial statement analysis.
***Prerequisite: ECON 202.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of ECON 366, BUS 497, ADMN 497, or ECON 396AR.*

ECON 372

Natural Resource Management on the Prairies

Problems in the prairie oil/gas, timber, uranium, potash, power generation and water management sectors; preservation of prairie ecosystems; application of theory to determine how best to deal with these problems.
***Prerequisite: ECON 201***

ECON 373

Climate Change Policy

This course will explore questions such as, What policy options are available to address climate change? What climate change policies have been introduced in Canada and around the world? How do we evaluate whether climate change policy has succeeded?
***Prerequisite: ECON 201 or ECON 273.***
*Note: Students may receive credit for one of ECON 373, ECON 396AW, or GEOG 396AM.*

ECON 396AS

The Economics of Canadian Brewing

This course builds on the topics and skills covered in ECON 269 to give students a deeper understanding of issues and regulation of the multi-billion dollar Canadian Brewing industry.
***Prerequisites: ECON 269 or ECON 201, or permission of the Department Head.***

ECON 396AX

Family Economics

A study of the allocation of labour and resources within households. Using microeconomic models and their applications, this course examines the household economic decisions regarding investment in human capital, gender roles, labour supply, marriage, divorce, and fertility.
***Prerequisite: 45 credit hours or three ECON courses, or other prerequisites depending on the topic.***

ECON 401

Advanced Microeconomic Theory

Advanced microeconomic analysis using optimization techniques including multivariate calculus with public policy applications. Topics include consumer and production theory, general equilibrium and welfare analysis, public goods, externalities, asymmetric information and uncertainty.
***Prerequisite: ECON 307 and ECON 322 or equivalent***

ECON 402

Advanced Macroeconomic Theory

Advanced macroeconomic analysis using dynamic optimization techniques and differential equations. Topics include include growth theory and policy, business cycle theory, stabilization policy, consumption and investment behaviour, monetary policy, and fiscal sustainability.
***Prerequisite: ECON 310 and ECON 322 or permission of Department Head***

ECON 480

Capstone Seminar in Economics

Students will research an economic issue of personal interest under the supervision of a faculty member, present their work in class, and produce a term paper.
***Prerequisite: ECON 224 and two of ECON 280, ECON 311, ECON 341, ECON 353, ECON 354, ECON 361, ECON 363, ECON 364, ECON 372, ECON 373, or permission of the Department Head.***

ECON 496AL

Advanced Econometrics

This course covers topics that are continuation of the topics covered in ECON 321: Econometrics. Topics covered include time series regression analysis, panel data methods, instrumental variables and two stage least squares, discrete choice models, and spatial econometric methods. Students will use econometric software.
***Prerequisite: ECON 301 or ECON 302.***

ECON 499

Honours Project

The student will conduct a research project under the direction of a faculty member, typically involving empirical work or critical analysis and will present the final project at a Departmental seminar.
***Prerequisite: Grade of at least 75% in ECON 480***
*Note: ECON Honours students only.*