203g Principles of Microeconomics (4, FaSp) Behavior of firms and consumers, functions of the price system, competition and monopoly, labor markets, poverty, government regulation, international trade, and the environment.
205g Principles of Macroeconomics (4, FaSp) Unemployment, inflation and output determination and links. Effects of government taxation and spending on growth, investment, saving, consumption, and trade.
303 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory (4, FaSp) Decision-making by business firms, consumer preferences and behavior, uncertainty, competition, monopoly, labor and resource markets, efficient resource allocation, externalities, and government policy. Prerequisite: ECON 203; MATH 118x or MATH 125.
305 Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory (4, FaSp) The determinants of aggregate income, employment, and inflation; economic fluctuations; fiscal and monetary policy; financial markets; the national debt. Prerequisite: ECON 203 and ECON 205; MATH 118x or MATH 125.
317 Introduction to Statistics for Economists (4, FaSp) Introduction to statistical methods appropriate for analyzing economic data: probability theory, random variables and probability distributions, sampling, estimation, statistical inference. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 381.) Prerequisite: MATH 118x or MATH 125.
326 History of Economic Thought (4) Major contributions to economics from Adam Smith to the present, notably classical economics and its 19th century critics, neo-classical economics and its 20th century critics. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 415.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 and ECON 205.
328 Economic Theories, Ideologies, and Policies (4) Competing economic philosophies and ideologies; their implications for public policy and economic reform. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 370.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 or ECON 205.
330 The Political Economy of Institutions (4) Social functions served by the rules, laws, regulations, and customs that constrain human activity. Processes whereby such institutions adapt, or fail to adapt, to changing circumstances. Prerequisite: ECON 203.
332 Contracts, Organizations and Institutions (4) Contract law and economic organization, determinants of firm boundaries, transaction cost economics, agency theory, incomplete contracting, business strategy, bureaucracy, institutional environment, politics and property rights. Prerequisite: ECON 203.
336 The Political Economy of Values (4) Psychological foundations of human values and preferences. The role of values in organizational success, social order, and economic development. The political economy of shaping, reshaping, protecting, and destroying values. Prerequisite: ECON 203.
338gm Political Economy and Social Thought in Western Culture (4, Sp) Contending politico-economic perspectives in modern Western thought and culture; absolutist, liberal, democratic, Marxist, anarchist, and other traditions, topics and issues. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 121x.) Prerequisite: ECON 205.
340 Economics of Less Developed Countries (4) Causes of economic underdevelopment: historical, institutional, structural, ideological, technological, cultural. Patterns and theories of development. Role of government, international trade, and education in economic growth. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 476.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 or ECON 205.
342 Economic Development of the Middle East (4) Historical and comparative analysis of economies of Middle Eastern countries: institutions, resources, trade, finance, income distribution, population, migration. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 477.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 or ECON 205.
343 Economic Development of East Asia (4) Contemporary economic problems of East Asian countries: management, labor, technology, trade, investment. Determinants of their high growth rates in the late 20th century. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 478.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 or ECON 205.
346 Comparative Economic Systems (4) Comparative analysis of the theory and practice of classic and contemporary economic systems; capitalism, Marxism, socialism, fascism, communism. Market and planning systems in selected countries. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 470.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 or ECON 205.
348g Current Problems of the American Economy (4, Fa) A comprehensive investigation of problems stemming from changing composition of the work force, urban decline, new technologies, inequalities, ethnic relations, government deficits. Prospects for continued growth. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 201.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 or ECON 205.
350g The World Economy (4, SpSm) International cooperation and conflict in the world economy. Global economic problems of growth and development, trade and finance, migration, economic stability, and the environment. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 202.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 or ECON 205.
357 Money, Credit, and Banking (4) The money, bond, stock, and other financial markets; portfolio choice; determinants of asset prices and interest rates; inflation; interactions between financial markets and government policies. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 320.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 and ECON 205.
360 Public Finance (4) Role of the government; income and corporate taxation; direct versus indirect taxation; optimal tax structure; public goods; public sector pricing; public debt and macroeconomic stability. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 310.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 and ECON 205.
365 Regional Economics (4) Industrial location; hierarchical structure of regions; relocation of jobs and people; growth and decline of regions; regional problems in the U.S. and elsewhere. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 355.) Prerequisite: ECON 203.
366 Urban Economics (4) Urban trends and problems, including changing urban form and function, urban public finance, housing, renewal, poverty, race, transportation, and the environment. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 356.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 and ECON 205.
378 Economics of Household Behavior (4) Determinants of marriage, divorce, childbearing, labor force participation, and education patterns. How various forms of discrimination affect these patterns. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 432.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 and ECON 205.
390 Special Problems (1-4) Supervised, individual studies. No more than one registration permitted. Enrollment by petition only.
392x Seminar: Latin American Studies (4) Themes in Latin American civilization; an interdisciplinary seminar for graduating seniors on general issues vital to all participant disciplines, e.g., nationalism, modernization, Indianism (Indigenismo). Not available for graduate credit.
395 Economic Policy Issues (4) Selected policy dilemmas, including welfare reform, urban renewal, government budget deficits, regulation and deregulation, environmental problems, immigration, and global development. Lectures by leading authorities and weekly discussion sessions. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 325.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 and ECON 205 and departmental approval.
401 Mathematical Methods in Economics (4, Fa) Introduction to quantitative methods for analyzing economic equilibria; comparative statics and dynamics. Utility theory, consumer behavior, and profit maximization. Model formulation in micro and macroeconomics. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 482.) Prerequisite: ECON 303, MATH 118x or MATH 125.
402 Computational Methods for Economists (2) Numerical solution of linear algebraic equations, mathematical programs, and difference equations with specific applications in economics. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 484.) Prerequisite: ECON 303, ECON 305, CSCI 100x, and MATH 225 or ECON 401.
403 Introduction to Mathematical Economics (4) Theories of production, consumption, and general equilibrium using calculus, and linear and nonlinear programing. Dynamic models of growth and investment using differential and difference equations. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 486.) Prerequisite: ECON 303, ECON 305; ECON 401 or MATH 225.
404 Games and Economics (4) Analysis of strategic economic interactions. Topics include bargaining, insurance, patents, voting, environmental depletion, strategic trade, learning, reputation, strikes, corporate takeovers, and the provision of public goods. Prerequisite: ECON 303.
414 Introduction to Econometrics (4, FaSp) Application of statistical methods to economic data: estimating economic relationships using regression analysis, testing hypotheses involving economic behavior, forecasting economic variables. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 485.) Prerequisite: ECON 317.
417 Statistics for Economists (4) Introduction to mathematical statistics, including random variable, families of distributions, sampling, maximum likelihood and other methods of estimation, statistical inference. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 483.) Prerequisite: ECON 317; ECON 401 or MATH 226.
419 Forecasting (4) Trends, time-series models, low-cost forecasting methods, regression mdoels, evaluation and combination of forecasts. Applications in business and economics. Prerequisite: ECON 317; corequisite: ECON 417.
420 Economic History and Development (4) Description and analysis of economic development; institutions involved in economic growth; comparative historical development of specific countries and regions. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 460.) Prerequisite: ECON 303 or ECON 305.
427 Marxian Political Economy (4) Marx and Marxism as critical responses to modern industrialization; Marxian analyses of economic power, alienation, distribution, depression, monopoly, development and transformation of capitalism, and communism. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 416.) Prerequisite: ECON 303 or ECON 205.
434 Economic Analysis of Law (4) Common law and property; rationing of justice, resource allocation between prevention and enforcement; division of decision making between public and private sectors. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 465.) Prerequisite: ECON 303.
450 International Trade (4) Determinants and economic consequences of international trade patterns; effects of trade restrictions and trading blocs; trade negotiations and arrangements. Prerequisite: ECON 303.
452 International Finance (4) Consequences of trade deficits; theories of capital and currency markets, exchange rate regimes, and international monetary coordination. Prerequisite: ECON 305.
457 Financial Markets (4) General equilibrium analysis of economies with financial markets; decision making under uncertainty; methods of risk reduction; portfolio theory and valuation of securities; efficiency of security markets. Prerequisite: ECON 303.
471 Economics of Labor Markets and Human Capital (4) A human capital interpretation of labor demand and supply; wage determination, differentials, and discrimination; job turnover and occupational mobility; unions and collective bargaining. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 430.) Prerequisite: ECON 303.
472 Economics of Medical Care (4) Health as an investment in human capital; analysis of the demand for and supply of health services and manpower; health insurance; cost-effectiveness analysis; market structures and the pricing of medical services. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 431.) Prerequisite: ECON 203 and ECON 205.
473xg Population Economics (4) Socioeconomic causes and effects of changes in fertility, migration and mortality; sex roles, labor force patterns, economic development, marriage, divorce, population policy. Not available for graduate credit. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 433x.) Prerequisite: ECON 303 or departmental approval.
480 Economics of Industrial Organization (4) Pricing and resource allocation in imprefectly competitive markets; monopoly regulation, collusion, cartels, mergers and antitrust; patents and development incentives; industry case studies. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 435.) Prerequisite: ECON 303.
481 Economics of Mass Communications Industries (4) Industrial organization of the mass communications industries; concentration, regulation, and economic efficiency in print, film, and electronic broadcast media. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 436.) Prerequisite: ECON 303.
487 Resource and Environmental Economics (4) Management and extraction of renewable and non-renewable natural resources; environmental externalities and regulation of air, water, and land pollution; market incentives versus direct regulation. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 341.) Prerequisite: ECON 303.
488 Economics of National Security (4) Economic theory and practice in U.S. national security planning; cost-effectiveness analysis; defense economics: arms races, alliances, and technological competition. (Duplicates credit in former ECON 445.) Prerequisite: ECON 303.
490x Directed Research (2-8, max 8, FaSpSm) Supervised individual research. Not available for graduate credit. Requires departmental approval.
491 Research Apprenticeship (2-4, max 4) Enables superior students to serve as research assistant to, and to receive research guidance from, a faculty member on a project of mutual interest.
495 Honors Thesis (4) Individual research supervised by a faculty advisor. Successful completion required for departmental honors degree. Prerequisite: ECON 395, departmental approval.
499 Special Topics (2-4, max 8, FaSpSm) Selected topics in economic theory, history, or policy.
Produced by the USC Division of Student Affairs, Office of University Publications, May 1, 1995