Economics

• CAS EC 392: International Macroeconomics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS EC 202 and CAS EC 203; or equivalent.
  Undergraduate Corequisites: CAS EC 204; or equivalent.
  This course analyzes what determines exchange rates, including interest rates, fiscal and monetary policies, GDP growth, inflation, and other factors. We will examine the causes of exchange rate crises, the functioning of fixed and flexible exchange rate systems, the effect of the worldwide saving imbalance, the crisis in the euro zone, as well as other current topics. We will also study hedging and speculating in foreign exchange markets by using futures and forward contracts and options. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Social Inquiry II.
  BU Hub Learn More

  • Social Inquiry II
• CAS EC 401: Senior Independent Work
  
• CAS EC 402: Senior Independent Work
  
• CAS EC 403: Game Theory
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS EC 201 and (CASMA121 or CASMA123 or CASMA127); or consent of instructor.
  Models of decision-making in which the choices of different individuals interact: basic equilibrium notions in normal-form and extensive-form games, including signaling games and repeated games. Applications may include oligopolies, auctions, foreign policy, takeover bids, entry deterrence, cooperation and conflict, financial markets, and public goods. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Social Inquiry II, Critical Thinking.
  BU Hub Learn More

  • Quantitative Reasoning II
  • Social Inquiry II
  • Critical Thinking
• CAS EC 404: Economics of Information
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS EC 201; and one of CAS MA 121, 122, 123, 124, 127 or 129, or consent of instructor. Recommended: CAS EC 403.
  Introduction to the field of information economics and its applications. Covers a wide range of situations in which players have access to different private information and this private information differently affects their incentives and strategic behavior. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning II, Social Inquiry II, Critical Thinking.
  BU Hub Learn More

  • Quantitative Reasoning II
  • Social Inquiry II
  • Critical Thinking
• CAS EC 405: Applied Econometrics: Time Series
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS EC 203 (or EC 303) and CAS EC 204 (or EC 304).
  Studies time series modeling and its applications. Covers estimation, inference and forecasting in univariate and multivariate models for times series data. The emphasis is on real data applications to finance markets, economic growth, and detecting recessions using Stata. Effective Fall 2023, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Quantitative Reasoning II, Research and Information Literacy.
  BU Hub Learn More

  • Quantitative Reasoning II
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS EC 406: Applied Econometrics: Cross-Sectional
  Studies cross-sectional modeling and its applications. Covers estimation, inference and forecasting in univariate and multivariate models for cross- sectional data. The emphasis is on data analysis using Stata. Effective Fall 2023, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive, Quantitative Reasoning II, Research and Information Literacy.
  BU Hub Learn More

  • Quantitative Reasoning II
  • Research and Information Literacy
  • Writing-Intensive Course
• CAS EC 411: Economics Practicum 1
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: students required to find internships independently and then locate an Economics advisor to instruct the practicum. Consent of faculty required.
  For students who wish to receive credit towards graduation for internships related to economics. Studies the interaction of academic studies and work experience.
• CAS EC 412: Economics Practicum 2
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: students required to find internships independently and then locate an Economics advisor to instruct the practicum. Consent of faculty required.
  For students who wish to receive credit towards graduation for internships related to economics. Studies the interaction of academic studies and work experience.
• CAS EC 436: Economics of Corporate Organization
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASEC201; and CASMA121 or CASMA123 or CASMA127; and CASEC305 or CASMA213; and CASMA214, or SMGSM221.
  Economic analysis of the architecture of firms and other organizations. Topics include firm boundaries, the allocation of ownership and control, integration and outsourcing, corporate governance, performance evaluation, and compensation.
• CAS EC 445: Economics of Risk and Uncertainty
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS EC 201 ; CAS EC 202 ; CAS EC 203 ; CAS EC 204; and CAS MA 121 or CAS MA 123 (or equivalent).
  For advanced undergraduates. Economics of risk, with a focus on financial markets. Topics include expected utility, portfolio choice and the capital asset pricing model, interest rates and monetary policy, the relation between the real economy and the stock market. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Quantitative Reasoning I, Social Inquiry II.
  BU Hub Learn More

  • Quantitative Reasoning I
  • Social Inquiry II
• CAS EC 464: The Pacific Rim: Economic and Political Orders
  Examines the major economies of the Asian Pacific Rim, focusing in particular on industrialization, international trade, and financial markets. Initially, these issues are considered from a comparative perspective. The experience of individual countries is then examined more closely. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in the following BU Hub area: Critical Thinking.
  BU Hub Learn More

  • Critical Thinking
• CAS EC 490: Special Topics in Economics
  May be repeated for credit as topic varies. Topic for Fall 2021, Section A1: Applied Econometrics: Time Series. Studies time series modeling and its applications. Covers estimation, inference and forecasting in univariate and multivariate models for times series data. The emphasis is on real data applications to finance markets, economic growth, and detecting recessions using Stata.
• CAS EC 491: Directed Study in Economics
  
• CAS EC 492: Directed Study in Economics
  
• CAS EC 501: Microeconomic Theory
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASEC201 or equivalent, and either CASEC505 or CASMA225, or consent of instructor.
  Covers the basic concepts and mathematical methods of microeconomic theory. Topics include consumer demand and its foundation on preferences and budget constraints, economics of uncertainty and imperfect information, production theory, applied competitive equilibrium analysis, elementary game theory, and imperfect competition.
• CAS EC 502: Macroeconomic Theory
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS EC 202 or equivalent, or consent of instructor.
  Graduate Prerequisites: EC 202 or equivalent, or consent of instructor.
  Brief overview of macroeconomics, leading to mathematical models on long-run economic growth and inflation, and on short-run fluctuations with emphasis on the role of fiscal and monetary policy. Readings from research journals; introduction to analysis of macroeconomic data.
• CAS EC 505: Elementary Mathematical Economics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS MA 121; or consent of instructor.
  Graduate Prerequisites: CAS MA 121; or consent of instructor.
  Stresses the formulation of economic problems in mathematical terms. Topics covered include partial derivation, total differentials, constrained maximization, matrix algebra, dynamic analysis, and discounting. Cannot be taken for credit by concentrators in Mathematics or Economics and Mathematics.
• CAS EC 507: Statistics for Economists
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS EC 203 or CAS EC 303; or equivalent and elementary calculus.
  Graduate Prerequisites: CAS EC 203 or CAS EC 303; Elementary Calculus.
  Covers descriptive statistics, measures of association, dispersion, frequency distribution, probability, sampling distributions, estimation, and hypothesis tests. Introduces multivariate regression analysis, with emphasis on specification, testing, and interpretation of econometric models. Requires working with data and use of statistical software.
• CAS EC 508: Econometrics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: CAS EC 507; and for undergraduate students only, (CASEC204 or CASEC304).
  Graduate Prerequisites: CAS EC 507.
  Standard econometric methods for empirical economic research in academic or business settings. Basic concepts: quantification of uncertainty using confidence intervals, inference of causal relationships in regressions, and prediction based on regression estimates. Working with data and use of statistical software.