Course List

Course Number	Course Name	C - L - H	Hrs
383-0B2-DW	The Economics of Public Policy	2 - 1 - 3	45
Description for Course: The course introduces students to how economic theories can analyze government policies that address social problems. It assesses the costs, benefits, and trade-offs of policy options and examines their effects on efficiency, equity, and economic well-being. Using cost-benefit analysis, economic modelling, and behavioural insights, students will evaluate social policies designed to enhance social welfare. The first part of the course reviews foundational economic concepts essential for examining social problems and then proceeds to analyze the causes and consequences of social problems such as prostitution, addiction, crime, and illegal organ transplants. The course may also consider broader global concerns, such as climate change, international conflict, technological change, and income inequality. Students will also learn to apply economic analysis to evaluate the decisions of individuals, firms, and governments.
383-101-DW	Introduction to Economics	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description for Course: The course introduces students to economic systems, the great economic thinkers, the different schools of thought, and the basic concepts and theories of economics. Students will become familiar with introductory tools, methods, and models of economic analysis, as well as recognize their limitations. Applying different perspectives and relying on current and historical data, the course exposes students to Canada's and Quebec's major macroeconomic problems such as unemployment, recessions, inflation, and the public debt. Students will learn how governments can use fiscal, monetary, and trade policies to reduce domestic economic problems. The course prepares students to critically assess government economic policies and economic information in the news media. For students in the Social Science program, this course is a pre-requisite to all other Economics courses.
383-1N1-DW	Introduction to Economics	2 - 1 - 3	45
Description for Course: The course introduces students to resource allocation under constraints, economic systems, the great economic thinkers, the different schools of thought, and the major approaches in economics. Students will recognize basic economic concepts, theories, and models, and recognize their limitations. Applying different perspectives and relying on current and historical data, students will discuss the main economic problems facing Canada and Quebec in a global context, such as climate change, inflation, poverty, globalization, recessions, unemployment, income inequality, and other selected problems. In this course, students will describe how governments use fiscal, monetary, and trade policies to reduce domestic economic problems. They will recognize the economic consequences of economic policies and critically discuss economic information reported in the news media. Students will apply the knowledge, skills, and values they have developed in the course to examine a selected problem.
383-201-DW	Microeconomics	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description for Course: The course presents concepts and theories that explain how households and firms behave in different markets. The assumptions of each theory will be clearly stated and the weaknesses of the theory pointed out. Topics covered in the course include market structures, supply and demand, consumer behaviour, behaviour of the firm, production and costs, and the determination of equilibrium price and output in different markets. Using concepts and theories, students will analyze how individuals and companies react to government interventions in the market such as subsidies, minimum wages, and price controls.
383-302-DW	Macroeconomics	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description for Course: The course introduces students to theories that explain the determination and evolution of macroeconomic aggregates such as GDP, the rate of unemployment, the rate of inflation, and the rate of interest. It discusses macroeconomic theories and models, specifies their assumptions, presents their applications, and identifies their limitations. Relying on historical and current data, the course examines the changes that have taken place in the Canadian economy over the last few decades. Topics discussed in the course include economic cycles, sources of economic growth, fiscal and monetary policies. Students will learn how different schools of thought, namely the Classical and Keynesian schools, approach these topics. The course enables students to apply macroeconomic concepts to specific cases and to critically assess economic policies.
383-324-DW	The Stock Market	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description for Course: The course introduces students to investment management and the stock market. The course presents various investment theories, assesses asset allocation, and examines the relationship between risk and rates of return. Students learn concepts and theories that explain how investors allocate their wealth among financial assets, real estate, and commodities. The course also presents theories that analyze fluctuations in the stock market. Students will understand how macro economic variables such as the rate of economic growth, the rate of unemployment, the rate of inflation, and the rate of interest, as well how microeconomic variables such as profits, productivity, and sales growth affect the stock market. Students will be able to understand the construction of stock market indices such the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the NASDAQ, the TSX, the Standard and Poor 500. The course enables students to understand stock listings and to critically assess financial information.
383-330-DW	International Economics	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description for Course: The course helps students understand the economic dynamics of the increasingly integrated world economy and its consequences for countries. The course introduces students to the concepts and theories that explain the patterns of international trade, investment, and migration. It analyzes how the increase in the flow of goods and services and capital across countries over the years - globalization - has created an interdependent world economy, with various challenges and opportunities for countries. It examines the impact of globalization on the domestic stabilization policies of countries, including Canada. The course also discusses trade policies, balance payments problems, different exchange rate regimes, the political economy of trade agreements such as NAFTA, and the role of international organizations, namely the IMF and the WTO.
383-901-DW	Basics of Macroeconomics	3 - 0 - 3	45
Description for Course: The course introduces students to economic systems, the great economic thinkers, the different schools of thought, and the basic concepts and theories of economics. Students will become familiar with the introductory tools, methods, and models of economic analysis, as well as recognize their limitations. Applying different perspectives and relying on current and historical data, the course exposes students to major macroeconomic problems of Canada and Quebec, such as, unemployment, recessions, inflation, and the public debt. Students will learn how governments can use fiscal, monetary, and trade policies to reduce domestic economic problems. The course prepares students to critically assess government economic policies and economic information in the news media. The course teaches students how the macroeconomic environment affects the firm and how to use macroeconomic data for management purposes.
383-A02-DW	Macroeconomics: Commerce	2 - 1 - 3	45
Description for Course: The course discusses the macroeconomic environment that affects the decisions of individuals and firms. The macroeconomy affects the decision of individuals as consumers and employees and the decisions of firms as profit-seeking entities. In this course, students will learn theories and models that explain key macroeconomic indicators, such as total output, price level, economic cycles, growth, unemployment, interest rates, exchange rates, and income inequality. The relevance of these aggregates in the decision of individuals and firms will be emphasized. Students will acquire the essential analytical skills, concepts, theories, and models that will enable them to analyze the macroeconomic aggregates. Students will examine how the government and central bank influence the macroeconomy through fiscal, monetary, trade, and industrial policies. Those taking the class will apply the relevant mathematical concepts when analyzing a macroeconomic problem.
383-A03-DW	Microeconomics	2 - 1 - 3	45
Description for Course: The course introduces students to the major concepts, theories, and models used to analyze the behaviour of individuals and firms in different markets. The assumptions of each theory presented in the course will be clearly stated, and its weaknesses pointed out. Topics covered in the course include market structures, supply and demand, consumer behaviour, behaviour of the firm, production and costs, and determination of equilibrium price and output in different markets. The course presents a theory that explains the determination of incomes such as wages, rent, interest, and profits. The course enables students to analyze contemporary microeconomic issues and problems. Using the relevant concepts, theories, and models, students will analyze how individuals and companies react to changes in government policy such as subsidies, minimum wages, price controls, carbon taxes, and other policies.
383-A04-DW	Macroeconomics	2 - 1 - 3	45
Description for Course: The course introduces students to theories that explain the determination and evolution of macroeconomic aggregates such as GDP, unemployment rates, inflation rates, and rates of interest. It discusses macroeconomic theories and models, specifies their assumptions, presents their applications, and identifies their limitations and the contrast between them. Relying on historical and current data, the course examines the changes that have taken place in the Canadian economy over the last few decades. Topics discussed in the course include business cycles, sources of economic growth, fiscal and monetary policies. Students will learn how different schools of thought, namely the Classical and Keynesian schools, approach these topics. The course enables students to apply macroeconomic concepts to specific cases and to critically assess economic policies.
383-A06-DW	Environmental Economics	2 - 1 - 3	45
Description for Course: This course examines the intricate relationship between the environment and economic activities. The environment provides essential resources for the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and is in turn affected by these economic activities. Students will explore the causes and consequences of air, land, and water pollution. The course familiarizes students with the economic concepts, theories, and models that explain environmental degradation. Students will apply concepts such as externalities, sustainable development, and property rights, to examine the consequences of economic activities on the environment. The course evaluates the private and social costs and benefits of economic activities on the environment. Students will assess the effectiveness of the different approaches that local governments have implemented to abate pollution, as well as evaluate multilateral strategies aimed at combating climate change on the global scale.
383-A10-DW	International Trade and Commercial Policy	2 - 1 - 3	45
Description for Course: International Trade helps students understand the dynamics of the integrated world economy and provides them with conceptual tools to analyze trade between countries. Students will learn key concepts, theories, and models to analyze international trade and capital flows. The course also explores the impact of trade policies on the pattern and volume of international trade. Students will examine the role of the World Trade Organization and preferential trade agreements on trade and capital flows. Students will undertake a country case study to apply their knowledge of international trade in explaining a country's pattern and volume of trade. By the end of the course, students will have acquired the knowledge, skill, and values that will enable them to analyze international trade and capital flows between nations.
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