ECON 4960                                                                                                          Dr. Edward C. Erickson

Senior Seminar                                                                                                      Office: C-101C

Spring 2004                                                                                                           Office Hours: MW 11:00-12:30

EErickson@csustan.edu                                                                                                             TTH 11:15-12:30

SYLLABUS

Final Review 

Texts:       Nothing is Sacred by Robert J. Barrow (B)
                  On Economics and Society  by Harry G. Johnson (J)
                  The Work of Nations  by Robert B. Reich (R)
                  The Economist as Preacher by George J. Stigler (S) On Reserve in Library.  

Topic Outline:

         I.       Introduction                                                       
                  A. Relevance                                                                       (J) Ch. 1, 2, 3, 4                                     
                  B. Ethics & Economics                                                      (S) Ch. 1, 2, 3,
                  C. The Economic Nation                                                   (R) Ch. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
                  D.  Noteworthy People, Issues                                        (B) Ch. 1, 2  

      II.        Theory
                  A. Scientific Method                                                         (S) Ch. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
                  B. History of Thought                                                       (S) Ch. 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15
                  C. Keynesian Revolution (all)                                          (J) Ch. 5, 6, 7, 8  

    III.         Growth vs. Democracy                                                      (B) Ch. 3  

    IV.         Higher Education: Output                                                 (R) Ch. 14 - 19
                  A. Comparative Analysis                                                  (J) Ch. 9, 10, 11, 12
                  B. Studies of Literature                                                      (S) Ch. 16  

    V.          Econ Problems/Goals                                                        
                  A. Macro: Fiscal/Monetary                                              (B) Ch. 4
                  B. Inflation                                                                           (J) Ch. 13, 14, 15, 16
                  C. Inequality                                                                        (S) Ch. 14, 15  

  VI. World-wide Econ Problems                                                        (J) Ch. 17, 18, 19, 20
                                                                                                                (R) Ch. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

  VII.         Econ Policy: Value Judgments
                  A. Tools: Monetary, Fiscal, Micro
                  B. Goals
                  C. Environment                                                                   (J) Ch. 21

Assignments

1.         One paper evaluating/reviewing critically an aspect of economic theory.

2.         One paper evaluating/reviewing critically a topic of economic policy.

            The economic problem as subject matter may be the same for each paper.

GRADE DISTRIBUTION

                                                                                        Papers            40%
                                                                                        Exam               15%
                                                                                        Final               30%
                                                              Class Assignments                10%