Graduate Calendar Archives: 2007 / 2008

Loeb Building C877
Telephone: 613-520-3743
Fax: 613-520-3906
E-mail: economics@carleton.ca
Web site: carleton.ca/economics/

The Department

Chair of the Department: H. Schaller
Supervisor of M.A. Studies: P. Coe
Supervisor of Ph.D. Studies: C. Worswick
Director of Joint Doctoral Program with the University of Ottawa: G. Atallah

The Department of Economics offers programs of study and research leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees.

Graduate students in economics undertake a thorough review of economic theory, together with an analysis of the Canadian economy, its institutions and history, and the working of public policy. Stress is placed on the understanding and application of quantitative methods to all aspects of economics. Although the programs are generally oriented towards policy problems, there is considerable opportunity for the development of specialized interests.

The main areas of study within the Department include the following:

• Economic Development
• Economic Theory
• Economics of the Environment
• Industrial Organization
• International Economics
• Monetary Economics
• Public Economics
• Quantitative Methods

Qualifying-Year Program

Applicants who lack the required undergraduate preparation may be admitted to a qualifying-year program designed to raise their standing to honours status. If successful, they may be permitted to proceed to the master's program the following year.

Refer to the General Regulations section of this Calendar for details of the regulations governing the qualifying year.

Master of Arts

Admission Requirements

The normal requirement for admission to the master's program is a B.A. (Honours) (or the equivalent) in Economics, with an average grade of B+ or higher.

Applicants are expected to have had adequate preparation in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics, and mathematics. This could be satisfied, for example, by having completed undergraduate courses in the following areas: advanced microeconomic theory, advanced macroeconomic theory, econometrics, mathematical analysis in economics, and statistical analysis in economics. Students with deficiencies in their preparation may have their program requirements extended accordingly.

The Department may require certain applicants to write the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test and the Advanced Test in Economics offered by the Educational Testing Service.

Program Requirements

All master's students in economics must fulfil the following requirements:

Economics

• ECON 5000,
• ECON 5002,
• ECON 5005

In addition, each candidate must select and complete one of the following:

• ECON 5006 and approved courses for 2.0 credits, 1.0 of which may be selected from among those offered in a related discipline, with approval of the Department, through the supervisor of M.A. Studies; or
• A thesis equivalent to 1.5 credits and approved course(s) for 1.0 credit.

All approved course(s) normally will be taken at the 5000 level.

Internship Placement

An Internship option is available to full-time students in the M.A. program who are eligible to work in Canada. Registration in the Internship option requires departmental permission and is limited by availability of placements. Application for an internship placement will be considered after the student completes ECON 5000, ECON 5002, ECON 5005 and ECON 5006, or after completion of 3.0 credits.

Internship placements will locate students for at least one term in the public service, the private sector, or non-governmental organizations. Students will integrate theoretical and applied economic analysis in their work experience. During their work term, students are required to register in ECON 5902 (Internship Placement), which is additional to the aforementioned program requirements. While taking ECON 5902, students are considered to be part-time, and may register for at most 1.0 credit in total.

Academic Standing

A grade of B- or higher must normally be received in each credit counted towards the master's degree. With respect to the required core credits in the program, ECON 5000, ECON 5002, ECON 5005 and ECON 5006, there will be no exceptions. A candidate may, with the recommendation of the Department and the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, be allowed a grade of C+ in up to 1.0 credit.

Guidelines for Completion of Master's Degree

Full-time master's students are expected to complete their requirements within two terms. Part-time students will take a minimum of five terms but must complete within an elapsed period of six calendar years, as set out in Section 13 of the General Regulations of this Calendar.

Doctor of Philosophy

The doctoral program is offered jointly by the Departments of Economics at Carleton University and the University of Ottawa.

The Ph.D. program stresses the application of economic theory to the analysis of Canadian economic policy and economic development. Six areas of specialization are available for intensive study and thesis research: economic development, economics of the environment, industrial organization, international economics, monetary economics, and public economics. The program of courses and thesis guidance, drawing upon the faculty of the two departments, will encompass course requirements, policy-oriented workshops, comprehensive examinations, and a thesis. Students are expected to have, or to acquire, proficiency in mathematics and statistics before proceeding with the program.

In cases of exceptional merit, Ph.D. candidates may be accepted on a part-time basis.

Admission Requirements

The normal requirement for admission into the Ph.D. program is a master's degree (or the equivalent) from a recognized university, with high honours standing. The Department may require certain applicants to write the Graduate Record Examination Aptitude Test and the Advanced Test in Economics offered by the Educational Testing Service.

Transfer from Master's to Ph.D. Program

A student who shows outstanding academic performance and who demonstrates high promise for advanced research during the master's program may, subject to meeting the requirements below, be permitted to transfer into the Ph.D. program without completing the M.A. program:

• The student will have completed ECON 5000, ECON 5002, and ECON 5005;
• The student must make formal application to the graduate studies committee;
• Students permitted to transfer into the Ph.D. program will be required to complete the equivalent of 13.5 credits of which 6.0 or 7.0 credits will be assigned to the Ph.D. Thesis, depending on the student's background and grades at the time of the transfer;
• Students who have taken ECON 6000 and/or ECON 6002 as part of the M.A. curriculum will be granted advanced standing in these courses.

Program Requirements

Students admitted to the joint Ph.D. program are required to complete 10.0 credits (unless additional course work is required), including 1.5 compulsory credits in ECON 6000 (ECO 7922), ECON 6002 (ECO 7923), and ECON 6005 (ECO 7126; 7526).

Students are also required to do course work in two of six fields of specialization leading to field comprehensive exams and the writing of a thesis. To fulfil this requirement, students are expected to assimilate the material in 1.5 credits (or the equivalent) in each of two fields of specialization. However, the Department expects that a typical student entering the program with a completed M.A. will have taken the equivalent of 1.5 credits during his or her M.A. course work. If a student entering the program meets this expectation, the student is required to take only 1.5 credits (or the equivalent) over two fields of specialization. If the student's background is not consistent with this expectation, the admissions committee may require, as a condition of entry, that a student take up to 1.5 additional credits. Courses in the fields of specialization will be:

Economic Development

ECON 5500, ECON 5504, ECON 5505

Economics of the Environment

ECON 5507, ECON 5803, ECON 5804

Industrial Organization

ECON 5301, ECON 5302, ECON 5303

International Economics

ECON 5601, ECON 5602, ECON 5603

Monetary Economics

ECON 5606, ECON 5607, ECON 5609

Public Economics

ECON 5401, ECON 5402, ECON 5403

Comprehensive Examinations

Oral examinations are not compulsory, but a candidate may be required by an examining committee to sit an oral examination.

Theory

Each student will register in ECON 6900 (ECO 7990) and ECON 6902 (ECO 7991) in order to write the comprehensive examinations in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory. Both of these examinations must be successfully completed within twelve months of beginning full-time study. Students who fail to meet this requirement will normally be withdrawn from the Ph.D. program.

Fields

Each student will register in ECON 6905 (ECO 9990) and ECON 6906 (ECO 9991) in order to write comprehensive examinations in two fields. Both of these examinations must be successfully completed within twenty-four months of beginning full-time study. Students who fail to meet this requirement will normally be withdrawn from the Ph.D. program.

Seminar Attendance

Students who have completed the comprehensive examinations in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory will be required to attend a minimum of eight departmental seminars in economics during each academic year until they have submitted their thesis to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research.

Thesis Requirements

Doctoral students will write and defend a Ph.D. thesis. In preparing the thesis, the student is required to give two thesis workshops. In the first, a research proposal for the thesis will be presented, for evaluation by at least three faculty members. In the second, a substantial portion of the research for the thesis will have been completed and will be presented and evaluated as above. The workshops are requirements for graduation, and students will receive 1.0 credit for them.

Students are encouraged to attend and participate in the regular departmental workshops relevant to their fields of interest and research. Such workshops are conducted in six areas:

• Economic Development
• Economics of the Environment
• Industrial Organization
• International Economics
• Monetary Economics
• Public Economics

Further details about the joint Ph.D. program may be obtained by writing to the Director of Doctoral Studies, joint Ph.D. program in Economics, either at the Department of Economics, Carleton University, or at the Department of Economics, University of Ottawa.

Academic Standing

Doctoral students normally must obtain a grade of B- or higher in each credit counted towards the degree.

Guidelines for Completion of Ph.D. Degree

Full-time Ph.D. students are expected to complete their requirements within four calendar years. Students who undertake the program by a combination of full-time and part-time study must complete their degree requirements within an elapsed period of eight calendar years, as set out in the General Regulations section of this Calendar.

Graduate Courses

Not all of the following courses are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca

Enrolment in graduate courses requires the permission of the Department, through the supervisor of graduate studies.

University of Ottawa courses, where applicable, appear in parentheses following the Carleton course number.

ECON 5000 [0.5 credit]

Microeconomic Theory

Theories of the behaviour of individual economic agents: consumers and producers and their relation to the theories of price determination.

Precludes additional credit for ECON 5001.

ECON 5002 [0.5 credit]

Macroeconomic Theory

Macroeconomic theory and its implications for economic policy are surveyed in this course, comparing alternative approaches for a variety of topics.

ECON 5005 [0.5 credit]

Econometrics I

Estimation and testing of the general linear model, with emphasis on problems such as autocorrelation, heteroscedasticity, multicollinearity, and problems due to distributed lags and errors in variables. Introduction to simultaneous equations systems, identification, and estimation.

ECON 5006 [0.5 credit]

Methods of Economic Research

Formulation, specification and analysis of economic and econometric models; derivation of policy implications; communication of results and economic methodology.

Prerequisites: ECON 5000 (ECON 5001 if taken before 2007-2008) and ECON 5005, or permission of the Department.

ECON 5010 [0.5 credit] (ECO 7125, 7525)

Mathematical Economics

General equilibrium; dynamic optimization; game theory.

Precludes additional credit for ECON 5205.

ECON 5106 [0.5 credit]

History of Economic Thought I

Crucial achievements in economic theory and doctrine in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Emphasis on the interrelationship between the social environment and economic thought, especially the role of economics in the development of the national state and international institutions. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as the first half of ECON 4105, for which additional credit is precluded.

Precludes additional credit for ECON 5201.

ECON 5107 [0.5 credit]

History of Economic Thought II

A continuation of ECON 5106. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as the second half of ECON 4105, for which additional credit is precluded.

Precludes additional credit for ECON 5202.

Prerequisite: ECON 5106 or permission of the Department.

ECON 5301 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6140, 6540)

Firms and Markets

Theories pertaining to industrial  organization and their application to industries in Canada and elsewhere by way of empirical studies.

ECON 5302 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6141, 6541)

Competition Policy

An examination of the rationale and application of competition policy with particular attention to the Canadian economy.

ECON 5303 [0.5 credit]S (ECO 6142, 6542)

Regulation and Public Enterprise

An examination of regulation and public enterprise as alternative approaches for influencing industry conduct and performance.

ECON 5309 [0.5 credit]

Applied Industrial Economics

The application of industrial economics, with special emphasis on Canada and the rest of North America. Topics include the structure of consumer demand, firm production and investment, industrial structure and international trade, and the effect of government policies on industrial development.

ECON 5360 [0.5 credit]

Labour Economics

The application of price theory to the labour market. Topics include models of labour supply and labour demand, human capital and the economics of education and unions and their impact on the labour market.

Precludes additional credit for ECON 5307.

ECON 5401 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6130, 6530)

Public Economics: Expenditures

A discussion of the role of government expenditures, both in theory and with reference to the Canadian economy.

ECON 5402 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6131, 6531)

Public Economics: Taxation

Analysis of the effects of various forms of taxation on economic performance.

ECON 5403 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6133, 6533)

Public Choice

Democracy, bureaucracy, and economic policy. The public choice of fiscal constitutions, tax shares, and equity rules; voting coalitions and income distribution; the public provision of private goods; public sector size, fiscal illusion, and taxpayer revolts.

ECON 5404 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6132, 6532)

Fiscal Federalism

Economic aspects of federalism, including efficiency, redistribution, consideration of a federal system of government, intergovernmental grants, and problems of stabilization policy in a federal context.

ECON 5407 [0.5 credit]

Project Evaluation

An analytical treatment of the principles of project evaluation and their applications. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as ECON 4407, for which additional credit is precluded.

ECON 5500 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6170, 6570)

Theory of Economic Development

Theoretical approaches of the economic development literature in relation to the historical, economic, environmental, social, and political dimensions of the development process.

ECON 5504 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6171, 6571)

Economic Development: Internal Aspects

Major domestic problems of economic development. Topics may include employment, income distribution, choice of technology, sectoral allocation of resources, human resource development, and domestic environmental issues.

ECON 5505 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6172, 6572)

Economic Development: International Aspects

Key problems of international economic development such as trade in primary commodities and manufactures, financial flows and debt, the role of multinational corporations, the transfer of technology, and the international dimensions of environmental issues as they relate to developing countries.

ECON 5507 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6173, 6573)

Environmental Aspects of Economic Development

Policy aspects of sustainable economic development and environmental quality in developing countries. Topics may include energy use, deforestation, drought and desertification, depletion of natural resources, debt, environment and poverty, sustainable industrial and agricultural development, conservation policies, pollution control, and global environmental issues.

ECON 5601 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6160, 6560)

International Trade: Theory and Policy

International trade theory and its implications for economic policy, with emphasis on topics such as determinants of trade and specialization, gains from trade and commercial policy, international factor mobility, growth, and development.

ECON 5602 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6161, 6561)

International Monetary Theory and Policy

Key aspects of international monetary theory and policy, with emphasis on topics such as sources of equilibrium and disequilibrium in the balance of payments, balance-of-payments adjustment under fixed versus flexible exchange rates, international capital movements, and recent issues in the international monetary system.

ECON 5603 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6162, 6562)

Topics in International Economics

Key topics in international economics, including theoretical analysis, quantitative methods and policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation.

Prerequisite: ECON 5601 or ECON 5602.

ECON 5606 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6180, 6580)

Microeconomic Aspects of Monetary Theory

Microeconomic foundations of monetary theory. Alternative theories for the existence of money. Commodity, private and fiat money systems. The integration of monetary theory with the theory of value.

ECON 5607 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6181, 6581)

Macroeconomic Aspects of Monetary Theory

Monetary theory and the macroeconomic interactions of money. Topics may include: inflation, money and wealth; the optimum quantity of money; the welfare aspects of monetary economies; the supply of money and its composition; stabilization policy; money, capital, and growth.

ECON 5608 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6182, 6582)

Aspects of Financial Intermediation

The evolution of the financial system with emphasis on the theory of financial institutions and its interrelationship with the money supply process and the central bank. Contemporary monetary and finance theory applied to institutional problems in both historical and contemporary settings.

ECON 5609 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6183, 6583)

Explorations in Monetary Economics

Explorations in theory, policy recommendations, and empirical study. Course material challenges traditional approaches by examining such topics as the endogeneity of money, the role of credit, the finance motive, the circuit approach, flow-of-funds analysis, and austerity policies.

ECON 5712 [0.5 credit]

Applied Econometrics

The major problems encountered in applying the tools and techniques of econometric methods to statistical data for economic analysis and forecasting. Selected papers from the applied econometric literature are critically analyzed and appraised with the application of modern econometric techniques.
Precludes additional credit for ECON 5702.

Prerequisite: ECON 5005 (or equivalent).

ECON 5713 [0.5 credit]

Applied Time Series Analysis

The basic concepts of time series analysis with emphasis on models used in economics. Topics include stationary and non-stationary time series, model identification and estimation, transfer functions, and forecast computation. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as ECON 4713, for which additional credit is precluded.

Precludes additional credit for ECON 5703.

ECON 5801 [0.5 credit]

Regional Economics

Regional economic disparities in Canada, theories and public policy relating thereto. Consideration will be given to the concept of regions, location of industry and industrial structure, and to growth determinants.

ECON 5802 [0.5 credit]

Urban Economics

The economic properties of urban areas. Attention will be focused on the macrodynamics of urban development, together with the microstatics of the equilibrium properties of the urban land market.

ECON 5803 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6143, 6543)

Economics of Natural Resources

Dynamic optimization; theory of renewable and non-renewable natural resources, including the environment; policy options for correcting market failures.

Precludes additional credit for ECON 5305.

ECON 5804 [0.5 credit] (ECO 6151, 6551)

Economics of the Environment

The environment as natural capital; environmental valuation techniques; elements of environmental income accounting; sustainable development theories and practice; institutional questions and policy issues.
Precludes additional credit for ECON 5306.

Prerequisite: ECON 5803.

ECON 5806 [0.5 credit]

Comparative Economic Systems I

This course builds a framework for comparing economic systems, and also considers the interaction between economic and political systems. The traditional Soviet-type economy, industrial policy, and problems of transition receive particular attention. Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as ECON 4806, for which additional credit is precluded.

ECON 5807 [0.5 credit]

Comparative Economic Systems II

A comparison of contemporary economic systems. Such diverse economies as mainland China, Japan, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Taiwan, and Hungary may be explored.

Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as ECON 4807, for which additional credit is precluded.

ECON 5821 [0.5 credit]

Canadian Economy I

Aspects and problems of the Canadian economy. Topics may include the economic development of Canada, regional development, industrial organization, factor markets, income distribution, international trade and capital flows, and macroeconomic stability.

Precludes additional credit for ECON 5101.

ECON 5822 [0.5 credit]

Canadian Economy II

Economic theory applied to the workings of the Canadian economy. Empirical estimation of various aspects of factor market operation, production, distribution, and aggregate economy.

Precludes additional credit for ECON 5102.

ECON 5840 [0.5 credit]

Law and Economics

The interrelationships between law and economics, emphasizing transaction costs and property rights. Economic analysis of such topics as the allocative effects of alternative property rights, contract, tort, and nuisance law, and the economics of crime, pollution, pay television, and eminent domain.

Precludes additional credit for ECON 5308.

ECON 5880 [0.5 credit]

Special Topics

 Topics may vary from year to year and are announced in advance of the registration period.

Prerequisite: permission of the Department.

ECON 5902 [0.5 credit]

Internship Placement

Internship students are required to register in this course during their work term.

Prerequisite: permission of the Department.

ECON 5904 [0.5 credit]

Directed Readings

This course is designed to permit students to pursue research on topics chosen in consultation with faculty members and the graduate supervisor.

Prerequisite: permission of the Department.

ECON 5906 [0.5 credit]

Directed Research

At least one paper will be required of a student enrolled in this course.

Prerequisite: permission of the Department.

ECON 5909 [1.5 credit]

M.A. Thesis

ECON 6000 [0.5 credit] (ECO 7922)

Economic Theory: Microeconomics

Critical aspects of microeconomic theory drawn from recent analysis of consumer behaviour, costs and production, transaction costs, uncertainty, and the organization of economic activity.

Prerequisite: ECON 5000 (or equivalent).

ECON 6002 [0.5 credit] (ECO 7923)

Economic Theory: Macroeconomics

Critical aspects of macroeconomic theory drawn from recent analysis of the microeconomic foundations of macroeconomics, concepts of macroeconomic equilibrium, and the impact of monetary and fiscal disturbances. Attention is also directed to a variety of topics related to the conduct of macroeconomic policy.
Precludes additional credit for ECON 6001.

Prerequisite: ECON 5002 (or equivalent).

ECON 6005 [0.5 credit] (ECO 7126, 7526)

Econometrics II

Selected topics from estimating and testing the regression and simultaneous equation models. Topics include maximum likelihood estimation, statistical analysis of residuals, autoregressive and other time-series models, multivariate regression models, and elements of asymptotic statistical theory within the context of the simultaneous equation model.
Precludes additional credit for ECON 5701.

Prerequisite: ECON 5005 (or equivalent).

ECON 6900 [0.5 credit] (ECO 7990)

Comprehensive Examination in Microeconomic Theory

ECON 6902 [0.5 credit] (ECO 7991)

Comprehensive Examination in Macroeconomic Theory

ECON 6903 [0.0 credit]

Seminar Attendance

ECON 6904 [0.5 credit] (ECO 7980)

Directed Readings

This course is designed to permit students to pursue research on topics chosen in consultation with faculty members and the graduate supervisor.

Prerequisite: permission of the Department.

ECON 6905 [0.5 credit] (ECO 9990)

Comprehensive Examination in Field 1

ECON 6906 [0.5 credit] (ECO 9991)

Comprehensive Examination in Field 2

ECON 6907 [0.5 credit] (ECO 7002)

Thesis Workshop I

ECON 6908 [0.5 credit] (ECO 7004)

Thesis Workshop II

ECON 6909 [5.0 credits] (ECO 9999)

Ph.D. Thesis