Department of Economics


Loeb Building C877
Telephone: 520-3743
Fax: 520-3906
E-mail: ginette_harte@carleton.ca

The Department


Chair of the Department:
D.G. McFetridge
Supervisor of M.A. Studies:
P.N. Rowe
Supervisor of Ph.D. Studies:
Brian Erard
Director of Joint Doctoral Program with the University of Ottawa:
Brian Erard

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 specialization within the Department include the following:

Qualifying–Year Program

Applicants who have a general (pass) bachelor’s degree, or who otherwise 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 an Ontario honours B.A. (or the equivalent) in Economics, with at least high honours standing.

Applicants are expected to have had adequate preparation in microeconomic and macroeconomic theory, econometrics, and mathematics. This could be satisfied, for example, by the following four undergraduate courses: advanced microeconomic theory, advanced macroeconomic theory, econometrics, and mathematics for economists. Students with deficiencies in these requirements 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 are required to complete the following courses:

Economics

43.501 Microeconomic Theory I

43.502 Macroeconomic Theory I

43.503 Microeconomic Theory II

43.504 Macroeconomic Theory II

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

The course, Economics 43.593: Mathematical Methods for Economists, is strongly recommended.

Academic Standing

A grade of B– or better must normally be received in each credit counted towards the master’s degree. With respect to the required credits in the program, 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, be allowed a grade of C+ in 1.0 credit (or the equivalent).

Guidelines for Completion of Master’s Degree

Full-time master’s students are expected to complete their requirements within three 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 this Calendar under General Regulations.

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: public economics, industrial organization, monetary economics, international economics, economic development, and economics of the environment. 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.

While satisfying the course requirements, a student must be enrolled on a full-time basis for three consecutive terms.

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

Program Requirements

Students admitted to the joint Ph.D program are required to complete 1.5 compulsory credits: microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory, and advanced econometrics.

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:

Public Economics

Industrial Organization

Monetary Economics

International Economics

Economic Development

Economics of the Environment

Comprehensive Examinations

Oral examinations are not compulsory, but a candidate may be required by the examining committee to sit an oral examination. Each student will attend the Ph.D. Tutorial course, 43.690 (ECO7990), in preparation for the theory comprehensive examinations. There are two theory examinations, in micro-and macro-economics, to be written within twelve months of beginning full-time study. Students will be required to write comprehensive examinations in two fields.

Thesis and Workshop Requirements

Thesis
Doctoral students will write and defend a Ph.D. thesis. In preparing the thesis, the student is required to give two seminars in departmental workshops. In the first, a research proposal for the thesis will be presented and evaluated by three faculty members of the relevant workshop. 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 (or the equivalent) for them.

Workshops
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:

Further details about this 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/ Département de Science Economique, University of Ottawa.

Academic Standing

Doctoral students must normally obtain a grade of B– or better 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 this Calendar under General Regulations.

Graduate Courses*

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

  • Economics 43.501F1
    Microeconomic Theory I
    An examination of the theories of the behaviour of individual economic agents: consumers and producers and their relation to the theories of price determination.

  • Economics 43.502F1
    Macroeconomic Theory I
    Macroeconomic theory and its implications for economic policy are surveyed in this course, comparing alternative approaches for a variety of topics.

  • Economics 43.503W1
    Microeconomic Theory II
    A continuation of Microeconomic Theory I.

  • Economics 43.504S1
    Macroeconomic Theory II
    A continuation of Macroeconomic Theory I.

  • Economics 43.505W1
    Econometrics I
    Estimation and testing of the general linear model, with emphasis on problems such as auto-correlation, heteroscedasticity, multicollinearity, and problems due to distributed lags and errors in variables. Introduction to simultaneous equations systems, identification, and estimation.

  • Economics 43.507F1, W1, S1
    Directed Readings Prerequisite: Permission of the Department.

  • Economics 43.508F1, W1, S1
    Special Topics Prerequisite: Permission of the Department.

  • Economics 43.509F1, W1, S1
    Directed Research
    At least one paper will be required from a student enrolled in any one of these courses.
    Prerequisite: Permission of the Department.

  • Economics 43.511F1
    Canadian Economy I
    A detailed examination of aspects and problems of the Canadian economy. A variety of topics may be discussed, including the economic development of Canada, the structure of the current national and regional economies, industrial organization, factor market operation, income distribution, the role of international trade and capital flows, and the stability of the economy.

  • Economics 43.512W1
    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. Participants are expected to prepare and present papers for discussion.

  • Economics 43.521F1
    History of Economic Thought I
    The crucial achievements in economic theory and doctrine in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries are studied. Special emphasis is given to the interrelationship between the social environment and economic thought — especially to the role of economics in the development of the national state and international institutions.
    Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as 43.415, for which additional credit is precluded.

  • Economics 43.522W1
    History of Economic Thought II
    A continuation of 43.521.
    Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as 43.415, for which additional credit is precluded. Prerequisite: Economics 43.521 or permission of the Department.

  • Economics 43.525F1 (ECO7125; 7525)
    Mathematical Economics
    General equilibrium; dynamic optimization; game-theory.

  • Economics 43.531F1 (ECO6140; 6540)
    Firms and Markets
    An examination of theories pertaining to industrial organization, and their application to particular industries in Canada and elsewhere by way of empirical studies.

  • Economics 43.532W1 (ECO6141; 6541)
    Competition Policy
    An examination of the rationale and application of competition policy with particular attention to the Canadian economy.

  • Economics 43.533S1 (ECO6142; 6542)
    Regulation and Public Enterprise
    An examination of regulation and public enterprise as alternative approaches for influencing industry conduct and performance.

  • Economics 43.535F1 (ECO6143; 6543)
    Economics of Natural Resources
    Dynamic optimization; theory of renewable and non-renewable natural resources, including the environment; policy options for correcting market failures.

  • Economics 43.536F1,W1 (ECO6151; 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.
    Prerequisite: Economics 43.535.

  • Economics 43.538W1
    Law and Economics
    This is a course in the interrelationship of law and economics, emphasizing the concepts of transaction costs and property rights. Economic theory will be used to analyze a variety of topics, ranging from the allocative effects of alternative property rights structures to contract, tort, and nuisance law. Special attention will be given to applied problems, such as the economics of crime, pollution, pay television, and eminent domain.

  • Economics 43.539W1
    Applied Industrial Economics
    This course examines the application of industrial economics, with special emphasis on the Canadian and North American economies. Topics include the structure of consumer demand, firm production and investment, industrial structure and international trade. The structure of production and investment of particular industries will be analyzed and the effect of government policies (such as tax and tariff) on industrial development will be examined.

  • Economics 43.541F1 (ECO6130; 6530)
    Public Economics: Expenditure
    A discussion of the role of government expenditure, both in theory and with reference to the Canadian economy.

  • Economics 43.542W1 (ECO6131; 6531)
    Public Economics: Taxation
    An analysis of the effects of various forms of taxation on economic performance.

  • Economics 43.543W1 (ECO6133; 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.

  • Economics 43.544W1 (ECO6132; 6532)
    Fiscal Federalism
    This course examines the 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.

  • Economics 43.545W1
    Theoretical Welfare Economics
    A rigorous treatment of the theoretical foundations of welfare economics.

  • Economics 43.547W1
    Project Evaluation
    An analytical treatment of the principles of project evaluation and their applications.
    Prerequisite: Economics 43.501 or permission of the Department.

  • Economics 43.550F1 (ECO6170; 6570)
    Theory of Economic Development
    This course will deal with theoretical approaches in the economic development literature in relation to the historical, economic, environmental, social, and political dimensions of the development process.

  • Economics 43.551F1
    Economic Dynamics: Cycles
    An analysis of the nature and causes of fluctuations in income, prices, and employment. Shortrun dynamic models arising from multiplier-accelerator and other economic processes will be examined. Cycle simulation, forecasting, stability conditions, anti-cyclical policy, and the problems of maximizing growth without cycles will be discussed.
    Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as 43.451, for which additional credit is precluded.

  • Economics 43.552W1
    Economic Dynamics: Growth
    An examination of modern theories of economic growth.
    Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as 43.446, for which additional credit is precluded.

  • Economics 43.553W1
    Stabilization Policy
    An examination of policies aimed at achieving internal and external stability. The implications of economic growth for stabilization policies will be discussed.
    Prerequisite: Economics 43.502.

  • Economics 43.554W1 (ECO6171; 6571)
    Economic Development: Internal Aspects
    An analysis of 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.

  • Economics 43.555F1 (ECO6172; 6572)
    Economic Development: International Aspects
    An analysis of 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 the developing countries.

  • Economics 43.557W1 (ECO6173; 6573)
    Environmental Aspects of Economic Development
    Policy aspects of sustainable economic development and environmental quality in developing countries. Topics to 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. The course could be offered in lecture or seminar format.

  • Economics 43.561F1 (ECO6160; 6560)
    International Trade: Theory and Policy
    International trade theory and its implications for economic policy are examined, with emphasis on topics such as determinants of trade and specialization, gains from trade and commercial policy, international factor mobility, growth, and development.

  • Economics 43.562W1 (ECO6161; 6561)
    International Monetary Theory and Policy
    International monetary theory and its implications for economic policy are examined, 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.

  • Economics 43.563W1 (ECO6162; 6562)
    Topics in International Economics
    An examination of key topics in international economics, including theoretical analysis, quantitative methods and policy formulation, implementation, and evaluation.
    Prerequisite: Economics 43.561 or 43.562.

  • Economics 43.566F1 (ECO6180; 6580)
    Microeconomic Aspects of Monetary Theory
    A course on the microeconomic foundations of monetary theory concerned with alternative theories for the existence of money, and ranging in coverage from commodity monies to private monies with banking systems to costless fiat money systems. The focus of the course will be on how money integrates with the theory of value and the different theoretical ways in which this integration has been modelled.

  • Economics 43.567W1 (ECO6181; 6581)
    Macroeconomic Aspects of Monetary Theory
    A course in monetary theory that deals with the macroeconomic interactions of money. Issues will include such topics as: 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.

  • Economics 43.568F1 (ECO6182; 6582)
    Aspects of Financial Intermediation
    The evolution of the financial system with special emphasis on the theory of financial institutions and its interrelationship with the money supply process and the central bank. The course is designed to use contemporary monetary and finance theory to analyze institutional problems in both their historical and contemporary settings.

  • Economics 43.569W1 (ECO6183; 6583)
    Explorations in Monetary Economics
    A course in which explorations in theory, policy recommendations, and empirical study are undertaken. The 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.

  • Economics 43.571F1 (ECO7126; 7526)
    Econometrics II
    Selected topics from estimating and testing the regression and simultaneous equation models are analyzed. The main topics include maximum likelihood estimation, statistical analysis of residuals, autoregressive and other time-series models, multivariate regression model, and elements of asymptotic statistical theory within the context of the simultaneous equation model.
    Prerequisite: Economics 43.505 or equivalent.

  • Economics 43.572W1
    Applied Econometrics
    A discussion of the major problems encountered in applying the tools and techniques of econometric methods to statistical data for economic analysis and forecasting. Some selected topics and papers from the applied econometric literature are critically analyzed and appraised.
    Prerequisite: Economics 43.505 or the equivalent.

  • Economics 43.573W1
    Applied Time Series Analysis
    Introduces the basic concepts of time series analysis with emphasis on models used in economics. Topics include stationary and nonstationary time series, model identification and estimation, transfer functions, and forecast computation.

    Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as 43.483, for which additional credit is precluded.

  • Economics 43.581F1
    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.

  • Economics 43.582W1
    Urban Economics
    An examination of 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.

  • Economics 43.586F1
    Comparative Economic Systems I
    This course builds a framework for the study and comparison of economic systems. Using basic economic tools, it discusses the properties and comparative advantages of different contemporary economies, as well as the forces that cause or prevent change. Some Marxian theory will be included, along with analyses of the role of property rights, of incentives and motivation, and of the interaction between economic and political systems.
    Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as 43.486, for which additional credit is precluded.

  • Economics 43.587W1
    Comparative Economic Systems II
    A comparison of contemporary economic systems. Such diverse economies as Japan, West Germany, Sweden, the USSR, China, Cuba, Yugoslavia, and Hungary may be explored.
    Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as 43.487, for which additional credit is precluded.

  • Economics 43.593F1
    Mathematical Methods for Economists
    This course provides a rigorous review of mathematical techniques in economics, such as: matrix algebra, static optimization, nonlinear programing, and difference and differential equations. It then introduces the theory of optimal control, dynamic programing, and real analysis. Applications of these tools to various parts of economic theory are presented.

  • Economics 43.599F3, W3, S3
    M.A. Thesis

  • Economics 43.600W1 (ECO7922)
    Economic Theory: Microeconomics
    An examination of 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: Economics 43.501 or equivalent.

  • Economics 43.601W1 (ECO7923)
    Economic Theory: Macroeconomics
    An examination of 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.
    Prerequisite: Economics 43.502 or the equivalent.

  • Economics 43.611F1, W1, S1 (ECO7002; 7004)
    Workshop in Economic Policy
    See requirements under Thesis and Workshop Requirements.

  • Economics 43.670F1, W1, S1 (ECO7980)
    Directed Readings. Prerequisite: Permission of the Department.

  • Economics 43.690W1, S1 (ECO7990)
    Ph.D. Tutorial
    Students must register in the microeconomics and macroeconomics tutorials in either the winter or spring term.

  • Economics 43.699F10, W10, S10 (ECO9999)
    Ph.D. Thesis