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Courses & Syllabi |
Courses Taught:I teach most of the economics courses offered here at Juniata College, including:
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Understanding international economics is increasingly important for private and public decision-makers. In a world of growing economic interdependence, the ability of policy makers to provide a stable environment for business is a key issue. Accordingly, this course develops the principle topics of international economics, including trade theory, the balance of payments, the cause and consequences of exchange rate movements, the flow of capital, currency crises, international financial architecture and regional trade issues. The topics emphasized will be based on the most pressing current issues.
Macroeconomic conditions affect individuals and businesses in numerous ways: employment opportunities, the purchasing power of wages and salaries, the cost of borrowing money, sales, profits, and competitiveness against foreign businesses. This course develops the theories relevant to understanding the business cycle, inflation, unemployment, deflation, exchange rates and economic growth. It also examines the options and tradeoffs governments face as they seek to provide a stable macroeconomic environment through monetary and fiscal policies. Case studies of the macroeconomic performance and policies of diverse countries provide a comparative orientation.
The optimizing behavior of households and firms serves as the focal point in this study of market-based resource allocation. Supply and demand analysis, spending and saving decisions of households, production and employment decisions of firms, alternative market structures, and environmental economics are among the topics covered. The class includes several role-playing exercises and literature excerpts designed to reinforce the concepts covered. Prerequisite: sophomore standing.
The pursuit of wealth and power, profit and privilege, corporate growth and national security occurs in a global context. This course examines the business agendas and political priorities that find expression in the policy agreements and institutional agreements of the contemporary global economy. The course is conducted as a seminar, meaning that it requires extensive class participation and a substantial research paper. Prerequisite: EB 105.
The role of credit and capital and the function of dollar and euro bonds in today's internationalized financial markets are investigated empirically and assessed analytically in this course. Numerous economic theories relevant to understanding the behavior of various asset markets are developed, including portfolio and asset models of exchange rate determination and currency speculation. The costs and benefits of alternative government policies such as financial regulation and capital and foreign exchange controls are weighed. The subtleties of central banks and the complexities of their mandates are explored, with particular attention to the United States Federal Reserve Bank and the European Central Bank. Case studies will be used. Prerequisite: EB 222.