Program Overview

University Program Information

The Queen's University Economics Department offers various programs for undergraduate and graduate students.

Undergraduate Programs

• Major in Applied Economics (APEC): This program focuses on the application of economic principles to real-world problems.
• Politics, Philosophy and Economics (PPEC): This interdisciplinary program combines the study of politics, philosophy, and economics.
• Minors & Medials: Students can pursue minors or medials in economics, which provide a foundation in economic theory and principles.
• Economics Degree Pathways: The department offers various degree pathways, including a major, medial, or minor in economics.

Graduate Programs

• MA: The Master of Arts program in economics provides advanced training in economic theory, econometrics, and research methods.
• PhD: The Doctor of Philosophy program in economics is designed for students who wish to pursue a career in research and academia.
• Executive Programs: The department also offers executive programs for working professionals who want to advance their knowledge and skills in economics.

Courses

The department offers a wide range of courses in economics, including:

• ECON 110 - Principles of Economics: An introductory course that covers the fundamental principles of economics.
• ECON 111 - Introductory Microeconomics: A course that focuses on the behavior of individual economic units, such as households and firms.
• ECON 112 - Introductory Macroeconomics: A course that examines the performance of the economy as a whole, including topics such as inflation, unemployment, and economic growth.
• ECON 212 - Microeconomic Theory I: A course that provides an in-depth analysis of microeconomic theory, including consumer behavior, production, and market structures.
• ECON 222 - Macroeconomic Theory I: A course that explores macroeconomic theory, including national income accounting, inflation, and economic growth.
• ECON 223 - Macroeconomic Policy: A course that examines the role of fiscal and monetary policy in stabilizing the economy.
• ECON 225 - The Economics of the European Union: A course that analyzes the economic institutions and policies of the European Union.
• ECON 231 - Emergence of the Modern Industrial Economy: A course that explores the historical development of the modern industrial economy.
• ECON 232 - The Diffusion of Modern Economic Growth: A course that examines the spread of economic growth and development across different regions and countries.
• ECON 239 - Economic Development: A course that focuses on the economic development of less-developed countries.
• ECON 240 - Canadian Tax Policy: A course that analyzes the tax system in Canada and its impact on the economy.
• ECON 241 - Economic Aspects of Selected Social Issues: A course that applies economic principles to social issues, such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.
• ECON 243 - The Economics of Health Care: A course that examines the economic aspects of health care, including the demand for health care, the supply of health care services, and health care policy.
• ECON 244 - Economics of Indigenous Communities: A course that focuses on the economic development of Indigenous communities in Canada.
• ECON 250 - Introductory Statistics: A course that introduces students to statistical methods and techniques.
• ECON 251 - Econometrics I: A course that provides an introduction to econometric methods and techniques.
• ECON 254 - Introduction to Financial Economics: A course that explores the economic principles underlying financial markets and institutions.
• ECON 255 - Introduction to Mathematical Economics: A course that introduces students to mathematical methods and techniques used in economics.
• ECON 256 - Math for Economics and Business: A course that provides a review of mathematical methods and techniques used in economics and business.
• ECON 261 - Canadian Labour Relations: A course that examines the institutions and policies governing labor relations in Canada.
• ECON 262 - Labour Markets and Gender Differences: A course that analyzes the labor market experiences of men and women, including topics such as wage differentials and occupational segregation.
• ECON 280 - Population and Economic Change: A course that explores the relationship between population growth and economic development.
• ECON 290 - Environmental Economics and Assessment: A course that applies economic principles to environmental issues, including the valuation of environmental goods and services.
• ECON 310 - Microeconomic Theory II: A course that provides an advanced analysis of microeconomic theory, including topics such as general equilibrium and welfare economics.
• ECON 320 - Macroeconomic Theory II: A course that explores advanced macroeconomic theory, including topics such as monetary policy and international trade.
• ECON 322 - Financial Markets and Risk Management: A course that examines the economic principles underlying financial markets and risk management.
• ECON 325 - International Trade Policy: A course that analyzes the economic effects of international trade policy, including tariffs, quotas, and trade agreements.
• ECON 331 - Economic History of North America to 1865: A course that explores the economic history of North America from the colonial period to the mid-19th century.
• ECON 332 - Economic History of North America since 1865: A course that examines the economic history of North America from the late 19th century to the present.
• ECON 348 - Law and Economics: A course that applies economic principles to legal issues, including topics such as property rights and tort law.
• ECON 351 - Introductory Econometrics: A course that provides an introduction to econometric methods and techniques.
• ECON 354 - Computational Methods in Economics and Finance: A course that explores computational methods and techniques used in economics and finance.
• ECON 360 - Labour Economics: A course that examines the economic principles underlying labor markets, including topics such as labor supply and demand.
• ECON 361 - Income Distribution and Problems of Inequality: A course that analyzes the distribution of income and wealth, including topics such as poverty and inequality.
• ECON 370 - Urban and Regional Economics: A course that explores the economic principles underlying urban and regional development.
• ECON 371 - Economics of Regulation: A course that examines the economic effects of government regulation, including topics such as antitrust policy and environmental regulation.
• ECON 390 - Natural Resource Economics: A course that applies economic principles to natural resource management, including topics such as fisheries and forestry.
• ECON 391 - Topics in Environmental Economics: A course that explores advanced topics in environmental economics, including climate change and sustainable development.
• ECON 411 - Topics in Microeconomics: A course that examines advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as game theory and mechanism design.
• ECON 421 - Topics in Macroeconomic Theory: A course that explores advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as monetary policy and international trade.
• ECON 422 - Monetary Economics: A course that examines the economic principles underlying monetary policy, including topics such as money demand and supply.
• ECON 423 - Topics in Financial Economics: A course that explores advanced topics in financial economics, including topics such as asset pricing and risk management.
• ECON 425 - International Trade Theory and Policy: A course that analyzes the economic effects of international trade policy, including topics such as tariffs, quotas, and trade agreements.
• ECON 426 - International Macroeconomics: A course that examines the economic principles underlying international macroeconomic issues, including topics such as exchange rates and balance of payments.
• ECON 430 - Issues in Economic History: A course that explores advanced topics in economic history, including topics such as the industrial revolution and the great depression.
• ECON 435 - Development Economics: A course that applies economic principles to development issues, including topics such as poverty reduction and economic growth.
• ECON 437 - Cost-Benefit Analysis: A course that examines the economic principles underlying cost-benefit analysis, including topics such as valuation of environmental goods and services.
• ECON 440 - Public Economics: A course that applies economic principles to public policy issues, including topics such as taxation and public expenditure.
• ECON 442 - Topics in Public Economics: A course that explores advanced topics in public economics, including topics such as public choice and institutional economics.
• ECON 443 - Issues in Microeconomic Policy: A course that examines the economic principles underlying microeconomic policy issues, including topics such as regulation and antitrust policy.
• ECON 445 - Industrial Organization and Public Policy: A course that applies economic principles to industrial organization and public policy issues, including topics such as competition policy and regulatory economics.
• ECON 450 - Advanced Econometrics: A course that provides an advanced analysis of econometric methods and techniques.
• ECON 452 - Applied Econometrics: A course that applies econometric methods and techniques to real-world economic problems.
• ECON 455 - Mathematical Economics: A course that explores the mathematical methods and techniques used in economics.
• ECON 480 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that examines advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as game theory and mechanism design.
• ECON 481 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that explores advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as auctions and contract theory.
• ECON 482 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that examines advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as information economics and behavioral economics.
• ECON 483 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that explores advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as experimental economics and neuroeconomics.
• ECON 484 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that examines advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as computational economics and econophysics.
• ECON 485 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that explores advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as network economics and complexity economics.
• ECON 490 - Seminar in Macroeconomics: A course that examines advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as monetary policy and international trade.
• ECON 491 - Seminar in Macroeconomics: A course that explores advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as fiscal policy and economic growth.
• ECON 492 - Seminar in Macroeconomics: A course that examines advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as inflation and unemployment.
• ECON 493 - Seminar in Macroeconomics: A course that explores advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as exchange rates and balance of payments.
• ECON 494 - Seminar in Macroeconomics: A course that examines advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as monetary policy and financial stability.
• ECON 590 - Thesis: A course that allows students to pursue original research in economics under the supervision of a faculty member.
• ECON 810 - Microeconomic Theory: A course that provides an advanced analysis of microeconomic theory, including topics such as general equilibrium and welfare economics.
• ECON 811 - Advanced Microeconomic Theory I: A course that explores advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as game theory and mechanism design.
• ECON 813 - Advanced Microeconomic Theory II: A course that examines advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as auctions and contract theory.
• ECON 815 - Macroeconomic Theory: A course that provides an advanced analysis of macroeconomic theory, including topics such as monetary policy and international trade.
• ECON 816 - Advanced Macroeconomic Theory I: A course that explores advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as fiscal policy and economic growth.
• ECON 817 - Advanced Macroeconomic Theory II: A course that examines advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as inflation and unemployment.
• ECON 820 - Money in the Macroeconomy: A course that explores the role of money in the macroeconomy, including topics such as money demand and supply.
• ECON 821 - Money and Financial Markets: A course that examines the economic principles underlying money and financial markets, including topics such as interest rates and asset prices.
• ECON 825 - International Trade: A course that analyzes the economic effects of international trade, including topics such as tariffs, quotas, and trade agreements.
• ECON 826 - International Finance: A course that explores the economic principles underlying international finance, including topics such as exchange rates and balance of payments.
• ECON 830 - Economic Development in North America: A course that applies economic principles to development issues in North America, including topics such as poverty reduction and economic growth.
• ECON 831 - Issues in North American Economic History: A course that examines advanced topics in North American economic history, including topics such as the industrial revolution and the great depression.
• ECON 835 - Development Economics: A course that applies economic principles to development issues, including topics such as poverty reduction and economic growth.
• ECON 837 - Cost-Benefit Analysis: A course that examines the economic principles underlying cost-benefit analysis, including topics such as valuation of environmental goods and services.
• ECON 840 - Public Economics I: A course that applies economic principles to public policy issues, including topics such as taxation and public expenditure.
• ECON 841 - Public Economics II: A course that explores advanced topics in public economics, including topics such as public choice and institutional economics.
• ECON 845 - Industrial Organization I: A course that applies economic principles to industrial organization issues, including topics such as competition policy and regulatory economics.
• ECON 846 - Industrial Organization II: A course that examines advanced topics in industrial organization, including topics such as auctions and contract theory.
• ECON 848 - Economic Analysis Of Law: A course that applies economic principles to legal issues, including topics such as property rights and tort law.
• ECON 850 - Econometrics I: A course that provides an introduction to econometric methods and techniques.
• ECON 851 - Econometrics II: A course that explores advanced topics in econometrics, including topics such as time series analysis and panel data models.
• ECON 852 - Quantitative Methods: A course that examines the quantitative methods used in economics, including topics such as statistical analysis and mathematical modeling.
• ECON 853 - Applied Econometrics: A course that applies econometric methods and techniques to real-world economic problems.
• ECON 855 - Mathematical Economics: A course that explores the mathematical methods and techniques used in economics.
• ECON 856 - Static Optimization and General Equilibrium Theory: A course that examines the economic principles underlying static optimization and general equilibrium theory.
• ECON 857 - Dynamic Economic Theory: A course that explores the economic principles underlying dynamic economic theory, including topics such as growth models and business cycles.
• ECON 858 - Experiments and Game Theory: A course that examines the economic principles underlying experiments and game theory, including topics such as auctions and mechanism design.
• ECON 860 - Empirical Micro-Economics I: A course that applies econometric methods and techniques to microeconomic problems.
• ECON 861 - Empirical Micro-Economics II: A course that explores advanced topics in empirical microeconomics, including topics such as panel data models and instrumental variables.
• ECON 870 - Finance Theory: A course that examines the economic principles underlying finance theory, including topics such as asset pricing and risk management.
• ECON 871 - Financial Systems: Theory and Applications: A course that explores the economic principles underlying financial systems, including topics such as banking and financial markets.
• ECON 872 - Topics in Quantitative Finance: A course that examines advanced topics in quantitative finance, including topics such as derivatives and risk management.
• ECON 873 - Financial Derivatives: A course that explores the economic principles underlying financial derivatives, including topics such as options and futures.
• ECON 880 - History of Economic Thought: A course that examines the historical development of economic thought, including topics such as classical economics and Keynesian economics.
• ECON 881 - Economic Policy Formation: A course that applies economic principles to policy issues, including topics such as monetary policy and fiscal policy.
• ECON 882 - Research Problems and Methodology: A course that examines the research methods and techniques used in economics, including topics such as econometric analysis and case studies.
• ECON 890 - Natural Resource Economics: A course that applies economic principles to natural resource management, including topics such as fisheries and forestry.
• ECON 891 - Environmental Economics: A course that examines the economic principles underlying environmental issues, including topics such as climate change and sustainable development.
• ECON 910 - Advanced Topics in Microeconomics: A course that explores advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as game theory and mechanism design.
• ECON 911 - Advanced Topics in Microeconomics: A course that examines advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as auctions and contract theory.
• ECON 912 - Advanced Topics in Microeconomics: A course that explores advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as information economics and behavioral economics.
• ECON 913 - Advanced Topics in Microeconomics: A course that examines advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including topics such as experimental economics and neuroeconomics.
• ECON 915 - Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics: A course that explores advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as monetary policy and international trade.
• ECON 916 - Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics: A course that examines advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as fiscal policy and economic growth.
• ECON 917 - Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics: A course that explores advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as inflation and unemployment.
• ECON 918 - Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics: A course that examines advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including topics such as exchange rates and balance of payments.
• ECON 950 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that explores advanced topics in empirical methods, including topics such as econometric analysis and case studies.
• ECON 951 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that examines advanced topics in empirical methods, including topics such as panel data models and instrumental variables.
• ECON 952 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that explores advanced topics in empirical methods, including topics such as time series analysis and forecasting.
• ECON 953 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that examines advanced topics in empirical methods, including topics such as econometric modeling and simulation.
• ECON 954 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that explores advanced topics in empirical methods, including topics such as machine learning and data science.
• ECON 955 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that examines advanced topics in empirical methods, including topics such as big data and data analytics.
• ECON 999 - Ph.D. Thesis Seminar: A course that allows students to pursue original research in economics under the supervision of a faculty member.

Research Areas

The department has a strong research focus, with faculty members working in a variety of areas, including:

• Econometrics and Quantitative Methods: The application of statistical and mathematical techniques to economic problems.
• Economic History, Law and Economics: The study of the historical development of economic systems and the application of economic principles to legal issues.
• Financial Economics: The study of the economic principles underlying financial markets and institutions.
• Industrial Organization: The study of the economic principles underlying industrial organization and competition policy.
• International Economics: The study of the economic principles underlying international trade and finance.
• Labour, Health, Education and Welfare: The study of the economic principles underlying labor markets, health, education, and welfare policy.
• Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics: The study of the economic principles underlying macroeconomic issues, including monetary policy and international trade.
• Microeconomics: The study of the economic principles underlying individual economic units, including households and firms.
• Public and Development Economics: The study of the economic principles underlying public policy issues, including development economics and poverty reduction.
• Urban, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics: The study of the economic principles underlying urban and environmental issues, including natural resource management.

Conferences and Workshops

The department hosts a variety of conferences and workshops throughout the year, including:

• QED Frontiers of Macroeconomics Workshop: A workshop that brings together leading researchers in macroeconomics to discuss the latest developments in the field.
• Financial Intermediation and Regulation Conference: A conference that explores the economic principles underlying financial intermediation and regulation.
• Canadian Macroeconomic Study Group (CMSG) Meeting: A meeting that brings together researchers and policymakers to discuss the latest developments in macroeconomic policy.
• WECAN Conference: A conference that explores the economic principles underlying women's economic empowerment and career advancement.

Prizes and Distinctions

The department offers a variety of prizes and distinctions to recognize outstanding academic achievement, including:

• Douglas D. Purvis Memorial Prize: A prize awarded to the student with the highest grade in the Master's program.
• The Dan Usher Prize for Excellence in Economic Research: A prize awarded to the student who produces the best research paper in the Ph.D. program.

Alumni

The department has a strong alumni network, with graduates going on to pursue successful careers in a variety of fields, including:

• Academia: Many graduates have gone on to pursue careers in academia, including as professors and researchers at leading universities.
• Government: Graduates have also gone on to work in government, including as policymakers and advisors.
• Private Sector: Many graduates have gone on to work in the private sector, including as economists and consultants.
• Non-Profit: Graduates have also gone on to work in the non-profit sector, including as researchers and advocates.