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 to provide a comprehensive understanding of social and economic issues.
• Minors & Medials: Students can also 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 four-year honors degree, which allows students to specialize in a particular area of economics.

Graduate Programs

• MA: The Master's program in economics provides advanced training in economic theory, econometrics, and research methods.
• PhD: The PhD 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 basic principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics.
• ECON 111 - Introductory Microeconomics: A course that focuses on the principles of microeconomics, including consumer behavior, market structures, and welfare economics.
• ECON 112 - Introductory Macroeconomics: A course that covers the principles of macroeconomics, including national income accounting, inflation, and economic growth.
• ECON 212 - Microeconomic Theory I: A course that provides an in-depth analysis of microeconomic theory, including consumer behavior, production theory, and market structures.
• ECON 222 - Macroeconomic Theory I: A course that covers the principles of macroeconomic theory, including national income accounting, inflation, and economic growth.
• ECON 223 - Macroeconomic Policy: A course that focuses on the application of macroeconomic theory to policy issues, including fiscal policy, monetary policy, and international trade.
• ECON 225 - The Economics of the European Union: A course that covers the economics of the European Union, including its institutions, policies, and impact on member states.
• ECON 231 - Emergence of the Modern Industrial Economy: A course that explores the historical development of the modern industrial economy, including the role of technology, institutions, and globalization.
• ECON 232 - The Diffusion of Modern Economic Growth: A course that examines the diffusion of modern economic growth across countries and regions, including the role of institutions, trade, and investment.
• ECON 239 - Economic Development: A course that covers the principles of economic development, including the role of institutions, human capital, and technology.
• ECON 240 - Canadian Tax Policy: A course that focuses on the principles of Canadian tax policy, including the tax system, tax reform, and tax policy analysis.
• ECON 241 - Economic Aspects of Selected Social Issues: A course that examines the economic aspects of selected social issues, including poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation.
• ECON 243 - The Economics of Health Care: A course that covers the economics of health care, including the health care system, health care reform, and health policy analysis.
• ECON 244 - Economics of Indigenous Communities: A course that explores the economics of Indigenous communities, including the role of institutions, culture, and history.
• ECON 250 - Introductory Statistics: A course that provides an introduction to statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics, probability theory, and inferential statistics.
• ECON 251 - Econometrics I: A course that covers the principles of econometrics, including regression analysis, hypothesis testing, and model specification.
• ECON 254 - Introduction to Financial Economics: A course that introduces students to the principles of financial economics, including financial markets, instruments, and institutions.
• ECON 255 - Introduction to Mathematical Economics: A course that provides an introduction to mathematical economics, including optimization techniques, dynamic systems, and game theory.
• ECON 256 - Math for Economics and Business: A course that covers the mathematical tools used in economics and business, including algebra, calculus, and linear algebra.
• ECON 261 - Canadian Labour Relations: A course that examines the principles of Canadian labour relations, including labour markets, labour law, and collective bargaining.
• ECON 262 - Labour Markets and Gender Differences: A course that explores the labour market experiences of men and women, including the role of discrimination, human capital, and institutions.
• ECON 280 - Population and Economic Change: A course that examines the relationship between population growth and economic development, including the role of demographics, institutions, and technology.
• ECON 290 - Environmental Economics and Assessment: A course that covers the principles of environmental economics, including environmental valuation, cost-benefit analysis, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 310 - Microeconomic Theory II: A course that provides an advanced analysis of microeconomic theory, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 320 - Macroeconomic Theory II: A course that covers the advanced principles of macroeconomic theory, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 322 - Financial Markets and Risk Management: A course that examines the principles of financial markets and risk management, including financial instruments, portfolio theory, and risk analysis.
• ECON 325 - International Trade Policy: A course that covers the principles of international trade policy, including trade theory, trade agreements, and trade policy analysis.
• 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 Civil War, including the role of institutions, technology, and globalization.
• ECON 332 - Economic History of North America since 1865: A course that examines the economic history of North America from the Civil War to the present, including the role of institutions, technology, and globalization.
• ECON 348 - Law and Economics: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of law, including property law, contract law, and tort law.
• ECON 351 - Introductory Econometrics: A course that provides an introduction to econometrics, including regression analysis, hypothesis testing, and model specification.
• ECON 354 - Computational Methods in Economics and Finance: A course that covers the computational methods used in economics and finance, including programming languages, data analysis, and simulation methods.
• ECON 360 - Labour Economics: A course that examines the principles of labour economics, including labour markets, labour law, and collective bargaining.
• ECON 361 - Income Distribution and Problems of Inequality: A course that explores the issues of income distribution and inequality, including the role of institutions, human capital, and technology.
• ECON 370 - Urban and Regional Economics: A course that covers the principles of urban and regional economics, including urbanization, regional development, and urban planning.
• ECON 371 - Economics of Regulation: A course that examines the economics of regulation, including the role of government, institutions, and interest groups.
• ECON 390 - Natural Resource Economics: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of natural resource management, including environmental economics, resource extraction, and conservation.
• ECON 391 - Topics in Environmental Economics: A course that explores the topics of environmental economics, including environmental valuation, cost-benefit analysis, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 411 - Topics in Microeconomics: A course that covers the advanced topics in microeconomics, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 421 - Topics in Macroeconomic Theory: A course that examines the advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 422 - Monetary Economics: A course that covers the principles of monetary economics, including money and banking, monetary policy, and international finance.
• ECON 423 - Topics in Financial Economics: A course that explores the topics of financial economics, including financial markets, instruments, and institutions.
• ECON 425 - International Trade Theory and Policy: A course that covers the principles of international trade theory and policy, including trade theory, trade agreements, and trade policy analysis.
• ECON 426 - International Macroeconomics: A course that examines the principles of international macroeconomics, including balance of payments, exchange rates, and international monetary systems.
• ECON 430 - Issues in Economic History: A course that explores the issues of economic history, including the role of institutions, technology, and globalization.
• ECON 435 - Development Economics: A course that covers the principles of development economics, including economic growth, poverty reduction, and institutional development.
• ECON 437 - Cost-Benefit Analysis: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of cost-benefit analysis, including project evaluation, policy analysis, and decision-making.
• ECON 440 - Public Economics: A course that examines the principles of public economics, including public finance, public choice, and policy analysis.
• ECON 442 - Topics in Public Economics: A course that covers the advanced topics in public economics, including public finance, public choice, and policy analysis.
• ECON 443 - Issues in Microeconomic Policy: A course that explores the issues of microeconomic policy, including regulation, taxation, and public expenditure.
• ECON 445 - Industrial Organization and Public Policy: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of industrial organization and public policy, including competition policy, regulatory policy, and public-private partnerships.
• ECON 450 - Advanced Econometrics: A course that covers the advanced principles of econometrics, including time series analysis, panel data analysis, and econometric modeling.
• ECON 452 - Applied Econometrics: A course that applies econometric principles to the analysis of economic data, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 455 - Mathematical Economics: A course that covers the mathematical tools used in economics, including optimization techniques, dynamic systems, and game theory.
• ECON 480 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that explores the advanced topics in microeconomics, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 481 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that covers the advanced topics in microeconomics, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 482 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that examines the advanced topics in microeconomics, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 483 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that explores the advanced topics in microeconomics, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 484 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that covers the advanced topics in microeconomics, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 485 - Seminar in Microeconomics: A course that examines the advanced topics in microeconomics, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 490 - Seminar in Macroeconomics: A course that explores the advanced topics in macroeconomics, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 491 - Seminar in Macroeconomics: A course that covers the advanced topics in macroeconomics, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 492 - Seminar in Macroeconomics: A course that examines the advanced topics in macroeconomics, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 493 - Seminar in Macroeconomics: A course that explores the advanced topics in macroeconomics, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 494 - Seminar in Macroeconomics: A course that covers the advanced topics in macroeconomics, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 590 - Thesis: A course that allows students to conduct original research in economics, including thesis proposal, literature review, and empirical analysis.
• ECON 810 - Microeconomic Theory: A course that covers the advanced principles of microeconomic theory, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 811 - Advanced Microeconomic Theory I: A course that examines the advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 813 - Advanced Microeconomic Theory II: A course that covers the advanced topics in microeconomic theory, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 815 - Macroeconomic Theory: A course that covers the advanced principles of macroeconomic theory, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 816 - Advanced Macroeconomic Theory I: A course that examines the advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 817 - Advanced Macroeconomic Theory II: A course that covers the advanced topics in macroeconomic theory, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 820 - Money in the Macroeconomy: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of money and banking, including monetary policy, financial markets, and international finance.
• ECON 821 - Money and Financial Markets: A course that covers the principles of money and financial markets, including financial instruments, portfolio theory, and risk analysis.
• ECON 825 - International Trade: A course that examines the principles of international trade, including trade theory, trade agreements, and trade policy analysis.
• ECON 826 - International Finance: A course that covers the principles of international finance, including balance of payments, exchange rates, and international monetary systems.
• ECON 830 - Economic Development in North America: A course that explores the economic development of North America, including the role of institutions, technology, and globalization.
• ECON 831 - Issues in North American Economic History: A course that examines the issues of North American economic history, including the role of institutions, technology, and globalization.
• ECON 835 - Development Economics: A course that covers the principles of development economics, including economic growth, poverty reduction, and institutional development.
• ECON 837 - Cost-Benefit Analysis: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of cost-benefit analysis, including project evaluation, policy analysis, and decision-making.
• ECON 840 - Public Economics I: A course that examines the principles of public economics, including public finance, public choice, and policy analysis.
• ECON 841 - Public Economics II: A course that covers the advanced topics in public economics, including public finance, public choice, and policy analysis.
• ECON 845 - Industrial Organization I: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of industrial organization, including competition policy, regulatory policy, and public-private partnerships.
• ECON 846 - Industrial Organization II: A course that examines the advanced topics in industrial organization, including competition policy, regulatory policy, and public-private partnerships.
• ECON 848 - Economic Analysis Of Law: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of law, including property law, contract law, and tort law.
• ECON 850 - Econometrics I: A course that covers the principles of econometrics, including regression analysis, hypothesis testing, and model specification.
• ECON 851 - Econometrics II: A course that examines the advanced topics in econometrics, including time series analysis, panel data analysis, and econometric modeling.
• ECON 852 - Quantitative Methods: A course that covers the quantitative methods used in economics, including programming languages, data analysis, and simulation methods.
• ECON 853 - Applied Econometrics: A course that applies econometric principles to the analysis of economic data, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 855 - Mathematical Economics: A course that covers the mathematical tools used in economics, including optimization techniques, dynamic systems, and game theory.
• ECON 856 - Static Optimization and General Equilibrium Theory: A course that examines the principles of static optimization and general equilibrium theory, including consumer behavior, production theory, and market structures.
• ECON 857 - Dynamic Economic Theory: A course that covers the principles of dynamic economic theory, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 858 - Experiments and Game Theory: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of experiments and game theory, including auction theory, mechanism design, and behavioral economics.
• ECON 860 - Empirical Micro-Economics I: A course that examines the empirical methods used in microeconomics, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 861 - Empirical Micro-Economics II: A course that covers the advanced empirical methods used in microeconomics, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 870 - Finance Theory: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of finance theory, including financial markets, instruments, and institutions.
• ECON 871 - Financial Systems: Theory and Applications: A course that examines the principles of financial systems, including financial markets, instruments, and institutions.
• ECON 872 - Topics in Quantitative Finance: A course that covers the advanced topics in quantitative finance, including financial modeling, risk analysis, and portfolio management.
• ECON 873 - Financial Derivatives: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of financial derivatives, including options, futures, and swaps.
• ECON 880 - History of Economic Thought: A course that examines the history of economic thought, including the contributions of major economists and the development of economic theories.
• ECON 881 - Economic Policy Formation: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of economic policy formation, including policy analysis, decision-making, and institutional development.
• ECON 882 - Research Problems and Methodology: A course that covers the research problems and methodology used in economics, including research design, data analysis, and empirical methods.
• ECON 890 - Natural Resource Economics: A course that applies economic principles to the analysis of natural resource management, including environmental economics, resource extraction, and conservation.
• ECON 891 - Environmental Economics: A course that examines the principles of environmental economics, including environmental valuation, cost-benefit analysis, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 910 - Advanced Topics in Microeconomics: A course that covers the advanced topics in microeconomics, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 911 - Advanced Topics in Microeconomics: A course that examines the advanced topics in microeconomics, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 912 - Advanced Topics in Microeconomics: A course that covers the advanced topics in microeconomics, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 913 - Advanced Topics in Microeconomics: A course that examines the advanced topics in microeconomics, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• ECON 915 - Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics: A course that covers the advanced topics in macroeconomics, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 916 - Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics: A course that examines the advanced topics in macroeconomics, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 917 - Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics: A course that covers the advanced topics in macroeconomics, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 918 - Advanced Topics in Macroeconomics: A course that examines the advanced topics in macroeconomics, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• ECON 950 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that covers the advanced empirical methods used in economics, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 951 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that examines the advanced empirical methods used in economics, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 952 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that covers the advanced empirical methods used in economics, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 953 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that examines the advanced empirical methods used in economics, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 954 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that covers the advanced empirical methods used in economics, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 955 - Advanced Topics in Empirical Methods: A course that examines the advanced empirical methods used in economics, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• ECON 999 - Ph.D. Thesis Seminar: A course that allows students to conduct original research in economics, including thesis proposal, literature review, and empirical analysis.
• Graduate Methods Review Course for MAs: A course that reviews the methods used in economics, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• Graduate Methods Review Course for PhDs: A course that reviews the advanced methods used in economics, including data analysis, model specification, and policy evaluation.
• Introduction to Computing for MAs: A course that introduces students to the computational methods used in economics, including programming languages, data analysis, and simulation methods.
• Introduction to Computing for PhDs: A course that introduces students to the advanced computational methods used in economics, including programming languages, data analysis, and simulation methods.
• PPEC 200 - Introduction to the Study of Politics, Philosophy and Economics: A course that introduces students to the interdisciplinary study of politics, philosophy, and economics.
• PPEC 400 - Research Seminar in Politics, Philosophy and Economics: A course that allows students to conduct original research in politics, philosophy, and economics, including thesis proposal, literature review, and empirical analysis.

Research Areas

The department has several research areas, including:

• Econometrics and Quantitative Methods: The application of econometric and quantitative methods to the analysis of economic data.
• Economic History, Law and Economics: The study of economic history, law and economics, including the role of institutions, technology, and globalization.
• Financial Economics: The study of financial markets, instruments, and institutions, including financial modeling, risk analysis, and portfolio management.
• Industrial Organization: The study of industrial organization, including competition policy, regulatory policy, and public-private partnerships.
• International Economics: The study of international trade, finance, and economic development, including the role of institutions, technology, and globalization.
• Labour, Health, Education and Welfare: The study of labor markets, health economics, education economics, and welfare economics, including the role of institutions, human capital, and technology.
• Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics: The study of macroeconomic theory, including dynamic macroeconomics, monetary theory, and international macroeconomics.
• Microeconomics: The study of microeconomic theory, including general equilibrium theory, game theory, and information economics.
• Public and Development Economics: The study of public economics, including public finance, public choice, and policy analysis, as well as development economics, including economic growth, poverty reduction, and institutional development.
• Urban, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics: The study of urban economics, environmental economics, and natural resource economics, including the role of institutions, technology, and globalization.

Conferences

The department hosts several conferences, including:

• QED Frontiers of Macroeconomics: A conference 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 latest research in financial intermediation and regulation, including financial markets, instruments, and institutions.
• Canadian Macroeconomic Study Group (CMSG) Meeting: A meeting that brings together researchers and policymakers to discuss the latest developments in macroeconomic theory and policy.
• QED Frontiers of Macroeconomics Workshop: A workshop that brings together leading researchers in macroeconomics to discuss the latest developments in the field.
• Annual Financial Intermediation and Regulation Conference: A conference that explores the latest research in financial intermediation and regulation, including financial markets, instruments, and institutions.
• Celebrating James MacKinnon Conference: A conference that celebrates the contributions of James MacKinnon to the field of economics.
• The Canadian Public Economics Group (CPEG) Annual Conference: A conference that brings together researchers and policymakers to discuss the latest developments in public economics, including public finance, public choice, and policy analysis.
• WECAN Conference: A conference that explores the latest research in women's economic empowerment and development.
• WECAN Women Economists in Canada 2025: A conference that brings together women economists in Canada to discuss the latest developments in the field and to promote women's economic empowerment.

Prizes and Distinctions

The department offers several prizes and distinctions, including:

• Douglas D. Purvis Memorial Prize: A prize that recognizes outstanding research in economics.
• The Dan Usher Prize for Excellence in Economic Research: A prize that recognizes excellence in economic research.
• Curtis Prize: A prize that recognizes outstanding research in macroeconomics.
• Scarthingmoor MA Essay Prize: A prize that recognizes outstanding research in economics at the master's level.
• Scarthingmoor PhD Thesis Prize: A prize that recognizes outstanding research in economics at the doctoral level.