Teaching at Amherst

ECON 111: An Introduction to Economics

Fall 2011 onwards

Description: A study of the central problem of scarcity and of the ways in which the U.S. economic system allocates scarce resources among competing ends and apportions the goods produced among people. Requisite for all other courses in economics.

Econ 300: Microeconomics

Spring 2016

Description: This course develops the tools of modern microeconomic theory and notes their applications to matters of utility and demand; production functions and cost; pricing of output under perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly, etc.; pricing of productive services; intertemporal decision-making; the economics of uncertainty; efficiency, equity, general equilibrium; externalities and public goods. Requisite: MATH 111, or equivalent and at least a "B" grade in ECON 111/111E or a "B-" in ECON 200-290, or equivalent.

ECON 245: Development Economics

Spring 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2014, Fall 2015

Description: An introduction to the historical experience and current economic problems of developing countries, and survey of theories of economic growth and development. Topics include economic growth, health, education, urbanization, corruption, technology, aid, gender and institutions. How can we use the tools of economics to understand these problems and to evaluate policy options? Requisite: Econ 111.

ECON 410: Microeconomics of Development

Spring 2013, Fall 2013, Fall 2015

Description: The course aims to study the latest research on topics in development economics. It focuses on both randomized experiments as well as some of the classic microeconomic empirical papers on topics such as health, education, corruption, labor, microfinance and social capital. Students are required to read and comment on published or working papers every week. Class participation and peer discussions are incentivized. The final project involves each student answering a question in development economics employing empirical analysis on micro-level data sets already available. Requisite: Econometrics or Advanced Econometrics.