Spring 2019 - ECON 182 D100

Selected Topics in Economics (3)

Economics in Literature

Class Number: 5696

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 3 – Apr 8, 2019: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

    Jan 3 – Apr 8, 2019: Wed, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 10, 2019
    Wed, 3:30–6:30 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The subject matter will vary from term to term. Students may repeat this course for further credit under a different topic.

COURSE DETAILS:

Selected Topics: Economics In Literature

Prerequisites: None.


Alfred Marshall, an ancient and famous economist, once wrote that economics is about the “ordinary business of life.” It is a particular world view (a set of well defined ideas), that touch on every aspect of the human experience. Literary figures are also in the business of writing about the “ordinary business of life,” and so it should come as no surprise that there is often an overlap between economic ideas and literature. Indeed, when authors endowed with a natural talent for economic thinking put pen to paper, the result is often a beautiful expression an economic idea.
There are two goals for this course. The first is to introduce students who are unfamiliar with economic concepts to a wide range of economic ideas through literature. The second is to show economic majors how the concepts they’ve learned through models can manifest in words only.
Hence, this course will only use short stories, novel excerpts, and poetry, and shun any formal use of models, graphs, and mathematics. The hope is that a wide range of students can experience the joy of seeing human behavior through the lens of economics. Hence this course should appeal to those with a curious mind but few mathematical skills, and economics majors who might want more practice in recognizing economic ideas outside of a textbook.
This is intended to be a fun and free-wheeling course, but it will only work under the following conditions. First, students must be willing (and able!) to read about 10-30 pages per week from various forms and writing styles, and then come to class prepared to discuss the readings and their economic interpretation. Second, students must have an open mind to entertain the economic approach to every aspect of life. If you think economics only applies to a few boxes of issues (like interest rates), and it offends you to apply these ideas outside those boxes (like marriage), then this is not a course for you.
To the extent there are lectures, they will be very interactive, and I will (gently) call on each student to provide their impressions and thoughts. The hope is that through these interactions we’ll come to understand economics better — whether we agree with it or not. All of the readings are required and will be provided in the first week. Information regarding the assignments will be discussed in the first class.

Grading

  • Midterm exam 30%
  • Class participation 20%
  • One written assignment 10%
  • Final exam 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

All of the readings are required and will be provided in the first week.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

***  NO TUTORIALS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES***

Students requiring  accomodations as a result of a disability must contact the  Centre for Students with Disabilities  at 778 782 3112 or csdo@sfu.ca 

Registrar Notes:

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS