Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - ECON 104 D100

Economics and Government (3)

Class Number: 1945

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 26, 2025
    Sat, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

An introduction of broad, basic economic ideas applied to government finance, allocation, and procurement. Topics covered may include government size, health care, debt, social insurance, trade, and redistribution policies. Breadth-Social Sciences.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course examines the roles of the government, from an economist’s point of view. Canadian government provides direct services (like education, policing, building infrastructures, postal service, national defense), regulates and controls many private activities, is trying to promote economic growth and mitigate the undesirable effects of business cycles, and is intimately involved in redistribution of incomes. Why do we let the government do these things? What is the proper role of the government? Can the government or its actions be improved?

The class primarily targets students who are not economics majors and those who just start studying economics. I do not assume any prior knowledge of economic theory, technical details are minimized where possible, and the emphasis is on understanding the key issues of the government involvement in our lives. I will also try to introduce you to the various fields of economics since almost every such field (Macroeconomics, Industrial Organization, Labour Economics, Public Finance, Public Choice, Institutional Economics, and others) is relevant to the study of the government.

Readings for the class will be posted online. They will be short discussions of economic theories, with emphasis on understanding rather than technical details, articles from the professional journals, and newspaper/magazine articles that talk about current matters involving government.

Topics:

 

  • Canadian Government
  • How Economists View the World
  • Efficiency & Invisible Hand of the Market (aka First Fundamental Theorem of Welfare Economics)
  • Externalities, Pigouvian Taxes, & Coase Theorem
  • Public Goods, Freerider Problem, & Prisoners’ Dilemmas
  • Taxes & Tax Incidence
  • Asymmetric Information, Adverse Selection, & Moral Hazard
  • Market Power & Microeconomic Policies
  • Inequality, Poverty, & Redistribution
  • Macroeconomic Aggregates & Macroeconomic Policies

Grading

  • Homework Assignments 30%
  • Midterm Exam 30%
  • Final Exam 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

There is no text book for this class. Readings for the class will be posted online, and available on the learning management system CANVAS.


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Please note that, as per Policy T20.01, the course requirements (and grading scheme) outlined here are subject to change up until the end of the first week of classes.

Final exam schedules will be released during the second month of classes. If your course has a final exam, please ensure that you are available during the entire final exam period until you receive confirmation of your exam dates. 

Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability must contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) at 778-782-3112 or caladmin@sfu.ca.

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

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website 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

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.