Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - ECON 434 D100

Seminar in Applied Market Design (3)

Class Number: 1814

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Mon, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    ECON 333 (or BUEC 333) and ECON 302, all with a minimum grade of C-.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces students to market design. There is a strong emphasis on applications and empirical perspectives of market design. The objective of the course is to give students an understanding of the core concepts of market design and to illustrate how econometrics can be used to combine data with micro theory. Students with credit for ECON 483 under the title Applied Market Design may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

Market design is an area of studying the rules that guide transactions and resource allocations in the marketplace. Applications include matching markets (marriage market, school assignment, kidney exchange), auction markets, and so on. This course will focus on the empirical perspective of market design and illustrate how econometrics can be used to combine data with micro theory.

Topics: Introduction to Market Design, One-to-One Matching (e.g., Marriage Market), Many-to-One Matching (e.g., School Assignment), House Allocation and Kidney Exchange, Labor Markets, Internet Markets.

Grading

  • Class participation 25%
  • Midterm exam 25%
  • Presentations 50%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

No. A set of papers will be posted on Canvas.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Roth, Alvin E. Who Gets What—and Why: The New Economics of Matchmaking and Market Design. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015.

Nir Vulkan, Alvin E. Roth, and Zvika Neeman. The Handbook of Market Design, Oxford University Press, 2015.


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

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


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.