DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
COURSE: ECON 110-3 E1 SEMESTER: Fall 2010
TITLE: Foundations of Economic Ideas INSTRUCTOR: Prof. L. A. Boland
Note: this is a renumbered Econ 100-3.
Students with credit in Econ 100
cannot take ECON 110 for further credit.
Breadth-Social Sciences
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is an introduction to the
lives, times and ideas of the great economic thinkers. Emphasis will be on the
vision of the economy introduced by Adam Smith in the 18th century and refined by
the neoclassical writers of the 19th century. Consideration will be given to
the major changes in our conception of the economy that have been based on the
contributions of Smith, Marx, Marshall, Veblen,
Keynes and Schumpeter.
The format of this
class is unusual and challenging. It will appeal to those students
who are willing and able to participate in classroom discussions. There are no
formal lectures provided. This is a class for students more interested in
learning than just achieving an acceptable grade. If the budget allows, every
other week, on average, students will be assigned a short written paper (about
the assigned readings) and each student’s paper will be critically examined and
graded. If the budget does not allow for this, there will be just one
assignment.
The class will meet three hours per week. In
addition to the possible biweekly essay assignments, there will be at least one
midterm exam and an in-class final exam based on the assigned readings and the
in-class discussions over the whole semester. With the latter in mind,
classroom attendance will be very important – this is a class which cannot be
passed by merely showing up for the final exam. Surprise quizzes to encourage
attendance are always possible. Grades will be based on the written
assignments, exams, quizzes and above all, contributions to classroom
discussions.
NOTE WELL: This class now meets for 2
hours on Tuesdays and 1 hour on Thursdays. Since the first class is a 2-hour
class, we will be discussing the first reading during the second hour hence
everyone should come prepared to discuss that reading during the first class.
(The readings are itemized on a separate document.)
Attendance at first class of the semester is
considered mandatory!
Heilbroner, The Worldly
Philosophers, Simon & Shuster, 7th ed., 1999
Plato,
‘Euthyphro’, ‘The Apology’ and ‘Crito’ (early
dialogues), Penguin, 2003
Voltaire,
Candide,
Penguin, 1947
Becker,
The Heavenly City of the Eighteenth-Century
Philosophers,
Čapek, R.U.R,
a play, Dover Publishing, 2001
Ibsen,
Four Great Plays by Ibsen, Bantam,
1981
Lu
Xun, two short stories
More information available at my
web page:
http://www.sfu.ca/~boland
or I can be reached by e-mail me at boland@sfu.ca
Students requiring accommodations as a result of a
disability must contact the
Centre for
Students with Disabilities at 778-782-3112 or csdo@sfu.ca
All students are expected to read and understand SFU’s policies with regard to academic dishonesty
(T 10.02 and T 10.03).
These policies are available at the following web addresses:
http://www.sfu.ca/policies/teaching/t10-02.htm
and http://www.sfu.ca/policies/teaching/t10-03.htm