Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - ECON 104 D100

Economics and Government (3)

Class Number: 1674

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.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:

A little bit of economics goes a long way. Politicians may tell you that they can lower your income taxes and increase health care spending.  A little bit of economics tells you that if they do those things they must either raise other taxes, cut other expenditures or borrow a bunch of money.  Pundits might tell you that markets can give you everything, but a little bit of economics tells you that markets might give you stuff you don’t want as well.

 

Economics underlie the decisions that must be made by government, and a little bit of economics can often help make these decisions more reasonably, or help choose politicians who can make these decisions more reasonably.  It only takes a little economics to know that if too much carbon is going in to the atmosphere, then taxing it might help. It only takes a little economics to see that the invisible hand might do a good job at getting us the right amount of restaurant food, but will almost surely fail to get us the right amount of unemployment insurance.  It only takes a little bit of economics to tell you that a massive increase in inequality might feed back into politics and then feed back to the economy to generate yet more inequality.

 

The course will focus on various topics, with readings, lectures and tutorials aimed at fleshing out various aspects of each topic.  Usually, readings, lectures and tutorials will be complementary to each other, rather than substitutes for each other, so all will be required for successful completion of the course.

                                                                                               

Topics will include:


  • How big is government? (hint for midterm—roughly half the economy)
  • The Invisible Hand—why governments are terrible and private markets are great.
  • Market Failures—why private markets are terrible and governments are great.
  • Political Economy—how does a flood of money matter to politics?
  • Externalities—why being nice is hard, and why governments can help.
  • Deficits—is it bad to borrow?
  • Global Climate Change—carbon taxes, why there were good and why we killed them
  • Globalization—how can Canada thrive as a small country in a big world?
  • Tech Monopolies—they give us nice stuff, but they have power over us, so should we limit them?
  • Inequality and Poverty: why so much need amidst plenty? What can we do about it?

Grading

  • In-class tests (6) 10%
  • In-class activities 10%
  • Midterm Exam 30%
  • Final Exam 50%

NOTES:

  • In-class tests and activities are via CANVAS and MOBLAB.  Tests cover material up to the previous week.
  • Study questions for the tests and final will be available in advance on CANVAS.  Exam questions will be similar in spirit to—but not identical to—study questions. 
  • There will be 6 in-class tests.  These tests will be administered during class, but not at pre-announced times. 
  • There are no retakes for in-class tests, but only your best 5 of the 6 will count. 
  • There are in-class activities, including games, experiments and surveys.  These activities are graded on participation only. You can miss 2 of them without consequence.
  • The Final is 3 hours, mostly short-answer, and required.  The final must be written to get a passing grade. There are no re-takes for the final except for medical reasons.  In these cases, a note from a doctor is required, and the re-take will occur in early Summer 2026.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

  1. Harford, Tim, 2012 (2nd ed, updated), The Undercover Economist, Oxford University Press, real book $21, or on Kindle for $15. Used copies, and 1st edition, also okay. This is the best introduction to the fundamentals of microeconomic theory I have ever come across.
  2. Other assigned readings will be on CANVAS. Assigned videos will be web-based, on CANVAS or You tube.
  3. A subscription to MOBLAB Premier is required (Premier subscription is US$25). You must use your SFU computing id as your login to MOBLAB.

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.