Economics Programs (BA)

Chair
Lester Kwong

Professors Emeriti
Mohammed Dore, Zisimos Koustas, Felice Martinello, Roberta E. Robb

Professors
Robert W. Dimand, Diane P. Dupont, Joseph Kushner, Tomson Ogwang

Associate Professors
Xue Bai, Cornelius Christian, Andrew Dickens, Katerina Koka, Lester Kwong, Jean-Francois Lamarche, Ivan Medovikov, Andreas Marcel Oestreich, Ling Sun

Assistant Professors
Miguel Cardoso, Qian Liu, Teegawende Zeida, Taylor Wright

Lecturers

General Information

Administrative Assistant
Kelly Guembel

brocku.ca/economics

Economics is divided into two parts: Microeconomics and Macroeconomics. Microeconomics focuses on the operation of the market system under alternative scenarios about competition. It studies the economic decisions of individuals, households and firms and shows how those decisions interact to produce market outcomes. Microeconomics then examines the efficiency of the market outcomes and the extent to which they benefit society. Macroeconomics examines the functioning of the broader economy and some of its key sectors. Its main focus is on economic performance as measured by employment, unemployment, and the gap between aggregate economic activity and its potential. Through this analysis, macroeconomics identifies factors that help an economy achieve sustained increases in its standard of living. Macroeconomics also pays special attention to monetary phenomena, inflation, interest rates, and the exchange rate.

The analytical tools developed in micro and macro economics are applied to many different subject areas within economics such as industrial organization, labour economics, international trade, economic development, taxation, and government expenditure. Other fields, such as money and banking and international payments, apply economic tools to the study of financial markets. The analyses yield insights and predictions that are used to develop public policy on a wide range of issues.

The Economics (Honours) program provides a rigorous examination of economics. It prepares students for positions in all sectors of the economy and it is the recommended program for students considering graduate studies in economics. The Bachelor of Arts (BA) with Major Economics program also provides an in-depth study of economics, but it allows for more choice and breadth since it does not require some of the more technical senior level Economics courses. The pass Economics program covers the core topics in economics and allows students to complete a BA after completing only 15 credits.

Economics and Labour Studies-George Brown College

This program involves courses offered through Brock University and George Brown College. This four-year program combines courses and training in applied labour studies settings at George Brown College with a degree at Brock. The program caters to individuals who wish to have a career in a wide variety of areas including unionized environments, occupational health and safety, politics, or human resources. The program allows students to gain both solid applied skills in these areas, and a strong theoretical knowledge about a variety of these topics. Students who successfully complete the requirements for this program will be granted both a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Economics and Labour Studies degree from Brock, and two certificates from George Brown College 1) a certificate in Contemporary Labour Perspectives from the George Brown School of Labour, and 2) a Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management. Gaining both a degree and these certificates would ordinarily involve attending college after gaining a university degree, but the Brock and George Brown program combines the two in a single integrated package. Applicants must have a minimum 70 percent overall average to be considered for admission to the program. Completion of the Brock Leadership Skills Certificate program is considered an asset. Successful applicants must maintain a minimum 70 percent overall average during Year 2 and meet other program requirements to continue in the program. Enrolment in this program is limited. Admission to the program is not guaranteed by attainment of the minimum requirements. Application forms for the Economics and Labour Studies program are available at brocku.ca/social-sciences/collaborative-programs

Please consult the Labour Studies entry for a listing of program requirements.

Program Notes

1. ECON 1P91  and ECON 1P92  may be taken concurrently or in either order.
2. In 20 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least three credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
   
   In this 20 credit BA with Major degree program a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least four and one-half credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; at least one and one-half credits must be numbered 3(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
   
   In 15 credit degree programs a maximum of eight credits may be numbered 1(alpha)00 to 1(alpha)99; at least three credits must be numbered 2(alpha)90 or above; and the remaining credits must be numbered 2(alpha)00 or above.
   
   In some circumstances, in order to meet university degree and program requirements, more than 15 or 20 credits may be taken.