SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Department of
Economics
Course: Economics 409W-3 Semester: Summer 2018
Title: Seminar in
Economic Thought Instructor: Prof. L. A. Boland
Prerequisites: ECON 301 and 305, or permission
of the department, 60 credit hours.
This is a Writing intensive class
Course
Description:
This is a seminar in the
history of economic thought with emphasis on the
requirements of equilibrium models. It is also a Writing-Intensive
course which means writing will play a central role in the conduct of the
seminar. In addition to discussing the textbook,
we will discuss various articles about knowledge and information in economic
theory. A term-paper will be a major concern from the first class onward. The
first class will involve the discussion of Part I of Joseph Schumpeter’s famous
History of Economic Analysis. We will
not be using his entire book so it will not be required or recommended reading
beyond a few paragraphs of that first part. The
importance of his first part is that he sets out what will be the rules for
writing the required term-paper. So, it is extremely important that every student
interested in taking this class be in attendance during the first class which
is the whole first week. I will be sending everyone a list of articles from
which you will be choosing one as the topic for your subsequent term paper. You
will spend the whole semester doing research on your chosen paper. Each student
will have a different paper so it is important that you attend the first class
where you will be choosing your paper. If you cannot attend the first class, it would
be wise to not sign up for this class.
Since
this course is a seminar, there will be no lectures. All classroom time will be
devoted to student presentations and discussion of the assigned reading
material. Beyond the textbook – Equilibrium Models in
Economics (see below) – the primary readings for
classroom presentations will come from a list of articles that will be
provided at the beginning of the semester.
Since
this is a seminar, grades will be based on in-class presentations, the quantity
and quality of contributions to classroom discussion throughout the semester, a
possible final exam and, above all, the term-paper. The term paper and related
writing assignments will be the main object for writing intensity and so will
be assigned 50% of the maximum possible
points that form the basis for the course grade. Presentations, contributions
and the possible final exam will be assigned the other 50% of the maximum possible points that can be
earned during the semester.
Attendance at first class of the semester May 9th
should be considered mandatory!
More information available at my web page: http://www.sfu.ca/~boland
and I can always be reached by e-mail at boland@sfu.ca