Industrial Organization and Public Policy. An examination of monopolistic competition, oligopoly, and monopoly and questions of public policy in dealing with problems created by industrial concentration. Energy and Environmental Economics. Economic issues of both energy and environment. Energy issues include the historical development of energy resources, supply and demand considerations and projections of the future energy balance.
Environmental issues are externalities, common property resources and government regulation.
Policy considerations include environmental standards, pollution charges and property rights. Cost-benefit analysis and microeconomic theory are applied. Economic issues of public utilities, with emphasis on the theory and methods of rate-making and regulation. Work-Study Program in Economics. Prior to enrollment, plans for the student's work assignments in this course must be completed.