This course is an undergraduate introduction to the Canadian economy. It will provide the student with a brief, comparative overview of the size and structure of the Canadian and American economies, a close look at how the Canadian economy evolved from a resource to a modern industrial economy and a detailed study of the structure and institutions which make up the Canadian economy. The roles and functions of money and the banking system are discussed. Various monetary theories and the influence of monetary policy on the state of the economy are examined. The philosophical and structural foundations of capitalism and democratic socialism are studied.
Emphasis is placed on a comparison of the American economy to the economies of other countries.
Topics studied include balance of trade, balance of payments and monetary systems. The topics covered by this course include the theoretical and empirical analysis of the economic causes of criminal behavior, the social costs of crime and its prevention and the design of law enforcement policies. This course examines the economic basis for legal decisions. Microeconomic theory is combined with an analysis of the law, with particular emphasis on case studies. Topics covered include the problems of defining property rights and the economics of tort, contract and criminal law.