Courses can be arranged into three streams depending on the interests of the students.
- Students wishing to take Economics for general interest or to complete electives towards other majors or minors should take ECON 100, or ECON 211 and/or 212. One or more of these courses act as a prerequisite to third-year economics courses; check the third-year courses for prerequisite information.
- Students wishing to complete VIU’s Bachelor of Business Administration should check the Economics requirements for these programs.
- The course requirements for a BA Minor in Economics.
Course offerings vary from year to year. Check Generate a Timetable for available course offerings.
ECON 100 (3) Intro to Economics
An introduction to the basic tools and concepts of economics which provide a framework for analyzing, understanding and evaluating the economic issues which appear in our newspapers daily, e.g., inflation, unemployment, interest rates, government budgets, rent controls, marketing boards, etc. Credit will not be granted for ECON 100 if either ECON 211 or 212 has been taken previously. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: None.
ECON 211 (3) Principles of Microeconomic Theory (Ends Sep 2024)
An analysis of the institutions and processes involved with the production and distribution of goods and services. Topics include economic theories and applications dealing with demand, production, markets, prices, factors of production and the allocation of resources. CPA transfer available. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "C" in one of Principles of Math 12, Applications of Math 12, Foundations of Math 12, Pre-calculus 12, MATH 151, or MATH 065.
ECON 211 (3) Principles of Microeconomic Theory (Effective Sep 2024)
An analysis of the institutions and processes involved with the production and distribution of goods and services. Topics include economic theories and applications dealing with demand, production, markets, prices, factors of production and the allocation of resources. CPA transfer available. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "C" in one of Pre-Calculus 11, Foundations of Mathematics 11, Computer Science 11, or Computer Science 12.
ECON 212 (3) Principles of Macroeconomic Theory (Ends Sep 2024)
An analysis of the determinants, level, and fluctuations of national output, employment and prices. Topics include economic theories dealing with fiscal policy, monetary policy, economic growth and international trade. CPA transfer available. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "C" in one of Principles of Math 12, Applications of Math 12, Foundations of Math 12, Pre-calculus 12, MATH 151 or MATH 065.
ECON 212 (3) Principles of Macroeconomic Theory (Effective Sep 2024)
An analysis of the determinants, level, and fluctuations of national output, employment and prices. Topics include economic theories dealing with fiscal policy, monetary policy, economic growth and international trade. CPA transfer available. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "C" in one of Pre-Calculus 11, Foundations of Mathematics 11, Computer Science 11, or Computer Science 12.
ECON 214 (3) Canadian Economic Institutions and Problems
A study of the structure and organization of the Canadian economy, the problems that confront it and the options available for dealing with them. Special emphasis on current economic concerns. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 100 or ECON 211.
ECON 255 (3) Introduction to Mathematical Economics (Ends Sep 2024)
An introduction to the use of mathematical tools in economic analysis. This course concentrates on economic model building, matrix algebra, derivatives, and optimization (constrained and un-constrained). These techniques will be applied to examine and solve consumer behaviour, firm's production and cost, and allocation problems. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "C" in ECON 100, and min. "C" in one of Pre-calculus 12, Foundations of Math 12, MATH 151, or MATH 065.
ECON 255 (3) Introduction to Mathematical Economics (Effective Sep 2024)
An introduction to the use of mathematical tools in economic analysis. This course concentrates on economic model building, matrix algebra, derivatives, and optimization (constrained and un-constrained). These techniques will be applied to examine and solve consumer behaviour, firm's production and cost, and allocation problems. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "C" in ECON 100, and min. "C" in one of Pre-Calculus 11, Foundations of Mathematics 11, Computer Science 11, or Computer Science 12.
ECON 305 (3) Money, Banking and Financial Institutions
A discussion and analysis of money, banking and financial institutions from both theoretical and practical viewpoints. Topics include the supply of, and demand for money; monetary policy and macroeconomic stability; the operations of banks and other financial institutions in terms of overall management and specifically credit risk management. ECON 305 was formerly called ECON 205; credit will not be granted for both courses. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 211 and ECON 212.
ECON 306 (3) International Trade
A discussion and analysis of the theory and practice of international trade. Topics include the determinants of trade; the gains from trade; the political economy of protection; types of free trade arrangements; trade, growth and development; bilateral and multi-lateral trade disputes. Credit will only be granted for one of ECON 206. or ECON 306. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 211 and ECON 212.
ECON 309 (3) Managerial Economics
A detailed study of the economic models and statistical tools required to make decisions involving scarce resources. Topics include demand, production, cost estimation, regression analysis, and the use of business and government data for forecasting. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 211 and ECON 212.
ECON 311 (3) Intermediate Microeconomic Theory
An examination of the theories of consumer demand, cost and production. Topics include the firm under conditions of perfect competition, monopolistic competition and oligopoly, factor markets, distribution and welfare ecomomics. ECON 311 was formerly called ECON 352; credit will not be granted for both courses. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: MATH 121 or MATH 191 and a min. "C+" in in each of ECON 211 and ECON 212.
ECON 312 (3) Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
An examination of the theories of aggregate economic behaviour. Topics include the determination of national income, employment, consumption, investment, inflation, economic policy, growth and the business cycle. ECON 312 was formerly called ECON 353; credit will not be granted for both courses. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: MATH 121 or MATH 191 and a min. "C+" in in each of ECON 211 and ECON 212.
ECON 315 (3) Economics of Crime
An introduction to economics and econometric models towards explaining issues of crime and punishment. Deals with the economic approach of evaluating incentives and disincentives associated with criminal activity. Role of social factors and the criminal justice system in shaping policies set forth to deal with such crime is also examined. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: One of ECON 211, ECON 212, MGMT 292, third-year standing, or permission of instructor.
ECON 320 (3) Economic Development
An introduction to some of the economic problems faced by developing countries. Examines the problems of underdevelopment as well as the theories of development. Topics include human capital, natural resources, technology, environment and population growth, trade and capital flows, and how they relate to the development process. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 211 and ECON 212.
ECON 323 (3) Economies in Transition
A study of the problems facing Second and Third World countries in their transition to market-oriented economies. Topics include the organization, operation, performance, and overall effectiveness in the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 211 and ECON 212.
ECON 330 (3) Environmental Economics
Economic principles as applied to environmental questions associated with B.C. resource exploitation. The problem of spillovers to economic processes. Externalities and their management through economic institutions. Economic aspects of the use and conservation of the environment, particularly regarding energy, forestry, fisheries, mining, air and water. Problem of sustainable production, conservation, and possible limits to economic growth arising from scarcity of environmental resources. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 211 (ECON 212 recommended).
ECON 340 (3) Government Spending and Taxation
A discussion, review and assessment of economic issues and the microeconomic effects associated with government expenditures and taxation, with an emphasis on the Canadian experience. Topics include theory of public goods, concepts of efficiency and economic justice, income and wealth distribution, types of taxes and their incidence, cost-benefit analysis, and fiscal federalism. Application of public finance theory to current concerns such as education, medical care, and social services is emphasized. Credit will only be granted for one of ECON 240. or ECON 340. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 211 (ECON 212 recommended).
ECON 350 (3) Labour Economics
An economic analysis of Canadian labour market dynamics. Topics include the determination of wage rates under different market structures, the influence of the minimum wage on labour markets, workplace discrimination, employment equity policy, the role of unions, pay and productivity, labour mobility, and investment in human capital. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 211.
ECON 360 (3) The Transnational Corporation
A discussion and analysis of the transnational corporation (TNC) in a global environment. Topics include the emergence of the global economy, the role of the TNC, parent and subsidiary relationships, patterns and dynamics of trade, flows of direct and portfolio foreign investment, TNCs and the nation-state. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 211. ECON 212 recommended.
ECON 485 (3) Special Topics in Microeconomic Analysis
An advanced study of the application of microeconomic analysis. Topics include selected Canadian economic problems and policies in health care, education, interprovincial trade, government regulation and competition policy. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 309 or ECON 311. QUME 436 is recommended and may be taken concurrently.
ECON 486 (3) Special Topics in Macroeconomic Analysis
An advanced study of the application of macroeconomic analysis. Topics include selected Canadian economic problems and policies such as inflation, unemployment, economic growth, balance of payments, exchange rates, and the money supply. (3:0:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 312. QUME 436 is recommended and may be taken concurrently.
ECON 490 (3) Special Project in Economic Policy I
An in-depth investigation of a specific topic in economic policy to be decided upon by the student and supervising instructor. Final decision with respect to the topic rests with the instructor. Offered only in the Fall semester. Students should contact the Chair of the Economics department in the preceding Spring semester. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: Min. "C+" average in any four Economics courses 300-level and above.
ECON 491 (3) Special Project in Economic Policy II
An in-depth investigation of a well defined topic in economic policy to be decided upon by the student and supervising instructor. It is likely that the investigation will be empirical in nature and will require the use of a computer statistical package with emphasis placed on the analysis of regression results. Final decision with respect to the topic rests with the instructor. Offered in the Spring semester. (0:3:0)
Prerequisite: ECON 490.