COURSE DESCRIPTION

[BS IN ECONOMICS PROGRAM]

REQUIRED GED COURSES

BUS 1102

INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS 

The objective of this course is to develop basic business concepts with current business practice. This course will help students to take preparation for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. It will introduce the major functional areas of business such as management, human resources, marketing, finance, accounting etc. This will help students to gain knowledge about the core of business and also to choose their careers in specific functional areas.

Required Text:

• Steven J. Skinner, and John M. Ivancevich. Business for the 21^st Century, Irwin, 2003.

CST 1206 

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS

This course combines the concept of class room training with the convenience of computer based learning to introduce students to computer fundamentals, hardware and software. Particular attention is paid to computing, information structures, Internet, World Wide Web, text, spreadsheets, images, sound and video.

Required Text:

• Introduction to Computers, 6^th Edition. Peter Norton, McGraw- Hill.

ECO  1303

MATHEMATICS FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS - I

Study of how to apply matrices , Jacobian determinants, partial derivatives, optimization both with and without constraints for explaining microeconomic and macroeconomic theories in static context.  Topics include theory of consumer behavior, theory of production, general equilibrium in goods and factor markets, national income equilibrium, and analysis of international trade issues.  Topics such as comparative analysis, linear programming, and duality are also introduced.

Required Text:

• A. C. Chiang. Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics, McGraw-Hill, London: 1984.
• T. Yamane.  Mathematics for Economists: An Elementary Survey, Prentice Hall, New Delhi: 1973

ECO 1334

STATISTICS FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS I

Topics include introduction to statistics; collection, processing and presentation of statistical data; measures of central tendency; measures of dispersion; graphical methods; elementary probability theories; discrete & continuous random variables; normal distribution, central limit theorem; index numbers; simple correlation and regression analysis; sampling distribution; components of time series.

Required Text:

• Wonnacott and Wonnacott.  Introductory Statistics, Wiley and Sons, New York: 1985
• Harnett and Murphy.  Introductory Statistical Analysis. Addison-Wesley, 1971
• T. Yamane.  Statistics: An Introductory Analysis, Harper and Row, 1967

ENG 1101

BASIC ENGLISH

This course is design to focus on the students’ writing skills mainly the common mistakes in writing sentences. They will also learn the basics of paragraph writing. Emphasis will be given on: subject/verb agreement, sentence structure, sentence classification, tense, clause, fragment, run-ons, modifiers, parallelism, conditionals, modals, reading skill, vocabulary building, speaking, and paragraph writing.

Required Text:

• Charles K. Ogden, and K. Paul, Basic English: A General Introduction With Rules and Grammar. Trench Trubner & Co. Ltd. 1933.
• Bonnie L. Walker, Basic English Composition, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2003.

ENG 1204  

COMPOSITION AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS  

This course is designed to make students better readers and writers by developing analytical reading skills, and enabling to write with fluency, coherence, and effectiveness. To achieve this, students will be reading often and writing frequently and extensively. To improve communication skill, students will have listening and presentation sessions. Some of the specific areas will be reviewed during the semester: writing process; paragraph writing; organizing an essay; editing techniques; writing summary and précis; writing job application and curriculum vitae; different patterns of essay and paragraph which include: description, narration, process, comparison and contrast, cause and effect, argumentation; presentation skills; reading skill; and vocabulary building.

Required Text:

• John Langan. College Writing Skills with Readings, 6^th Edition., McGraw Hill. 

BUS 3226

BANGLADESH STUDIES 

This course depicts the socioeconomic profile of Bangladesh. Topics include descriptions of agriculture, industry, and service sector; Market –based reforms and Good Governance in Bangladesh; Demographic patterns; Social and physical infrastructures; Social stratification and power; Government and NGO activities in socioeconomic development; National issues and policies; and changing society of Bangladesh.

Required Text:

• A.N.M. Shawkat Ali.  Bangladesh Civil Service: A Political-Administrative Perspective, Dhaka, UPL, 2004.

·  Rounaq Jahan,.  Bangladesh Politics: Problems and Issues, UPL, Dhaka,1980

·  Nurul Islam.  Making of a Nation Bangladesh: An economist’s Tale, UPL, 2004

·  Binayak Sen, ‘Politics of Poverty Alleviation’ in Centre for Policy Dialogue, Crisis of Governance: A review of Bangladesh’s Development 1997, UPL, Dhaka.

OPTIONAL GED COURSES

ACN 1205

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING I 

The objective of this introductory course is to provide the students with basic understanding of the principles and concepts of accounting as well as their applicability and relevance in real-world situation. The course incorporates the following topics: conceptual framework for financial accounting; basic objectives and nature of accounting; accounting equation; the accounting process: double-entry recoding process, the accounting cycle: journalizing,  posting to the ledger, preparation of trial balance; accounting information systems and special journals: control accounts and subsidiary ledgers; special journals; preparation of work sheet, adjustments, closing entries, post closing trial balance, reversing entries, preparing the financial statements.

Required Text:

• Jerry J. Weygandth, Donald E. Kieso, and Paul D. Kimmel. Accounting Principles, 8^th Edition, John Wiley and sons, 2006.

MAT 1300

Basic Mathematics

Study of basic mathematical concepts and tools such as functions, limits and continuity, technique of differentiation, maxima and minima of functions. Point of inflection, function of two or more variables. System of Linear equations and Matrices. Permutation and Combination, Binomial Theorem.

Required Text:

• Philip A. Schmidt, Frank Ayres.  Schaum’s Outline of Theory and Problems of College Mathematics, McGraw-Hill Professional, 2003
• A. C. Chiang. Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics, McGraw-Hill, London: 1984.
• College Mathematics for Business, Economics, Life Sciences and Social Sciences 

ITR 2214

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The covers fundamental theories of international relations and international politics; elements of national, regional, local power and prestige; historical analysis of the beginning of the cold war, trends of that war and the outcomes; internationally important incidents occurred from the later part of 19^th century to till date; International diplomatic trends and their impact on Bangladesh. War and peace efforts in post-cold war world are also a prime focus with a special reference of the diplomatic operations of Bangladesh. 

Required Text:

• Ho-Won Jeong. Understanding Conflict and Conflict Analysis, Sage Publications Ltd, 2008
• Philip David McMichael, Geoffrey Cowan and Nicholas J. Cull. Public Diplomacy in a Changing World, Sage Publications, Inc, 2008

MGT 1307 

PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT 

This course aims at providing students with the knowledge of the fundamentals of management. It includes: Meaning and Importance of Management; Evolution of Management thought; Decision making process; environmental impact on management; Corporate social responsibility; Basic functions of management - Planning; setting objectives; Implementing plans; Organizing; Organization design; Human resource management: Direction; Motivation; Leadership; Managing work groups; Controlling: Control principles; Process; and problems; Managers and Changing Environment.

Required Text:

• Ricky W. Griffin. Management, 8^th Edition., Houston Mifflin Company, Boston New York.

PSY 2217 

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY  

Study of human behavior, and personality with special reference to perception, learning, memory, thinking, emotional life, and individual difference in intelligence, aptitude. This course also explores abnormal behavior, their causes and possible solution (therapy).

Required Text:

• Feldmen, R.S.  Understanding Psychology, 8^th ed. McGraw Hill, 2008

·  Coon, D., and J. Mitterer. Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior, 11th ed. (with supplements), Wadsworth (Thompson Learning), 2007.

HRM 4357

INDUSTRIAL PSYCHOLOGY

The course includes causation in behavior in industry and the variables affecting it. It emphasizes on preliminary concept like behavior; its causation; attitudes and perception and frustration; personnel selection and training; industrial counseling, morale, safety, industrial accidents and other variables affecting productivity of individual.

• Spector P.E. Industrial and Organizational Psychology, John Wiley & Sons, Inc (1st Edition),. 1996.
• Schultz D. and Schultz S.E. Psychology and Work Today (7^th Edition),. 1998 

SOC 1311

EASTERN CULTURE AND HERITAGE

The subject includes brief introduction of the cultural patterns and major ancient civilization of eastern part of the world. The specific goal is to make the students familiar with the different cultures, religious, scholarly philosophies and heritage of eastern region. Basic ideas about all the major religions are also a tool here to clarify the ideological heritage of eastern civilizations. Along with this, students would be introduced to the socio-cultural patterns of the subcontinent with special reference to Bangladesh.

Required Texts:

·  Cowan, Andrew Reid. A Guide to World History, Longmans, Green and Company, New York, 1923.  

·  Donald Kagan, Steven Ozment, and Frank M. Turner,The Western Heritage (Seventh Edition), Prentice-Hall, Inc. 2001.

ENV 3127

ECOLOGICAL SYSTEM & ENVIRONMENT

Topics include: Understanding environment through a systematic method, issues regarding the patterns of environmental pollution, use and abuse of natural resources, population and ecology, abundance control, community diversity and other man-made establishment with their impact, biodiversity and the loss of it, air pollution, water pollution, climate change with a global and local outlook, ethical issues concerning controlling pollution.

Required Text:

• Susan Buckingham(ed). Understanding Environmental Issues, Sage Publications Ltd; 2008. 
• Gurdeep R. Chatwal and Harish Sharma. A Text Book of Environmental Studies : Environmental Sciences, Delhi, Himalaya Publishing, 2004

SOC 1310

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

The motto here is to introduce the students to the key sociological concepts, existing social institutions and burning social problems with special references to Bangladesh. The students will also be familiar with the cultural settings of a society both in a global and local fraternity. They will be introduced to the different patterns and methods of social research with practical guideline. They are expected to have a sociological imagination to analyze socio-cultural trends with reliability and validity.

Required Texts:  

• Giddens, Anthony Sociology (4^th edition);; Blackwell Publishers, 2001.
• Crompton, Rosemary. Class and Stratification: An Introduction to Current Debates; (2^nd edition),; 1998; Polity Press, Cambridge.

PAM 2213

INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The subject includes definition, nature and scope of public administration. It also discusses the intellectual background, paradigms, theories and approaches to understand public administration. It further analyzes the contents of public administration; major concepts of public administration; issues regarding leadership, bureaucracy, management and decision making; behavioral management theory and integrating perspective of management.

Required Text:

• Evan M. Berman and Jack Rabin (ed). Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy, Second Edition, (Three Volume Set), CRC Press, USA., 2007
• B Guy Peters, and Jon Pierreb. Handbook of Public Administration, Sage Publications Ltd; 2007.

MKT 2320 

INTRODUCTION TO MARKETING 

The course introduces the role and functions of marketing; evolution of marketing as a science; elements of marketing mix; analyzing marketing environment and functions; defining products; regulation of prices and competition; principles of distribution; role and functions of promotion; marketing of services; marketing of  industrial goods; cooperative marketing; measuring marketing efficiency, marketing audit.

Required Text:

• Philip Kotler, Gary Armstrong.  Principles of Marketing, 11^th Edition, Prentice Hall.

FIN 3123 

MANAGERIAL FINANCE

This is the course that starts from where the basic finance course ends. This course is intended to provide an overview of the remaining areas of financial management. After completing the course students are expected to understand how to manage the current assets and current liabilities of business originations and what is involved in policy decisions regarding capital structure and payout ratios. The topics that are to be covered in this course are management of working capital, management of cash, accounts receivables, inventories & accounts payables, payout policies, capital structure & lease financing.

ENV 3227

FUNDAMENTALS OF NATURAL SCIENCE   

This course is designed to introduce the students with the basic ideas of our daily life science. The course consists of three basic areas of science, i.e. Basic Chemistry, Basic Physics, and Basic Biology. Basic Physics consists of elementary physics, magnetism, properties of light, electricity and properties of heat. Basic Chemistry consists of introduction to chemistry, molecular properties, chemical formulas and names, chemical bonding, acids and bases, oxidation and reductions, organic chemistry and metals. Basic Biology consists of cells, food and diet, variation, heredity and genetics, the balance of nature, ecology and ecosystems, pollution and conservation.

Required Text:

• Konard Bates Krauskopf, and Arthur Beiser, Fundamentals of Physical Science, McGraw-Hill, 1971. 
• Contributor Alessandro Mirelli, and Giancarlo Contrfatto, Biological Science Fundamentals, EOLSS Publishers Co. Ltd. 2007.
• Lotta Jean Bogert, Fundamentals of Chemistry, W. B. Saunders Company, 1924.

ECN 3230

ECONOMIC GEOGRAPHY 

This course is designed to orient the students with the changing locations and spatial patterns of economic activity. Topics include world climate; classification of regions and economic development; locations of energy, mineral, and water resources; production in agriculture, manufacturing, and services; and spatial economic principles of trade, transportation, communications, and corporate organization 

Required Text:

• Gordon L. Clark, Maryann P. Feldman, and Meric S. Gertler. The Oxford Handbook of Economic Geography, Net Library Inc. 2000. 
• Richard B. Le Heron, and James W. Harrington, New Economic Spaces: New Economic Geographies. Ashgate Publisher Ltd. 2005. 

ECONOMICS CORE AND CONCENTRATION COURSES

ECO 1301

INTRODUCTION TO MICROECONOMICS

ECO 1301 provides an introduction to the basic nature of economics at the level of individual economic agents; primarily consumers and business firms.  Topics covered include the analysis of supply and demand and market equilibria; household decisions regarding demands for consumption goods and services and supplies of labor; and business decisions regarding supply of outputs and demand for factor inputs such as labor and capital.

Particular emphasis is placed on the role of prices and markets in allocating resources, economic relationship between costs and productivity, alternative market structures such as perfect competition, monopoly and various models of imperfect competition, the theory of labor market and income distribution, and the economics of information.

Required Text:

• Edward K Browning and Mark Zupan. Microeconomic Theory and Applications.  John Wiley & Sons, 2002.
• N. Gregory Mankiw.  Essentials of Economics,  (Third Edition), Thomson- South-Western,  2004.

ECO 1302

INTRODUCTION TO MACROECONOMICS

ECO 1302 intends to acquaint the students with the basic concepts of macroeconomic theory and to provide them with an understanding of how the overall economy works and what the likely consequences of various macro policies are.  Topics covered include definition and measurement of macro aggregates such as national output, unemployment, inflation, consumption, investment, export, import, balance of payments, national budget etc., identification of their determinants, and interrelationship amongst them.  Macroeconomics also examines how public policies impact upon the macro aggregates.

The working of the overall economy is examined both in the context of short-run and long-run.  Thus a good part of the course is devoted to the study of short-run fluctuations in macro aggregates and how macro policies can stabilize the economy against adverse swings in these aggregates.  An equally important issue discussed in macroeconomics is the determinant of long-run economic growth and the role of public policy in steering the economy through such a growth path.  In both these time frames, the analysis incorporates the role of the external sector and links with the international economy in influencing both stability and growth of individual economies.

Required Text:

• N. Gregory Mankiw.  Macroeconomics,  Worth Publisher, 2007

• Campbell R. McConnel and Stanley L. Brue, Macroeconomics: Principles, Problems, and Policies ,(15^th edition), McGraw-Hill, 2000.

ECO 1374

STATISTICS FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS II

The course covers further topics in descriptive statistics; probability theory and application; Baye’s theorem; bivariate probability; statistical inference; tests of hypotheses; analysis of variance; simple liner regression and correlation; multiple linear regression; testing the goodness of fit; decision theory; application of permutations & combination in probability; discrete probability distribution: binomial & poisson distribution, interval estimation, survey sampling method, one-way & two-way anova, time series techniques: moving average, weighted moving average, seasonally adjusted moving average, simple exponential smoothing, autoregressive models, etc.

Required Text:

• Mendenhall. Introduction to Probability and Statistics, Duxbury Press, Boston: 1993
• Mason and Lind R. D. Mason.  Statistical Techniques in Business and Economics, Irwin, Boston : 1972
• Mills.  Statistics for Applied Economics and Business, McGraw-Hill, NY: 1977

ECO 2301 

INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMIC THEORY I

This is a follow-up course to ECO 1301.  Topics include analysis of consumption theory with the use of indifference curve that also extends to cover intertemporal consumption and costs of information.  On production side, topics covered are the theory of production and cost, the birth of the firm, different types of markets in terms of structures and behavior, and introductory game theory.  Price determination in factor markets, general equilibrium analysis, introductory welfare economics and market failures are also covered.

Required Text:

• A. Koutsoyiannis.  Modern Microeconomics,  Macmillan Press Ltd., 1979
• W. J. L. Ryan and D. W. Pearce.  Price Theory, 
• H. Varian.  Microeconomic Theory

ECO 2302 

INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMIC THEORY I

This is a follow-up course to ECO 1302.  Topics covered are: determination of equilibrium in product market, money market, and foreign exchange market with the use of IS-LM-BP model, as well as changes in equilibrium.  It also studies interaction of product market and labor market, the model of aggregate demand and aggregate supply in closed and open economies.  Other topics covered are inflation, unemployment, the Phillips curce, stabilization policies, growth theory, New Keynesian economics and the real business cycle theory.  Application of macroeconomic theory to analyze economic situations are also included.

Required Text:

• R. Dornbusch, S. Fisher, and S. Richard.  Macroeconomics, McGraw-Hill, 2000
• William H. Branson. Macroeconomic Theory and Policy, Harper & Row, 1989.

ECO 2303

MATHEMATICS FOR BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS II

Application of mathematical tools such as integrals, calculus, differential equation and difference equations for explaining dynamic economic phenomena as well as locating time path and stability of variables in the context of both microeconomics and macroeconomics.  A study of dynamic input-output models is also covered.

Required Text:

• A. C. Chiang. Fundamental Methods of Mathematical Economics, McGraw-Hill, London: 1984.
• T. Yamane.  Mathematics for Economists: An Elementary Survey, Prentice Hall, New Delhi: 1973
• Edward T. Doeling.  Introduction to Mathematical Economics, McGraw-Hill, London: 1992.

ECO 2360

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE ECONOMICS

The course aims at exploring and examining human relationship between with environment in developing countries with special emphasis on Bangladesh.  Topics covered include surveys of the economic, cultural, social and political aspects of human population dynamics, food resources and hunger, mineral and energy resources, land and water pollution, wilderness and wildlife resources, urban and rural land usage, and toxic waste management from environmental and conservation view points.  The course evaluates government policies on above issues.  It also makes recommendations and probes possible solutions to contemporary resource and environmental problems of Bangladesh.

Required Text:

• Tom Tietenberg.  Environmental and Resource Economics,  Pearson/Addison Wesley, 2005
• Jon M. Conrad. Resource Economics, Cambridge University Press, 1999
• Henk Folmer, H. Landis Gabel.  Principles of Environmental and Resource Economics: A Guide for Students,  E. Elgar, 1995.

ECO 3303 

INTERMEDIATE MICROECONOMIC THEORY II

This is a follow-up course of ECO 2301.  It is a study microeconomic theory with an emphasis on utilizing mathematical tools to analyze various economic issues, such as consumer behavior, revealed preferences, intertemporal consumption, consumption and risk, and theory of production and cost.  Topics covered also include market structures and behavior, game theory, factor markets, general equilibrium and welfare economics, and impacts of externalities and public goods, and asymmetric information on level of welfare.

Required Text:

• J. M. Henderson, R. E. Quandt.  Microeconomic Theory: A Mathematical Approach, McGraw-Hill Kogakusha Ltd, 1971
• W. Breit,  Harold M. Hochman(ed). Readings in Microeconomics,  Dryden Press, 1971

ECO 3304

INTERMEDIATE MACROECONOMIC THEORY II

This is a follow-up course to ECO 2302(Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory I).  The purpose of the course is to deepen the understanding of the students with respect to the working of the macro economy and its interface with macro policy.

The course begins with a brief review of the basic macroeconomic concepts and the Aggregate Demand-Supply model.  The core material is divided into three components: (a) Inter temporal economics, (b) Monetary economics, and (c) Output determination, stabilization and growth.  Consumption, savings and investment theories are discussed in detail under the first component.  Monetary economics deals mainly with the demand for money, and the interrelationship of money, exchange rate and prices.  The last component presents an advanced exposition of output determination model in the IS-LM framework, and also covers stabilization issues relating to link between inflation and unemployment, business cycle theories and theories of growth.

Required Text:

• Jeffrey D Sachs and Felipe Larrian B. Macroeconomics in the Global Economy

  Prentice Hall, 1993

• William J. Branson Macroeconomic Theory and Policy, Hraper & Row, 1989
• Amitava Bose, Debraj Ray, and Abhirup Sarkar.  Contemporary Macroeconomics, Oxford University Press, 2001.
• R. Dornbusch, S. Fischer, and S. Richard.  Macroeconomics,  McGraw-Hill, 2000.

ECO 3310

MONEY AND BANKING

The course is an introduction to the monetary system.  Topics include understanding money, macroeconomic role of money, the role of the banking system in the functioning of monetary policy, principles of managing commercial banks, efficient loan portfolio management, the theory, functions and role of the central bank.

Required Text:

• Frederic S. Mishkin.  The Economics of Money, Banking, and Financial Markets, Harper Collins College Publications, 1995
• Miller, R. L. and Pulsinelli, R. W. Modern Money and Banking, McGraw-Hill, Singapore, 1985
• David R. Kamerschen.  Money and Banking, South-Western Pub. Co., 1992

ECO 3314

PUBLIC FINANCE: REVENUE

The course introduces the basic principles of taxation from an economic rather than an accounting perspective.  The themes of the course are the incidence and efficiency of taxes – who ends up paying a tax and how people change their behavior to avoid a tax.

Required Text:

• Harvey S. Rosen.  Public Finance (seventh ed.) , McGraw-Hill, 2005
• Edward K. Browning and Jacquelene M. Browning.  Public Finance and the Price System, (fourth ed.), Macmillan Publishing Company,  1994

• Joseph E. Stigtlitz.  Economics of the Public Sector (third ed.), W. W. Norton & Company, 2000.

ECO 3315

PUBLIC FINANCE:  EXPENDITURE

This course analyzes the determinants and properties of government expenditures and social regulation. The first part of the course is generic: It adresses efficiency and equity in income redistribution; the provision of public goods; coping with externalities, addiction and risk; and voting and bureaucracy. The second part of the course is particular: It examines health policy, education policy, statutory pensions, and welfare policy in a comparative international context. 

Required Text:

Joseph E. Stigtlitz.  Economics of the Public Sector (third ed.), W. W. Norton & Company 2000.

Edward K. Browning and Jacquelene M. Browning.  Public Finance and the Price System, (fourth ed.), Macmillan Publishing Company,  1994

Harvey S. Rosen.  Public Finance (seventh ed.) , McGraw-Hill, 2005

ECO 3328

INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND FINANCE

This course intends to examine the functioning of international economy.  More specifically, it aims at providing the learners with a reasonable degree of understanding of

a.  the principles that govern world trade and investment;

b.  the factors that determine the direction of trade;

c.  the effects of various policies that obstruct the free flow of trade;

d.  regional and international organizations that are designed to promote orderly

functioning of the trading system; and

e, international financial relations.

Topics to be taught in this course include foundations of modern trade theory;  sources of comparative advantage; tariff and non-tariff barriers to international trade; trade policies for the developing nations; balance of payments and foreign exchange market; exchange rate adjustments and balance of payments; international banking, reserves, debts, and risk.

Required Texts:

·  Mordechai E. Krenin.  International Economics: A Policy Approach,  The Dryden Press, Harcourt College Publishers, 1998.

·  Robert J. Carbaugh.  International Economics, Thomson South-Western, 2004.

·  Bo Sodersten.  International Economics,  Palgrave Macmillan, 1994

ECO 3350 

DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS

This course is designed to give the students a broad exposure to the dynamics of the process of growth and development and the problems and issues it generates.  Topics include meaning and indicators of economic development, basic correlates of the growth process that include poverty and income distribution, sustainable development, foreign aid dependence, agricultural transformation and rural development, international trade and the new international economic order, structural adjustment policies, political economy of good governance, etc.

Required Text:

• Michael P. Todaro.  Economic Development in the Third World, Longman Publishing Group, 1981
• Gerald M. Meier.  Leading Issues in Economic Development, Oxford University Press, 2005

ECO 3360 

SOCIOECONOMIC PROFILES OF BANGLADESH 

The objective of the course is to acquaint the students with the current status of Bangladesh in major areas of economic and social development.  The course will focus on the country’s achievements in each of these areas, the problems and constraints that need to be addressed and the desirable direction of future policies.  Topics covered include (a) income and growth as indicators of welfare, (b) level and growth in income in Bangladesh – the underlying factors, (c) structural change of GDP in terms of national income equation and sectoral contribution, (d) fiscal policy, budget deficit and inflation, (e) financial sector – banks and the capital market, (f) external trade – performance and policies (g) macroeconomic dimensions of aid dependence, (h) trends and policy imperatives for poverty alleviation, (i) safety net programs,  (j) education and health (k) population dynamics, and (l) unemployment.

Required Text:

• Bangladesh Bank, Policy Analysis Unit. Monetary Policy Review,  bi-annual
• Bangladesh Bank.  Financial Sector Review, bi-annual
• Bangladesh Bank.  Bangladesh Bank Bulletin, quarterly
• Ministry Finance, Finance Department.  Bangladesh Economic Review, yearly
• World Bank.  Various sector policy review
• CPD.  Independent Review of Bangladesh Economy

ECO 3372

BASIC ECONOMETRICS

Application of statistical and economic theories in analyzing economic data including parameter estimation using ordinary least squares(OLS) technique and hypothesis testing.  Coverage of study involves single and multiple regressions.  Other estimation techniques such as generalized least square(GLS) and comparison between various techniques and the use of computer application in practice are also covered.

Required Text:

• D. N. Gujarati.  Basic Econometrics (Third edition Edition), McGraw-Hill, 1995
• J. Johnston.  Econometric Methods (Third Edition), McGraw-Hill, 1984.
• G. S. Maddala.  Econometrics(Second edition), McGraw-Hill, New York: 1977

ECO 4328

GLOBALIZATION AND HISTORY

Globalization after 1492: first globalization boom 1800-1914, autarkic retreat 1914-1950, second globalization boom since 1950. Uses history to explore sources and impact of world market integration, emerging global capital markets, and mass migrations. Does going global foster growth? Who gains and who loses? Why doesn’t more capital flow to poor countries? Why don’t more poor people migrate? Who votes for protection? Who votes for migration restriction?  The course will help students answer these question.

Required Text:

·  Kevin H. O’rourke. Globalization and History: The Evolution of a Nineteenth-Century Atlantic Economy,  MIT Press 

·   Jurgen Osterhammel.  Globalization, Princeton University Press 

ECO 4375

HISTORY OF ECONOMIC THOUGHT

The course is a study of the development of economic thoughts starting from the pre-classical period up to the late twentieth century.  Topics covered are agriculture related doctrines, mercantilism, classics, neoclassic, Keynesian, socialism, post-Keynesian, and institutional economics.  Emphasis is given to the underlying philosophies, their essences, and the influences of economic problems on evolution of economic thoughts in each period.

Required Text:

• E. K. Hunt.  History of Economic Ideas – A Critical Perspective,  Wadsworth, California, 1976. 
• Gerald M. Meier, Joseph E. Stiglitz.  Frontiers of Development Economics: The Future in Perspective, World Bank and Oxford University Press, 2000 
• Ekelund and Hebert.  A  History of Economic Theory and Method, McGraw-Hill, 1983. 

ECO 4390

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The objective of the course is to make the students familiar with the art of using different research methods and techniques.  Topics include the technique of defining a research problem, various research design and their characteristics, describing different measurement and scaling techniques, methods of  collection, processing and analysis of data, sampling fundamentals, and the theory of estimaton

Required Text:

• C. R. Kothari.  Research Methodology:  Methods and Techniques(Second Edition), New Age International Publisher,2004
• Gideon Sjoberg. Methodology of Social Research, HarperCollins, 1968
• H. M. Blalock and N. B. Blalock. Methodology in Social Research, McGraw-Hill, 1971
• Kumer, Ranjit.  Research methodology : a step-by-step guide for beginners (second ed.),  SAGE Publications, 2005.
• Jain, Mahesh K. Research methodology and statistical evaluation,  ( New Delhi, India) Shree Publishers, 2005

ECO 4395

GUIDED RESEARCH

In this course, each student will write a research monograph on a topic of his/her choice.  She/he will be supervised by a faculty.  It is expected that in this research s/he will be able to synthesize a research problem. 

OPEN ELECTIVE ECOI COURSES

ECO 3316 

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS AND AGRIBUSINESS

Topics include - The Farm and Food System. Consumer Behavior and Demand. Producer Decision Making: Single-Variable Input Functions. Producer Decision Making: Two-Variable Inputs and Enterprise Selection. Production Costs, Supply, and Price Determination. Competition and the Market. Imperfect Competition and Market Regulation. Financial Picture of Agriculture. Agricultural Price and Income Policies. Marketing Agricultural Commodities. Natural Resources. Rural Development. International Economics. Agriculture's Role in Economic Development. Global Food Demand and Supply.  

Required Text :

·  Drumond, H Evan.  Agricultural Economics, (second ed.), Prentice Hall, 2004

·  Cramer, Gail L. Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, (eighth ed.), John Wiley, 2001

·  Milton Snoddgrass,  Luther T. Wallace.  Agriculture, Economics and Resource Management,  Prentice-Hall 1980.

ECO 3317 

THE UNDERGROUND ECONOMY

ECO 317 is the study of all commerce (or, transactions of economic value) on which applicable taxes are evaded with special reference to Bangladesh.  It includes not only the legally prohibited commerce(for example, drugs, prostitution, and gambling), but also trade in legal goods and services because some income is not reported and consequently taxation is evaded.  Topics covered include the origins, size, structure, and operation of the ‘underground’ sectors of modern economies, and their consequences.  Special emphasis will be given on trade in internationally contraband items like guns and drugs, and money laundering through the world financial system.

Required Text:

• Christopher Bajada, Friedrich Schneider.  Size, Causes And Consequences of the Underground Economy:  An International Perspective, Ashgate Publishing Ltd., 2005
• Owen Lippert, Michael Walker.  The Underground Economy: Global Evidence of its Size and Impact,  Fraser Institute, 2007

ECO 3329

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND TRADE NEGOTIATION

ECN 3329 is a study of the international trade negotiations and controls in the form of trade agreements, in terms of both bilateral and multilateral aspects, regionalism and trade blocks, and the role of supernational organizations such as World Trade Organization in world trade.  Topics covered also include international disputes in trade of goods and services as well as trade related investment, and international negotiations and regulations relevant to developing countries.  Case studies of trade regulations in practice are also discussed.

Text Required:

• Joeph E. Stiglitz.  Trade for All: how Trade can Promote Development,  Oxfrd University Press, 2005.

ECO 3353