Course Description

How does imposing mandatory jail sentences make certain types of people more likely to be victims of crime? How does your name help determine your salary? When is it optimal to stop searching for a romantic partner, and why do many marriages end in termination? According to economic theory, the choices that we all make result from complicated optimization problems that we solve constantly. In this course, we will use basic economic theory, economic models, and empirical evidence to explain the mechanisms underlying the important yet mundane decisions that we and others make that affect our lives. We will employ the use of lecture, class discussion, podcasts, and webinars to cover issues in topics such as crime, marriage and family, gender and race, education, health, and the environment. Lecture (plus questions). Facilitated Discussion.  Viewing Videos.