[ Wesleyan Home Page ] [ WesMaps Home Page ] [ WesMaps Archive ] [ Course Search ] [ Course Search by CID ]
Academic Year 2004/2005


The Economics of Organization
ECON 220 SP

Why do business firms or other organizations exist? Why do organizations undertake some activities internally and why do they contract other activities out to markets? Since Nobel Luareate Ronald Coase asked these questions in 1937, economists have put forward a variety of answers. This course examines some of these, including monitoring and measurement costs, moral hazard, asset specificity, and economic capabilities. The course will pay special attention to non-profit organizations and to the organization of networks of professionals (like doctors and lawyers).

MAJOR READINGS

Louis Putterman and Randall Kroszner, eds., THE ECONOMIC NATURE OF THE FIRM: A READER, New York: Cambridge University Press, second edition, paperback, 1996.
Journal articles to be announced, including many available on the web.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

One in-class mid-semester exam and a final exam.

Two assignments: Students will work in teams of two or three (depending on enrollment) to lead an in-class discussion from the readings in a professional seminar format. After the discussion, the same team will write a 3-5 page summary of the material and the questions that were raised in class.

Industry study/term paper: Students will each choose and industry, organization or profession -- current or historical -- and anlayze it using the concepts that we will learn during the semester.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD    Credit: 1    Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS ECON    Grading Mode: Student Option   

Prerequisites: ECON101 OR ECON110 Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-21-2005


Contact wesmaps@wesleyan.edu to submit comments or suggestions. Please include a url, course title, faculty name or other page reference in your email

Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459