2025-26 Catalog
Economics
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Go to: Division of History and Social Sciences
Faculty
Felipe Carrera
Industrial organization, applied microeconomics, economic history.
Erin Cottle Hunt
Macroeconomics, public finance, life-cycle economics. On sabbatical spring 2026.
Justas Dainauskas
International economics, macroeconomics.
Denise Hare
Economics of development, labor economics, economics of transition, China’s economy.
Noelwah R. Netusil
Environmental and natural resource economics, public sector economics, law and economics.
Michael Neubauer
Urban and spatial economics, labor economics, development economics.
Lindsey K. Novak
Development economics, health economics, economics of gender, behavioral economics.
Jonathan C. Rork
State and local public finance, urban and regional economics, microeconomic theory.
Curriculum
Economics is a study of the choices that individuals and societies make about how to allocate their scarce human, natural, and capital resources among competing uses. It is a social science, applying scientific methods of analysis to problems of human interaction.
Economics courses at Reed blend presentation of classical and modern economic theories with discussion of empirical tests and policy implications of the theoretical models. The objectives of the department are to equip prospective professional economists with basic analytical techniques and to provide nonspecialists with the understanding necessary to explain economic phenomena and to evaluate economic policy alternatives.
The introductory course (ECON 201 ) covers microeconomic theory with substantial and varied applications including student participation experiments, group projects, policy discussions, and problem-solving. Topical courses in economics (most of which have no more than ECON 201 as a prerequisite) allow students to explore further the application of economic theories and methods to a wide variety of subject areas. Although a textbook is sometimes used as the foundation for these courses, it is supplemented by reading from journal articles, conference papers, and other timely reports in order to provide students with a more critical appraisal of the field’s main findings and its newest developments.
Students typically begin our curriculum with ECON 201 (open to all students without prerequisite), followed by additional courses chosen according to their interests. Students considering a major in economics are advised to take ECON 201 during their first year, though many students successfully complete the major starting their economics coursework as sophomores.
Economics majors take core coursework in economic theory (ECON 313 and ECON 304 ) and statistics and econometrics (ECON 311 or ECON 312 ), as well as a selection of elective courses.
- ECON 311 and ECON 312 are alternative econometrics courses, not a consecutive sequence. Because there is considerable overlap between them, students should not plan to take both.
Although there is no formal mathematics requirement, the methods of modern economic analysis require a working understanding of calculus, which is a prerequisite for the required microeconomic theory course. Students considering graduate study in economics should take additional courses in mathematics as recommended below the program requirements. A concentration in quantitative economics is offered for students desiring more emphasis on quantitative analysis.
Economics majors are well prepared for a variety of postgraduate alternatives, including academic, public policy, law, private-sector, or nonprofit career paths.
ProgramsMajorsMinorsCoursesEconomics
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