Economics 113, Fall 2006

Sections 101 & 103

David R. Agrawal, GSI

Main Course Web Page:

Professor Olney, Department of Economics

Econ 113 Home Page

Section Syllabus:

Section Syllabus

Section Announcements:

1. Section 101 is moved to 85 Evans. Section 103 still meets in 75 Evans.

2. The Graduate Student Assembly has asked GSIs to remind their students that October 23, 2006 is the last day to register to vote in CA.

3. Office hours for Tuesday 11/14 are canceled due to the midterm. Office hours for Monday 11/13 will be from 3 to 5 PM. They will be in 611 Evans from 3-4 and in 508-5 Evans from 4-5.

4. Per your request, I will not hold section on 11/22, which is immediately before the Thanksgiving break.

5. My office hours are back to normal as stated on the section syllabus.

6. The review session for the final is scheduled for Monday 12/11 from 1-3 PM in 180 TAN.

7. Because of my exam schedule, I will not have my regularly scheduled office hours on 12/11 and 12/12. Instead, I will be available after the review session for individual question.

Section Handouts:

Handout 1: Exogenous vs. Endogenous and Extensive vs. Intensive

Handout 2: Colonial Trade Patterns (this map is useful for remembering what regions specialized in)

Handout 3: Transportation Impact on the Northwest Territory (notice how population changed with added transportation infrastructure: from the North Thesis)

Handout 4: Econometrics for Economic Historians (thanks to Marit Rahavi for this handout)

Handout 5: Economics of Slavery: Interesting Graphics

Handout 6: Midterm 1 Review Sheet

Handout 7: Economical Writing

Handout 8: Review of Present Discounted value

Handout 9: Midterm 2 Review Sheet

Handout 10: Lessons of Economic History

Handout 11: Final Exam Review Sheet

Other:

Practice Questions and Solutions (midterm 1): Answers and comments about the practice questions given in section

Midterm 1 Data Statistics

Practice Questions and Solutions (midterm 2): Answers and comments about the practice questions given in section

Midterm 2 Data Statistics

Practice Questions and Solutions (final exam): Answers and comments about the practice questions given in section

Optional Section Articles: These articles are about events related to topics we are studying. Some are good starting points for papers. Others are not.

Rosenthal, Elisabeth. "Empty Playgrounds in an Aging Italy." International Herald Tribune. 4 September 2006.

"The Economics of Demographics." The International Monetary Fund. 2006.

Cabanatuan, Michael. "$20 Billion Transit, Transportation Bond on November Ballot." San Francisco Chronicle. 15 September 2006.

Woolard, Rob. "Fruit Left to Rot as US Farmers Struggle with Labor Shortage." AFP. 1 October 2006.

Geis, Sonya. "Border Security, Job Market Leave Farms Short of Workers." Washington Post. 4 October 2006.

"US Boosts Efforts Against Human Trafficking." AFP. 3 October 2006.

Tarter, Steve. "Increased Demand for Corn Sparks Land Debate." Peoria Journal Star. 3 October 2006.

Kniazkov, Maxim. "For First Time, Unmarried Households Reign in US." AFP. 15 October 2006.

"US population Reaches 300 Million." BBC. 17 October 2006.

Krieger, Lisa. "College Attendance Climbing in Bay Area, Study Finds." Mercury News. 20 October 2006.

Wasserman, Aaron. "Area Population Drops by 2,000-plus." Sentinel and Enterprise.30 October 2006.

Crenson, Matt. "GAO Chief Warns Economic Disaster Looms." AP. 28 October 2006.

Aversa, Jeannine. "Housing Market a Drag on Economic Growth." San Francisco Chronicle. 27 October 2006.

Hill, Patrice. "Housing Slows Economic Growth." The Washington Times. 28 October 2006.

"French Unemployment Falls to 8.8 Pct in September." AFP. 30 October 2006.

DeLong, Bradford. "Statement on Social Security Reform." Brad Delong's Blog. 13 May 2005.

Mankiw, Gregory. "Social Security Reform." Council on Foreign Relations. 18 January 2005.

Krugman, Paul. "Confusions about Social Security." The Economists' Voice. Volume 2 Issue 1. 2005.

Lazear, Edward. "The Virtues of Personal Accounts for Social Security." The Economists' Voice. Volume 2 Issue 1. 2005.

"Minimum Wage." Washington Post. 19 November 2006.

Bernanke, Ben. "Productivity." Federal Reserve Bank. 24 February 2005.

Anderson, Mae. "Turkey Producers Expect OK Thanksgiving." AP. 20 November 2006.

Maroney, Tom. "Cranberry Growers Give Thanks as Sales Get a Lift From Europe." Bloomberg. 22 November 2006.

Hennessy-Fiske, Molly. "Gender Pay Gap Narrows -- for Unexpected Reasons." LA Times. 3 December 2006.

Economic Historians:

Here are some economic historians (who I have worked with).