SYLLABUS FOR ECON 3186
STUDIES IN ECONOMICS
SPRING 2015
Ken McCormick
Office: CBB 213
Phone: 273-6051
Office hours: MWF 1:00 - 2:00 and by appointment
Email: kenneth.mccormick@uni.edu
Webpage: http://www.cba.uni.edu/mccormick/
Required Books:
Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (2011)
Social Physics by Alex Pentland (2014)
The Tyranny of Experts by William Easterly (2013)
Poor Economics by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo (2011)
Think Like A Freak by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner (2014)
The Great Crash by John Kenneth Galbraith (1954/2009)
Course Description:
The course is a seminar. That means that there will be no lecture. Instead,
students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the reading
assignment for the day. The quality of any seminar depends on the dedication
of the participants.
Reading Schedule:
Date
Book/Article
1/14
Thinking, Fast and
1/16
Thinking, Fast and
1/21
Thinking, Fast and
1/23
Thinking, Fast and
1/26
Thinking, Fast and
1/28
Thinking, Fast and
1/30
Thinking, Fast and
2/2
Thinking, Fast and
2/4
Thinking, Fast and
2/6
Thinking, Fast and
2/9
Thinking, Fast and
2/11
Thinking, Fast and
2/13
Thinking, Fast and
2/16
2/18
2/20
2/23
2/25
Social
Social
Social
Social
Social
Physics
Physics
Physics
Physics
Physics
Slow
Slow
Slow
Slow
Slow
Slow
Slow
Slow
Slow
Slow
Slow
Slow
Slow
Reading
Intro & Chapters 1 & 2
Chapters 3, 4, 5, & 6
Chapters 7, 8, & 9
Chapters 10, 11, & 12
Chapters 13, 14, & 15
Chapters 16, 17, & 18
Chapters 19, 20, & 21
Chapters 22, 23, & 24
Chapters 25, 26, & 27
Chapters 28, 29, & 30
Chapters 31, 32, & 33
Chapters 34, 35, & 36
Chapters 37, 38, &
Conclusion
Chapters 1 & 2
Chapters 3 & 4
Chapters 5, 6, & 7
Chapters 8 & 9
Chapters 10 & 11
2/27
The Tyranny of Experts
Chapters 1 & 2
3/2
The Tyranny of Experts
Chapters 3 & 4
3/4
The Tyranny of Experts
Chapters 5 & 6
3/6
The Tyranny of Experts
Chapters 7 & 8
3/9
The Tyranny of Experts
Chapters 9 & 10
3/11
The Tyranny of Experts
Chapters 11 & 12
3/13
The Tyranny of Experts
Chapters 13 & 14
********************************SPRING BREAK**************************************
3/23
Poor Economics
Foreword, Chapters 1 & 2
3/25
Poor Economics
Chapter 3
3/27
Poor Economics
Chapter 4
3/30
Poor Economics
Chapter 5
4/1
Poor Economics
Chapters 6 & 7
4/3
Poor Economics
Chapter 8
4/6
Poor Economics
Chapter 9
4/8
Poor Economics
Chapter 10 & Conclusion
4/10
Think Like A Freak
Chapters 1 & 2
4/13
Think Like A Freak
Chapters 3 & 4
4/15
Think Like A Freak
Chapters 5 & 6
4/17
Think Like A Freak
Chapters 7 & 8
4/20
Think Like A Freak
Chapter 9
4/22
The Great Crash
Foreword, Intro, & Chapter 1
4/24
The Great Crash
Chapters 2 & 3
4/27
The Great Crash
Chapters 4 & 5
4/29
The Great Crash
Chapters 6 & 7
5/4
The Great Crash
Chapters 8 & 9
Grades:
80% of your grade will be based on class participation. If you are not here, you
cannot participate, so attendance will be taken. If you cannot attend but have
a good reason, let me know in advance. Unexcused absences will be penalized
by 2N – 1 percentage points, where N = the number of unexcused absences.
Both the quantity and quality of your participation matters. I expect everyone
to participate in the discussions.
Each day I will ask a student to begin the discussion. I will also ask specific
students to comment on the discussion. If you are not prepared, it will show.
By its very nature, grading on class participation is somewhat subjective. I will
try very hard to be objective and consistent. Your primary task will be to
convince me, every day, that you have read and understood the assignment.
20% of your grade will be determined by four two-page papers. When you find
an idea in the readings that interests you, write about it. Because you have
only two pages, your writing must be both concise and precise. The two page
limit will be strictly enforced. Blaise Pascal wrote, “I didn’t have time to write a
short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” Figure out what he meant.
The papers must be double-spaced, with one-inch margins and a 12-point font.
The papers will be graded on both content and style. Keep in mind that
content that is unclear because of poor style will harm you on both counts.
You should turn in one paper per month (January, February, March, April).
Turn them in any time during the month.
Other Comments:
1. Take notes on what you read. Bring the notes to class to help you remember
important points for discussion.
2. Look up words you do not know. That will expand your vocabulary as well
as improve your comprehension.
3. In the event that your professor cannot come to class, meet and discuss the
assigned reading anyway.
4. In the event that classes at UNI are cancelled, we will discuss two assigned
readings at the next class period.