Economics

Sound economic analysis is the foundation of business, government and nonprofit organizations.

Do you want to be an effective decision-maker and influential leader?

To succeed in economics, you'll need a strong understanding of issues like healthcare reform and inequality, institutions such as the Federal Reserve and the International Monetary Fund, and debates about government debt, globalization and sustainability.

Our program will help you develop the analytical, research, writing, quantitative and communication skills you'll need to produce significant research papers and confidently present your findings.

Outside the classroom, faculty interact with students in the Economics Liaison, discussing economic news and debates, organizing special lectures, and attending off-campus events. The Economics Liaison also collaborates with the Department in organizing a series of activities aimed at helping students secure internships and transition to careers and graduate school. In addition, students prepare for career success through the Department's ECONnect program, featuring events like the annual Economics Student-Alumni Networking Dinner and alumnae-led workshops on networking, negotiation, interviewing, résumé development and LinkedIn.

Our students combine their passions, incorporating their expertise into fields like finance, community development and government. Study in economics is also excellent preparation for law school and graduate study in economics, public policy, international relations, management, finance, and many other fields.

Program Requirements:

The major in Economics requires the successful completion of a total of nine courses, consisting of five core courses and four Economics elective courses. At least two of the Economics electives must be at or above the 200 level.

Core courses

All five are required; note the possible substitutions.

ECON100	Principles of Microeconomics	4
ECON101	Principles of Macroeconomics	4
ECON200	Intermediate Microeconomics	4
ECON201	Intermediate Macroeconomics	4
STAT118	Introductory Statistics	4

STAT-118: STAT 227 Intermediate Statistics: Design & Analysis or STAT 229 Regression Models may substitute for STAT 118

Elective Courses

Select four from the following list, including at least two at the 200 level or higher.

ECON124	BRICS and the Global Economy	4
ECON125	Gender at Work: From Rosie the Riveter to #MeToo	4
ECON145	Economics of Sustainability and Resource Use	4
ECON214	Gender, Globalization, and Development	4
ECON216	Economic Development	4
ECON218	International Trade	4
ECON220	International Monetary Systems	4
ECON222	Comparative Economies of East Asia	4
ECON225	Political Economy of U.S. Capitalism	4
ECON231	Money & Banking	4
ECON235	From Farm to Table: The Political Economy of Food Systems	3
ECON236	Public Economics	4
ECON241	Business Competition and Antitrust Policy	4
ECON247	Environmental Economics	4
ECON255	Political Economy of Education	4
ECON290	Special Topics	4
ECON393	Econometrics	4

ECON 393: not counted as an Economics Elective if used for the Capstone requirement.

Candidacy for Honors in economics requires a minimum GPA of 3.50 or higher in Economics courses by the beginning of the student's third-to-last semester (not including STAT 118) and completion of a Senior Thesis (ECON 350/355). Upon completion of the thesis, the department determines whether the thesis merits designation of Honors in Economics.

Minor Requirements:

The minor in economics requires successful completion of a total of five courses, consisting of

ECON100	Principles of Microeconomics	4
ECON101	Principles of Macroeconomics	4

and any three Economics elective courses other than ECON 393.

Customize Your Program

You'll work with your advisor to tailor a program to your interests and career goals. Simmons offers many options for customizing your studies, including dual majors, accelerated programs and a wide variety of complementary minors.

Economics complements study in various other disciplines, including Environmental Science, History, International Relations, Mathematics, Political Science, Public Health, Public Policy, and Women's and Gender Studies.

A minor in economics is also available, and requires successful completion of a total of five courses, consisting of ECON 100, ECON 101, and any three economics electives courses other than ECON 390 and ECON 393. Note: ECON 200 and 201 cannot be counted toward the minor

Internships and Research

Economics students take advantage of internships at various businesses, research institutions, government agencies, and community organizations. Students have recently found internship positions at:

The Argus Group at Morgan Stanley
Associates for International Research, Inc. (AIRINC)
International Trade Office of the U.S. Commerce Department
British Consulate, Department of International Trade
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy
Fenway Health.

The Economics department emphasizes analytical, research, and writing skills which our students apply in producing research papers for our three capstone courses, Thesis (ECON 355), Internship (ECON 370), and Econometrics (ECON 393). A sample of recent papers displays the variety and breadth of economic analysis:

Thesis Research Papers:

Tracks to Gentrification: A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Modes of Transit in the City of Boston, Sarah Hackey

A Study of Consumer's Willingness to Pay to Support Local Businesses, Megan Ludgate

The Cost of High-Interest Credit: How the Payday Loan Industry Structures Loans and Leverages Financial Power to Thwart Government Regulation, Kathryn Nagle

Internship Research Papers:

Property Tax Exemptions and School District Efficiency in Texas, Alannah Schute, Lincoln Institute

Brexit's Impact on the Irish Economy, Emma Nour Belabbes, U.S. Department of Commerce

The Potential Benefits of Blockchain Technology in the Administration of Federal Welfare Programs in the United States, Meagan Wilbur, USDA, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Boston's Affordable Housing Crisis and the Role of Multifamily Real Estate Capital, Merida Kepnes, KeyBank Real Estate Capital.

Econometrics Research Papers:

Evaluating the 2018-2020 Protests for Economic Justice in France, Abigail Powers

Contributing Factors to Excess Space Debris, Katiann Carey

The Correlation between Inequality and Exposure/Vulnerability to Flood Disaster Risk, Kathleen Tajmajer

Spending, Crises, and Natural Disasters: A Macro-Economic Look at Suicide in Japan, Vivian Zou

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Our Faculty

Masato Aoki

Associate Professor

Zinnia Mukherjee

Associate Professor

Niloufer Sohrabji

Professor and Program Director for Economics and Director of General Education

Spotlight on Economics Students and Alums

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