Undergraduate Courses 2023-24

Undergraduate courses marked with [EXP] may adopt the approach of experiential learning subject to different offerings. Students should check the delivery mode of the class section before registration.

• ECON 1220

  Thinking like an Economist I: Microeconomics

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  a passing letter grade in LANG 1401 OR LANG 1402 OR LANG 1403 OR LANG 1404 OR LANG 1002 (prior to 2022-23)

  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 2103, ECON 2113, SOSC 1440

  Description

  Students learn the "economic way of thinking" in this course. We will explore fundamental microeconomic concepts and tools such as comparative advantage and specialization, demand-supply analysis, market equilibrium, government's role in markets, game theory, and people's interactions in order to explain and analyze consumer and producer decisions and social issues. Students will develop problem-solving abilities in dealing with new social issues as well as develop their sense of community and consideration through the lens of microeconomics.
• ECON 1221

  Thinking like an Economist II: Macroeconomics

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  a passing letter grade in LANG 1401 OR LANG 1402 OR LANG 1403 OR LANG 1404 OR LANG 1002 (prior to 2022-23)

  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 2123, ECON 3123, SOSC 1440

  Description

  Students learn the "economic way of thinking" in this course. We will introduce the ways economists look at economy from an “aggregate” perspective. The course starts by introducing key macro variables that measure aggregate economic performance. The relationship among these key variables will then be studied in the goods, money, and labor markets in closed and open economies. The theoretical framework presented in this course will enable non-SBM students to predict and analyze the impacts of government fiscal and monetary policies on the economy.
• ECON 1222

  What Economics Tells Us About Our Life and Social Policy

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  a passing letter grade in LANG 1401 OR LANG 1402 OR LANG 1403 OR LANG 1404 OR LANG 1002 (prior to 2022-23)

  Description

  This course will provide students opportunities to critically read and interpret social science literature on human capital development over the life cycle. It will also give students an opportunity to discuss, through examples, how this evidence could be applied in the real world policy design. The questions to be addressed in this course focus on human capital development such as health, education, and labor policies over the course of one’s life. The examples will help students understand how to interpret available data and use it to evaluate different policy programs.
• ECON 1234

  China's Economic Challenges

  3 Credit(s)
  Description

  This course critically assesses the current challenges facing the Chinese economy and how China’s approaches to these challenges will shape future opportunities for citizens in China and around the world. The course will examine different dimensions of China’s reform experience to deepen understanding of the origins of current challenges and address recent debates about China’s economic emergence. Topics include the sources of economic growth (innovation capability, high-tech competition, digital economy), globalization (COVID-19 and trade war impact, shifting supply chains, foreign direct investment, the Belt and Road Initiative), labor (labor regulation, future of work, education and health), environment and climate change (carbon neutrality pledge), social development (poverty, inequality, family planning, population ageing), and economic development in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area.
• ECON 2103

  Principles of Microeconomics

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 2113, ECON 3113, ECON 3133, SOSC 1440, Level 3 or above in HKDSE Economics

  Description

  Theory of firm in a free enterprise system; theory of consumer demand; market structures and resource allocation; efficiency of competitive markets; selected topics on government regulation. Students with non-local qualifications should seek department’s or school’s approval for enrollment in the course.
• ECON 2113

  Microeconomics

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  Level 3 or above in HKDSE Economics

  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 2103, ECON 3113, ECON 3133, SOSC 1440

  Description

  Theory of the firm in a free enterprise system; theory of consumer demand; market structures and resource allocation; selected topics on government regulation. More topics treated in greater depth than ECON 2103. Students with non-local qualifications should seek department’s or school’s approval for enrollment in the course.
• ECON 2123

  Macroeconomics

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 3123, ECON 3143, SOSC 1440

  Description

  Theory of national income determination and business fluctuation; monetary and fiscal policies; selected topics in macroeconomic policies and open economy macroeconomics. Students with non-local qualifications should seek department’s or school’s approval for enrollment in the course.
• ECON 2174

  Mathematics for Economists

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  MATH 1003 OR MATH 1012 OR MATH 1013 OR MATH 1020 OR MATH 1023

  Exclusion(s)

  MATH 2011, MATH 2023

  Description

  Exclusively for SB&M students. This course provides students with mathematical tools frequently used in economic analysis. Topics include real numbers, single and multivariable functions, matrix algebra, multivariate calculus, convex analysis, and constrained and unconstrained optimization. Examples of economic analysis using these mathematical tools will be included.
• ECON 3014

  Managerial Microeconomics

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  One of ECON 2103 OR ECON 2113

  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 3113, ECON 3133

  Description

  Demand estimation, business and economic forecasting; production, innovation and cost; market structure, strategic behavior and pricing; decision making under uncertainty; government regulation of business activities; case studies.
• ECON 3024

  Managerial Macroeconomics

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 2123 AND ECON 3334

  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 3123, ECON 3143

  Description

  This course modifies and extends the standard models studied in introductory macroeconomics course (2123), highlighting the role of expectations in determining the aggregate output, the inflation, and the asset prices. The course consists of two parts: (A) lectures on the models and their applications on the economics issues such as monetary and fiscal policies, financial crises, and exchange rate policies; and (B) group research projects undertaken by the students to apply macro models, statistical and econometrics tools to analyze a real-world question of their pick, in order to gain better understanding of the models and to practise the skills on problem solving, team-work and presentation.
• ECON 3113

  Microeconomic Theory I

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 2103 OR ECON 2113

  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 3014, SOSC 1440

  Description

  The course presents a detailed study of basic topics in microeconomics with a special emphasis on using a rigorous analytical and mathematical approach. The topics include demand theory, uncertainty, asymmetric information, general equilibrium, welfare economics, externality, and public good. Multivariate calculus will be extensively used. Exclusively for students of the BSc programs in Economics & Finance and in Mathematics & Economics.
• ECON 3123

  Macroeconomic Theory I

  3 Credit(s)
  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 2123, ECON 3024, SOSC 102I, SOSC 1440

  Description

  This course will concentrate on introducing the basics terms of macroeconomics, business cycle analysis, money and inflation, current accounts, and exchange rates. Exclusively for students of the BSc in Economics and Finance and Mathematics and Economics program.
• ECON 3133

  Microeconomic Theory II

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 3113

  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 3014, SOSC 1440

  Description

  This is the second course in the microeconomics sequence. Topics include production theory, firms' behavior under different market structures (perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly), factor demand, and game theory. Emphases are placed on a rigorous analytical and mathematical approach, and multivariate calculus will be used extensively.
• ECON 3143

  Macroeconomic Theory II

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 3113 AND ECON 3123

  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 2123, ECON 3024, SOSC 102I, SOSC 1440

  Description

  This course will focus on long-term economic growth and structural change, theoretical elements of intertemporal macroeconomics, government budgets and deficits.
• ECON 3334

  Introduction to Econometrics

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  One of ISOM 2500, MATH 2411 or MATH 3423

  Description

  Topics on the use of statistical regression techniques in modeling and estimating economic and business relationships. Both theoretical and applied aspects are addressed.
• ECON 3700

  Writing as an Economist

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  (ECON 2103 OR ECON 2113) AND (ECON 2123 OR ECON 3123) AND LABU 2040

  Exclusion(s)

  LABU 2020 (prior to 2019-20)

  Mode of Delivery

  [EXP] Experiential learning

  Description

  This course hones students’ ability to “do economics”: to apply economic concepts and reasoning to real-world phenomena,and to express that application clearly and convincingly in writing. In weekly large-class settings, students will work with an economics instructor on interpreting and explaining data, applying economic principles to daily life, building and supporting an argument, and evaluating different perspectives in scholarly debates. In weekly small-group tutorials, a language instructor will lead discussions to analyse texts and workshop individual students’ writing. At the end of the course students will be better prepared to undertake independent research and writing in their economics coursework, as well as to write from an economics perspective for a range of non-academic purposes. For BBA(ECON), BSc(ECOF) and BSc(MAEC) first and additional majors students.
• ECON 3800

  ECON UG Honors Thesis I

  2 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  [(ECON 3014 AND ECON 3024) OR (ECON 3133 AND ECON 3143)] AND ECON 3334 AND ECON 3700

  Description

  This course is a supervised course which trains student to do proper economic research. This course is Part I of the ECON UG Honors Thesis that consists of two parts (ECON3800: Honors Thesis I and ECON4800: Honors Thesis II). This course is designed to help students brainstorm their research idea by providing structured information session and continuous mentorship. Students need to submit a research proposal and share it through the final presentation. Students are expected to synthesize and apply skills and knowledge learnt from the course, and findings from their individual thesis would be useful to understand real-life phenomena. Graded P or F. Instructor's approval is required for taking the course. For BBA(ECON), BSc(ECOF) and BSc(MAEC) students, including students taking an additional major in any of these programs.
• ECON 4114

  Industrial Organization and Competitive Strategy

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 3014 OR (ECON 3113 AND ECON 3133)

  Description

  Market structures and their implications for industry performance and strategic decision-making by firms; entry deterrence, advertising, R&D investments; horizontal and vertical integration, strategic alliances, joint ventures and multi-market interaction.
• ECON 4124

  Applied Game Theory

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 2103 OR ECON 2113

  Exclusion(s)

  MATH 4321

  Description

  This course introduces the basic concepts of game theory, it emphasize on the unifying perspective that game theory offers to questions in economics, other disciplines, and everyday life. It will enable students to view social interactions as strategic games, to use game theoretic concepts to predict behavior in these interactions and to conceive of ways in which altering the game affects social outcomes.
• ECON 4134

  Economics of Uncertainty and Information

  4 Credit(s)
  Previous Course Code(s)

  ECON 4999T

  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 3014 OR (ECON 3113 AND ECON 3133)

  Description

  All human endeavors are constrained by limited knowledge about the laws of nature, external events in the past, present and future, how other people (including ourselves) are going to behave, etc. Life is filled with decision problems without perfect information of their consequences. In view of these, research on the decision making and strategic interaction under risk and uncertainty have been extremely active for the past few decades. This course aims to provide an introduction to this exciting field of research and suggestions for further exploration. The first part of the course is devoted to the economics of uncertainty and covers topics including the expected-utility model, market allocation of risks and asset pricing. The second part of the course is devoted to the economics of information and covers topics including moral hazard, bargaining, auction theory, mechanism design, and information aggregation in the market.
• ECON 4144

  Health and Education Economics

  4 Credit(s)
  Previous Course Code(s)

  ECON 4999S

  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 2103 OR ECON 2113

  Description

  This course aims to explore how economics can be used to understand health and education, and to provide tools and skills to evaluate program and policy in this field. It will start with a review of economic tools to evaluate impacts of programs and policies: micro-econometrics including OLS, IV approach, diff-in-diff estimation, and regression discontinuity design. Rest of the course will focus on recent empirical papers on health and education economics.
• ECON 4234

  Labor Economics and Human Resources

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  One of ECON 3113 or ECON 3014

  Description

  Occupational choice; labor market analysis and determination of earnings; unions and collective bargaining; employment and job turnover; family, fertility and population issues; training, health, and human capital.
• ECON 4244

  Economics of Human Behavior

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  (ECON 3014 OR ECON 3113) AND ECON 3334

  Description

  This course applies economic principles to understand various aspects of human behavior that have usually been considered to be outside the realm of economics. Topics include irrational behavior, crime, marriage, divorce, family, and philanthropy. Both theoretical and empirical analyses will be emphasized.
• ECON 4254

  Law and Economics

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  (ECON 3014 OR ECON 3133) AND (MATH 1003 OR MATH 1012 OR MATH 1013 OR MATH 1023)

  Description

  The economic approach to law; externalities, transaction costs, and the "Coase Theorem"; the problem of the commons; the social cost of crime and law enforcement; case studies.
• ECON 4264

  Economics of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

  4 Credit(s)
  Previous Course Code(s)

  ECON 4999Q

  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 2103 OR ECON 2113

  Description

  This course introduces students to fundamentals of entrepreneurship and innovation from an economist’s perspective. The course will be separated into two parts: the first part focuses on basic concepts and tools in the Economics of Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Finance; the second part discusses topics related to Economics of Innovation. The purpose of the class is twofold: first, students are expected to acquire the very basic knowledge that may help them plan and launch entrepreneurial ventures as entrepreneurs and innovators; second, students are expected to understand the economic institutions where entrepreneurship and innovation take place.
• ECON 4274

  Programming Econometrics with R

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 3334

  Description

  This course puts statistical theory and econometric method into practice by working with data and cases. Students are required to write their own program with R for summary statistics, data visualization, estimation, and hypothesis testing. The students are also trained to produce table and write report for empirical study. The main objective is to help students develop skills in working with data to support a better business decision or analysis.
• ECON 4284

  Econometrics for Cross-Section and Panel Data

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 3334

  Description

  This course introduces students to advanced econometric tools for analyzing cross section and panel data. These tools are useful in areas such as industrial organization, corporate finance, labor and public economics. Topics include: instrumental variable estimation; panel data; discrete choice models; censored and truncated dependent variables; duration models.
• ECON 4304

  Time Series Econometrics and Business Forecasting

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 3334 OR MATH 4424

  Exclusion(s)

  ISOM 4540, MATH 4425

  Description

  The use of time series data for business forecasting is examined using the methods of regression analysis, exponential and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) techniques.
• ECON 4305

  Applied Machine Learning for Economic and Financial Analysis

  4 Credit(s)
  Previous Course Code(s)

  ECON 4999V

  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 3334

  Description

  This course applies machine learning to solve economic and financial problems, including residential property valuation, GDP and recession forecasting, default risk prediction, credit card fraud detection, portfolio analysis, volatility prediction, and market anomaly detection. It maps those problems into relevant supervised/unsupervised learning tasks and introduces basic machine learning methods. Students will get hands-on experience with machine learning to analyze practical business problems.
• ECON 4334

  Money and Banking

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  (ECON 3014 OR ECON 3113) AND (ECON 2123 OR ECON 3123)

  Exclusion(s)

  ECON 5350

  Description

  Theories of money supply and demand; role of money in business fluctuations, inflation, and growth; banking, financial intermediation, and money supply; targets and instruments of monetary policy; rules versus discretion.
• ECON 4364

  International Trade and Investment

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  (ECON 3014 OR ECON 3113) AND (ECON 2123 OR ECON 3123)

  Description

  This course will cover the patterns and the mechanisms of international trade and foreign investment. Topics include the patterns of international trade, why nations trade, what they trade, and who gains from trade, without explicit policy interventions; the determinants and the implementations of different trade policies, the motives for countries or organizations to restrict or regulate international trade, and the welfare implications of those trade policies; the role of firms in the global economy, the operations of multinational enterprises, outsourcing, as well as the patterns and the determinants of foreign direct investment.
• ECON 4374

  International Macroeconomics and Finance

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  (ECON 3014 AND ECON 3024) OR (ECON 3113 AND ECON 3123)

  Description

  This course will help students understand the macroeconomic and financial linkages between domestic and foreign countries. Topics include the international financial market environment, the impacts of exchange rate fluctuations, the mechanisms of adjustment, the operation of the exchange rate systems in developing and developed countries, the international monetary system, and the relationship among money, output, exchange rates, interest rates and prices.
• ECON 4434

  Economic Development and Growth

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 3014 or ECON 3133

  Description

  Theories of externally and internally induced growth: roles of population, human and physical capital, international trade and investment, technology, and government policies; demographic and economic transition; comparison of development strategies.
• ECON 4464

  Urban and Environment Economics

  4 Credit(s)
  Previous Course Code(s)

  ECON 4999N

  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 2103 OR ECON 2113

  Description

  The course is designed to introduce students to key contemporary concepts in urban and environmental economics, and to equip them with the approaches in economics that are generally applied to analyze urban/environmental problems and policies. The course will be divided into two parts. Part I will cover topics on the economics of cities, including rent and wage determination, the location decisions of households and firms, agglomeration economics, housing, transportation and land use. Part II will focus on environmental economics, covering topics on externalities, Pigouvian policies and environmental valuation.
• ECON 4474

  Hong Kong's Economy

  4 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  One of ECON 2103, ECON 2113 OR ECON 3113, AND ECON 2123 OR ECON 3123

  Description

  Hong Kong's post-war economic performance and prospects for further growth and development; analyses of key sectors; income and wealth distributions; Hong Kong, South China, and strategies for economic upgrading.
• ECON 4670

  Economics Research and Communication

  0 Credit(s)
  Description

  This course is to ensure that students will acquire research and communication skills through producing a research-based term paper. The paper may be one that has been written for ECON 4959, or any other 4000-level or above Economics course that has a term paper requirement. The paper should embody the equivalence of a minimum of two credits of workload if it is written for ECON 4959. A standard at grade C or above must be obtained for the paper. For Economics students only. Graded P or F.
• ECON 4800

  ECON UG Honors Thesis II

  3 Credit(s)
  Prerequisite(s)

  ECON 3800

  Description

  This course is a supervised course which trains student to do proper economic research. This course is Part II of the ECON UG Honors Thesis that consists of two parts (ECON3800: Honors Thesis I and ECON4800: Honors Thesis II). This course is designed to help students to produce a tangible research output in the form of a written thesis. An individual faculty supervisor will be assigned to each student. The research output will be disseminated via the end-of-the-semester UG research workshop where all students taking this course are invited to present their work. Instructor's approval is required for taking the course. For BBA(ECON), BSc(ECOF) and BSc(MAEC) students in their fourth-year of study, including students taking an additional major in any of these programs.
• ECON 4959

  Independent Study

  1-4 Credit(s)
  Description

  Faculty directed independent study. May be repeated for credits if different topics are taken.
• ECON 4999

  Special Topics in Economics

  1-4 Credit(s)
  Description

  Special topics in the current development of theoretical and empirical economics; topics vary with instructor.