Teaching

Economics of Crime/Health (607), Fall 2024

We focus on the determinants and consequences of crime and health. We focus first on a Beckerian model of crime, and then the Grossman model of Health. We then focus on more recent research on the economic determinants of crime, including human capital formation, local economic conditions, community infrastructure, mental health, and cognitive behavioral therapy. We then examine whether human capital affects health, and whether health is a normal good. We also study a variety of empirical papers on drugs and addiction, obesity, and infectious diseases. We then study the health insurance. We first study how access to health insurance affects utilization. We then study the effects of access to care on health, financial well being, and economic.

Principles of Microeconomics (201), Spring 2024

This class provides an introduction to the principles of microeconomics. We begin with the gains from trade. We then review the supply and demand, and the basics of welfare economics. We study taxation, incidence and externalities. We then study other market failures including the tragedy of the commons, public goods, monopoly and market power. Students learn the essentially concepts of microeconomics and their practical application to a variety of real world problems.