Specialization Head: Judith Dean (judydean@brandeis.edu)
The IBS Specialization in International Economic Policy Analysis prepares students to work in economic policy institutions anywhere int he world, including central banks, government finance ministries, trade policy institutions, financial regulatory agencies, macroeconomic think tanks, and international lending institutions.
Students develop an advanced understanding of the economic forces invoked by government intervention and become familiar with current best evidence on the magnitude of those forces. If taxes are raised on the rich, how much will business creation be discouraged? If social spending is cut back during a recession, will output rise or fall in the short run? And in the long run? If we raise capital requirements on banks, how strong will be the effect on business lending?
To understand the evidence and to stay abreast of the research later in their careers, students master advanced econometrics tools. We recommend that every student in this specialization writes a paper, either in Empirical Analysis of Trade Policy or by doing a Master's Thesis.
To earn a Specialization in International Economic Policy Analysis, students must complete 20 credits at IBS in fulfillment of the requirements listed below.
Coursework
20 credits from the following categories as shown:
Group 1: Foundational (2 credits required)
| ECON 211f |
Foundations of Statistics and Econometrics II (2 credits) |
Group 2: Advanced Econometrics (4 credits required)
| ECON/FIN 250a |
Forecasting in FIN & ECON (time-series econometrics) (4 credits) |
| ECON 261as |
Empirical Analysis of Trade Policy (4 credits) -OR- |
| ECON 212f |
Survey of Advanced Econometric Techniques (2 credits) |
Group 3: Core Policy (8 credits required)
| ECON 235a |
Central Banking (4 credits) |
| ECON 236a |
Managing Government Debt and Deficits (4 credits) |
| ECON/FIN 256a |
Taming Financial Markets (4 credits) |
| ECON 270a |
Economic Development Strategies (4 credits) |
Group 4: Electives (at least 6 credits)
Any selection below, or any course in Groups 1-3 not taken to fulfill other specialization requirements.
| ECON 203f |
Advanced INternational Macroeconomics (2 credits) |
| ECON 205f |
Applied Business Cycle Analysis (2 credits) |
| ECON 303a |
Advanced Macroeconomics (PhD level course) (4 credits) |
| ECON 360a |
International Trade Theory (PhD level course) (4 credits) |
| ECON 253a |
Asia, Center of the World Economy (4 credits) |
| ECON 252f |
Economy of China (2 credits) |
| ECON 122b |
Economics of the Middle East (4 credits) |
| ECON 271a |
Agents of Dev't: Individuals, Households & Firms (4 credits) |
| ECON 262a |
Outsourcing and Off-Shoring (4 credits) |
| ECON 277f |
Public Policy, Business Leadership & World Affairs (2 credits) |
| BUS 228f |
Management Communication (2 credits) |
| ECON 299a |
Master's Project (4 credits) |
- Students must be mindful that many electives require other courses as pre-requisites.
- If a student exempts from a course, total IBS credits in Specialization remain the same. The student would take more courses under Group 4.
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