Economics Specialization

New Fall 2026

Economics is the study of how societies organize production, distribution, and exchange - and how economic systems shape everyday life. Economics is not simply about numbers; it is also about understanding the structures, institutions, and decisions that shape society. Economists consider a range of critical questions, including:

• Why do some countries remain poor while others accumulate extraordinary wealth?
• Why do economic crises continue to occur despite increasingly sophisticated economic models?
• Can economies grow indefinitely on a planet with finite ecological resources?
• Who benefits from austerity, or free trade — and who bears the costs?
• Why are some forms of work highly valued while others remain invisible or unpaid?
• How do algorithms, artificial intelligence, and global supply chains reshape labour and power?
• What is the future of work?

Our program engages directly with the defining economic issues of the twenty-first century. It challenges students to investigate the above questions and to better understand issues such as inflation, banking, tariffs, economic inequality, labour markets, innovation, technological change, and environmental sustainability. Additionally, it offers an interdisciplinary approach to economic analysis that combines quantitative methods with historical, political, and institutional perspectives, thereby providing students with the practical expertise sought by governments, businesses, and civil society organizations.