ECON 5340 - Economics, Consulting and the Law

This course will cover the opportunities and skills required to be an economist in the private sector. It will begin by explaining where economists are employed in the private sector, and what tasks they typically perform at these jobs. After a general overview, the course will focus on microeconomics in litigation-consulting firms and in the courtroom. Such consultancies are likely the major source of private-sector microeconomic work by economists. The course will then cover the skills necessary to perform in this line of business. These skills involve specific types of analysis of data, document review and organization, modelling and definition of relevant markets, analysis of entry, measurement of market power, and other issues.