专业描述

At its most fundamental level, economics is the study of how scarce resources are allocated. What will be produced and consumed, how much, and by whom? These questions are central to the well-being of people throughout the world. Economists identify, model, and analyze problems with the objective of developing practical and efficient solutions to challenges confronting society. Economists are also active participants in the processes and institutions through which economic policies are implemented. In the public arena sphere, economists contribute to design of programs and incentive systems to foster efficient implementation of policies. In the private sector, economists bring modeling and data-analytic skill to bear, both in identifying ways to enhance productive efficiency within the firm and in developing strategies to enhance effectiveness of the firm as it competes in the global marketplace. Increasingly, economists are taking advantage of advances in technology to design new exchange systems in applications as diverse as global electronic markets, kidney exchanges, pollution control, and school choice mechanisms. Carnegie Mellon University enjoys a rich history of innovative research in the field of economics. The university has a distinctive culture that fosters collaborative, problem-oriented, theoretically rigorous, and empirically tested research. The success of this distinctive approach is manifest in the international recognition accorded past and present faculty, including nine Nobel Prizes in Economics. In the classroom, faculty bring the same rigorous, innovative approach to help develop the tremendous intellectual potential and analytic skills of students who are drawn to study economics at Carnegie Mellon. Project courses and hands-on applications in classes enable our students to gain valuable practical experience in honing their skills in economic reasoning, modeling, and data analysis. The Undergraduate Economics Program has a unique position at Carnegie Mellon University. It is the sole undergraduate program that is a joint program of the Tepper School of Business and the Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The combination of research strength (Tepper has been home to nine Nobel Laureates in Economics) and commitment to liberal arts and interdisciplinary studies (Dietrich has "the most creative general education program of any American university” – New York Times) provides our undergraduates with a world-class economics program. Economics majors are considered members of both colleges and enjoy the full support and services of both. Undergraduate economics students should consult the program's website and handbook for details about applicable Tepper and Dietrich academic policies and procedures.