What is the hardest econ class you can take?

Answer 1

The PhD Micro sequence.

If the Devil existed, his name would be Mas Colell - Whinston - Green

Answer 2

LOL @ Trolling's answer. MCWG is a bane for a lot of people in the first year!

I think the answer to your question depends on whether you are talking about undergrad or grad econ classes.

At the undergrad level, most people I know hated econometrics although it IS one of the most useful classes IMO. Many people also have a difficult time with many concepts in game theory although I've found if you have a good, interactive instructor you'll be ok. I personally didn't care for experimental, although I had an outstanding professor. It was just personal preference because I couldn't see the value of inference from small samples when there were network effects as in most of economics. Bottom line, I wasn't interested and so struggled.

Grad economics is a bit different, I think. All the first semester courses IMO are the most difficult because you are trying to learn a different way of thinking. Mathematicians, I believe, find it easier in the first semester of grad but struggle more later on while people with econ backgrounds are the other way around. I happen to have both so I was OK but I could see that discrepancy through my tenure as a grad student. For me, personally, I found macroeconomic forecasting to be the most difficult but I think that's because I had a really bad prof. Later, I took a course that was similar but in the finance department (while doing my masters there) and I found it to be not only interesting but in fact really easy for me.

Oh, and one more thing: I disagree with Jasmine. While the material may be presented in a more sophisticated treatment at the "best" econ schools, the prof's are also many times "better". Good instruction is really important in the learning process. In fact, I'd say the short answer to your question is "any class not taught well."

Hope this helps. :)

Answer 3

Regarding the undergraduate level, I think advanced courses in microeconometrics and time series are annoying and can be tough. Advanced microeconomics are tough for undergrads, I find that my students in Industrial Org. struggle with a lot of concepts, and I am often forced to make a take home final exam. I, of course, am partial to microeconomics because thats my area of expertice, but I think that Regulation is really hard to understand sometimes.

Answer 4

Considering you can barely write a proper sentence, perhaps remedial English would be your best bet. I strongly suggest you do not take an AP courses until you have mastered basic language skills, as all AP courses have many writing assignments and papers as a requirement to earn an acceptable, passing grade.

Answer 5

Econometrics

Answer 6

in the best econ schools

Answer 7

Yeah for most people it's probably Econometrics.

Answer 8

Graduate macro because it doesn't make sense. It is just a lot of competing theories, none of which are right..

Answer 9

POOPY