uwloo

ECON 241Introduction to Public Economics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Arts
Subject
Economics

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 4 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course examines the scope and level of government involvement in economic activity. The main focus is on historical trends and recent developments in the extent and composition of government spending, taxation, and regulation in developed nations. A secondary focus is to introduce the current policy debates in these areas.

Prerequisites

  • Complete 1 of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • COMM103 - Principles of Economics (0.50)
      • ECON100 - Principles of Economics (0.50)
    • Complete all of the following
      • Complete 1 of the following
        • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
          • ECON101 - Introduction to Microeconomics (0.50)
          • MSE263 - Managerial Economics (0.50)
        • Must have completed the following:
      • Complete 1 of the following
        • Must have completed the following:
          • ECON102 - Introduction to Macroeconomics (0.50)
        • Must have completed the following:

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 001351797 / 100Online or by arrangement

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00174850 / 100Online or by arrangement
LEC 701807870 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

73% liked it63% easy63% useful

From 11 ratings and 3 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Although courseload wasn't light grading was extremely generous. Bird course.

    Aug 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Prof was Corey. Awesome dude. Class was smooth. Felt like a lot of topics, but manageable. the term paper was really hard, but really pushes you learn about topics that seem interesting.

    Dec 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I did it online. There are only 5 assessments for this course: 2 quizzes, 2 assignments and a final essay. Many theoretical stuffs are just repetition of ECON101. The slides and video lectures are somewhat unclear especially in terms of some calculation-based questions, but you can learn most of them by yourself.

    Dec 2023 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

30 posts and comments in 27 threads mention ECON 241, May 2018 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2024

2A math (advice) 3 points, 1 comment

u/Working_Ad4954: “… Im planning on taking the following load in 2A: math235, cs234, stat230, econ241, actsc221. I've heard actsc221 is kind of bird? Can someone confirm? Also anybody have experience with cs234? Curious to know what ppl think of this load. …”

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Bird Courses, Fall 2024 13 points, 21 comments

“Anything really that would help boost my CAV, preferably a 200 serieis course would be sick, but anything you know that is offered this term. I will be taking, thanks. Thank you<3”

u/Working_Ad4954: “how is actsc 221? any reviews? or econ241....”

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Fall 2023

Spring 2023

Econ 241 or 254?? 1 point, 4 comments

u/evergreen0735: “hey-o, 254 has a lot of helpful reviews on uwflow but 241 has nothing. For people who have taken these courses, which would you recommend? I'm guessing both would be easy since its online w corey. The main things I'm considering is if they're transferrable and a light workload. …”

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Winter 2023

Fall 2022

Has anyone taken ECON 241? 2 points, 3 comments

u/WhyMiller: “How is the course? I am taking it online next term with Corey next term and want to know what it's like. How time-consuming are the assignments and quizzes? Is the course "birdy" or does it require dedicated study hours every week? …”

u/brownsquare_: “I took Econ 241 in Winter 2021. I wouldn’t call it a bird course but its not too hard either. They were two quizzes and two assignments. The assignments weren’t super difficult. The quiz questions were not that hard. …”

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Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar