The study of economics helps us understand our world: wages and employment, economic growth, productivity, wealth and poverty, government budgets and taxation, resource exploitation, business practices, inflation, recession, regional economic differences. In the undergraduate program in economics we study the history and current reality of these issues, and the principles and techniques necessary to gain a sound understanding of the choices and problems facing us during our lifetime. Students earning a general BA degree in economics can take a wide variety of economics courses while still pursuing interests in other fields. The advanced BA degree in Economics provides greater specialization. The Honours program is intellectually stimulating and offers smaller third and forth year classes.