Welcome to the Department of Economics

We are proud to be one of only a handful of departments nationwide that combine general economics and agricultural economics in one department. The department was organized in its current form in 1930, and has a long history of excellence in scholarship and education.

We offer B.S. degrees in Agricultural Business, Economics, and Business Economics, and both Ph.D and M.S. degrees in Economics and Agricultural Economics.  Through an active program of co-operative extension, we provide vital information and decision support to the citizens of Iowa. Our nearly forty faculty aspire to excellence in the production, dissemination, and application of economic knowledge.

We are committed to establishing a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging where each member of our community feels welcomed and valued. We believe that our commitment to creating a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment that welcomes respectful conversation and avoids ad-hominem criticism is the way to achieve excellence in all we do.


Ask an Economist

May 16, 2023

Thanks for asking. This is a good and long-lasting debated question in Economics. As reported, the recent fertility rate in Canada is around 1.4, which is relatively low because the subsistence level is 2.1.

May 12, 2023

This is an interesting thought experiment. Many factors must be considered, and it is difficult to address them all at once, but here are some important ones.