Zara Contractor
Assistant Professor of Economics
- Office
- Warner Hall 112
- zcontractor@middlebury.edu
- Office Hours
- Tuesday 10:15-11:45 a.m. and Thursday 3:30-5:00 p.m. or by appointment
Zara Contractor is an Assistant Professor of Economics. She joined the Department of Economics at Middlebury College in 2023 after completing her Ph.D. in Economics at Yale University. She holds an M.A. in Economics and a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics also from Yale. Her research focuses on Macroeconomics, Labor Economics, and the economic impact of emerging technologies.
She teaches courses in Macroeconomics and Labor Economics.
Courses Taught
ECON 0250
Macro Theory
Course Description
Macroeconomic Theory
Macroeconomic theory analyzes whether the market effectively coordinates individuals' decisions so that they lead to acceptable results. It considers the effectiveness of monetary, fiscal, and other policies in achieving desirable levels of unemployment, inflation, and growth. The theories held by various schools of economic thought such as Keynesians, monetarists, and new classicals are considered along with their proposed policies. (MATH 0121 and ECON 0150) 3 hrs. lect.
Terms Taught
ECON 0478
Technology and Labor Markets
Course Description
Technology and Labor Markets
In this course, we will explore the question: who gains from technological advances, and who loses? We will first learn theories of skill-biased technical change and automation through canonical and task-based Ricardian models. We will then apply these theories to a range of technological advances, including robots, computers, and complex software. For each technology, we will study the nuanced effects on employment, the wage distribution, and the nature of work. Additional topics will include historical technological advances (eg: electricity), and how technology contributes to growth in developing countries. We will then turn to emerging technologies like AI: can we extrapolate from what we have learned to predict how new technologies will impact workers? (ECON 0111 (formerly ECON 0210) and ECON 0250 or ECON 0255) 3 hrs. sem.
Terms Taught
ECON 0500
Upcoming
Individual Special Project
Course Description
Individual Special Project
If you choose to pursue an area that we do not offer or go in depth in an area already covered, we recommend the Individual Special Project option. These ECON 0500 proposals MUST be passed by the entire department and are to be submitted to the chair by the first Friday of fall and spring semester, respectively. The proposals should contain a specific description of the course contents, its goals, and the mechanisms by which goals are to be realized. It should also include a bibliography. According to the College Handbook, ECON 0500 projects are a privilege open to those students with advanced preparation and superior records in their fields. A student needs to have a 3.5 or higher G.P.A. in Economics courses taken at Middlebury in order to pursue an Individual Special Project. ECON 0500 does not count towards the major or minor requirements.
Terms Taught
ECON 0701
Upcoming
Senior Research Workshop I
Course Description
Senior Research Workshop I
In this first semester, students will design and begin their projects. Emphasis will be on designing a novel research question (while making the case for its importance) and an appropriate strategy for answering it. This requires immersion in the academic literature on the topic. General research principles and tools will be taught in class, as a group, while those specific to individual projects will be covered in one-on-one meetings. By the end of the term, students will outline their plan for completing the project, including demonstrating that it is a feasible research question for which the necessary information (e.g., data or source materials) is available or can be generated by the student (e.g., lab or other experiment). (Approval required)
Terms Taught