Inelastic Demand

Except for last spring, when John Finley's survey of the Greek classics had the highest enrollment of any course in the University, Economics 10, "Principles of Economics," has led the College list for the last three years. This year is no different. Although it is about 70 students smaller this year than last, Ec 10 has pulled in more than 200 more students than the next largest course.

No one takes Ec 10 for the simple pleasure of playing with supply and demand curves. Donald Candela '78 said yesterday as he walked out of his Ec 10 exam that he's taking the course because he needs a gut to balance his work load. But most students yesterday said they view neoclassical theory as important for other reasons.

Si Fisk '78, a Music concentrator, said plaintively yesterday that he is taking it because he wanted to understand Walter Cronkite when he talks about the Dow Jones index.

Wendy L. Farrow '78 said she is taking it to help with economics questions that come up in history, her field of concentration.

Caryn L. Cross '80 said she needs it to go to business school.

James S. Duesenberry, chairman of the Economics Department, said yesterday enrollment in the introductory course has always tended to vary with general interest in the economy.

The course has been packed ever since the financial crunch of the early '70's, and is as crowded as it was during the early '60s when John F. Kennedy '40 kept emphasizing economic policies in his state of the union speeches.

Enrollment over the last decade has gone as high as 950, and as low as 500. "We gain out of problems in the economy," Duesenberry said, "but you can't predict anything."

Like Ec 10, Government 30, "Introduction to American Government," usually reflects national events, with enrollment rising in election years. But this year the course dropped from third place right out of the top ten--a circumstance James Q. Wilson, Shattuck Professor of Government and an instructor in the course, said last week he cannot explain.

But he added it may be because of an erroneous perception of the Government Department's grading policies. Harvey C. Mansfield Jr. '53, chairman of the department, made several statements about the need to fight grade inflation, and anyone going to law school is likely to think twice about majoring in Government.

Nat Sci 4, "Natural Selection and Behavioral Biology," came out of nowhere to take second place this year, with an enrollment of 515. Stephen Gaulin, a section person in the course, said last week it provides general rules about daily life, and students take it because they want to know about evolution.

But one student who asked not to be identified yesterday added another reason for taking the course: in the two years Nat Sci 4 has been offered, it has acquired a reputation as one of the easiest guts around, and fulfills Nat Sci requirements as well. "How much more can I ask?" he said.