ECON 191-01: Principles of Macroeconomics

Dominican University

 

Summer 2005

 

Instructor: Brian Scott

Office:

Office Phone:

Cell Phone: 773-430-5295

Email: bscott@dom.edu

Office Hours:  Monday and Wednesday by appointment.

 

This is an undergraduate course in the principles of macroeconomics.  We will cover the basics of economics essential to both macroeconomics and microeconomics.  We will then cover basic macroeconomic theory including fiscal and monetary policy from both the Keynesian and Classical perspectives.

 

Expected learning outcomes:

By the end of the semester a successful student should:

 

1.  Gain a solid understanding of macroeconomic theory

2.  Be able to apply  the theory to real world situations

3.  Be prepared for future coursework in macroeconomics

 

Meeting Times: This class meets Tuesday and Thursday 6:00pm-9:45pm

 

Instructional Method: This course will be taught primarily through lecture, with in class experiments, demonstrations, discussions and problem solving.

 

Texts:

 

Required Texts:

Mankiw, N. Gregory.  Principles of Macroeconomics.  3rd edition. Thomson-Southwestern Publishers, 2004, ISBN/ISSN 0-324-17189-7  

Or

 

"Essentials of Economics, 3rd Edition", Thomson-Southwestern Publishers, 2004.

ISBN/ISSN: 0-324-17191-9


Suggested Texts;

Mankiw, N. Gregory.  Study Guide to accompany Principles of Macroeconomics.  3rd edition. Mason, Ohio: Thomson-Southwestern Publishers, 2004.

 

Grading:

 

You are expected to attend class and are responsible for all material that is covered in class that might not be included in the book or may be slightly different from what is included in the book.  Please ask questions if any of the material is unclear. If you would like to meet with me sometime outside of class I would be more than happy to schedule an appointment.

 

Grading Scale:

 

90%-100%      A

80%-89%        B

70%-79%        C

60%-69%        D

0%-59%          F

 

Pluses and minuses will be based on course participation and attendance.

 

Grading Policy:                                        

 

Quiz 1                                                                                      5%

 

Midterm I                                                                                 20%

 

Quiz 2                                                                                      5%     

 

Quiz 3                                                                                      5%

 

Quiz 4                                                                                      5%                 

 

Midterm II                                                                               20%

 

Final                                                                                         30%

 

If performance on the final is a significant improvement over other grades it will be given more weight when calculating final grades.

 

Introduction

Ten Principles of Economics:                                         Review Questions 2, 7, 9, 10

                                                                                    Problems: 4, 5, 6, 11

Thinking Like an Economist:                                          Problems 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,

 

Supply and Demand I

Market Forces of S & D:                                              Problems 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11

S, D & Government Policies:                                        Problems 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 10 (skip elasticity portions of these questions)

 

Macroeconomic Data

Measuring a Nation’s Income:                                       Problems 1, 5, 11

Measuring the Cost of Living:                                        Problems 2, 10, 11

 

The Real Economy in the Long Run

Production & Growth:                                                  Review Questions 2, 7

                                                                                    Problems 7, 8, 9

Saving, Investment, & Financial System:                        Problems 1, 9/7, 10/8, 12/10, 15/13

Unemployment & Natural Rate:                                    Problems 1, 4/5, 5/6, 6/7, 8/9

 

Money and Prices in the Long Run

Monetary System:                                                         Problems 3, 6/7, 9/10, 10/11, 11/12

Money Growth & Inflation:                                           Problems 1, 2, 5, 6, 11

 

Short-Run Economic Fluctuations

AD & AS:                                                                    Problems 3, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12

Effect of Policies on AD:                                               Problems 1, 2, 3, 8, 11

Tradeoff Between Inflation & Unemp.:                          Problems 1, 4, 7  

 

Final Thoughts

 

Basic Tools of Finance

 

Open Economies