ECO-3203.U01
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Prof. Alan Gummerson
Spring 2015
Texts:
Blanchard, Olivier. Macroeconomics. 6th edition, loose-leaf. Pearson. 2013.
ISBN: 9780133103045. Shrink-wrapped with the text and included in the price is an
access code card which will give you access to MyEconLab, Pearson’s website,
where you will do homework online for course credit and also have access to an
electronic version of the text. Bookstore price: $168.
Buying access to MyEconLab online with access to the etext costs $128.
Paying a bit more to get hard copies of the chapters you will need to master is a best
buy. Be careful: paperback copies available online are the international edition,
which is not the same as the one we will be using. Make sure you buy the
hardbound, 6th edition, if you don’t purchase the loose-leaf edition at the FIU
bookstore.
Course Prerequisites:
Principles of Macroeconomics and Microeconomics, plus competence in high
school algebra and geometry.
Course Goals:
Intermediate Macroeconomics is one of two basic theory courses for students
majoring or minoring in economics. It is designed to familiarize the student with:
• The basic facts about the macroeconomy
• The methods of analysis used by economists
• The fundamental theories of how the values of the main macroeconomic
variables are determined
• The basic controversies about the trade-offs involved in policy interventions.
Course Requirements and Grading
Scores on four equally-weighted exams will determine 80% of the grade in
this course. Scores on the online homework will determine the other 20% of the
course grade.
Each exam combines multiple choice questions with essay/analysis questions.
At the end of the semester, grades will be assigned on a curve based on the total
number of points earned on the four exams and the homework, properly weighted.
There will be no extra credits available.
Every student should have at least one “buddy” to contact to get notes from
classes missed or for questions about assignments, times of exams, etc.
Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of Academic Misconduct:
Students should become aware of FIU’s definitions of and polices toward
academic misconduct. The University’s policies may be found on the FIU website
at: Academic Misconduct and Code of Academic Integrity.
Office: DM-315B
Email: gummerso@fiu.edu
Phone: 305-348-2381
Website: faculty.fiu.edu/~gummerso
Office hours: Thursdays 1:30 – 4:00 pm in VH-136, and by appointment