CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
ECON 100A – Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
FALL 2010
Instructor:
Email:
Yan “Joni” Zhou
yzhou@csus.edu
Office:
Office phone:
Office Hours:
Course web page: https://online.csus.edu
Tahoe 3020
(916) 278-7653
TuTh 3:00-4:30 p.m. or by
appointment
General
Information
Lecture:
TuTh 10:30am - 11:45am
Overview
Macroeconomics is the branch of economics that deals with the economy as a
whole. It analyzes the determinants of the aggregate level of output, income,
employment and prices. This course also examines the role of monetary and
fiscal policy in economic stabilization and considers these issues as they relate to
the global economy. The aim of this course is to give you the theoretical tools
necessary to understand and analyze macroeconomic issues in the real world.
Required Textbook
Mankiw, N. Gregory, Macroeconomics, 7th Edition (Worth Publishers). You are
Mariposa Hall 1001
Call No.:
Section:
84900
01
required to register for this course online through SacCT.
Grading
Homework Assignments
Two Midterm Exams
Final Exam
20%
40%
40%
Grades will be distributed approximately according to the following scale:
A
B
> 90
81-90
C 71-80
D 60-70
F
< 60
Each exam will consist of multiple-choice questions, problems to be solved, and
essay questions.
Assignments
 Homework assignments will be completed in an online interactive format and will
require reliable (high-speed) internet access. Assignments will be completed at the
SacCT web site. I encourage you to use the on-campus computer labs with a reliable
high-speed internet connection. Computer problems are not an excuse for missing
assignments.
 No late homework will be accepted. Due dates for all assignments are posted on
SacCT in advance. You are usually given one week to work on each online
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assignment. It is not possible to extend time for assignments after the due date.
 Give yourself ample time to complete the assignments. These assignments are
challenging and important both for your homework grade and your performance in the
class. I encourage you to spend time working through them carefully and to seek out
help from me, a classmate, or an economics tutor when you encounter problems.
 Answer keys for all material will be available online immediately after the due date
and time. Please be sure to review your problem sets before exams.
 You will also be given in-class exercises, which are important for improving your
performance in the class. These exercises are not graded and are discussed right after
you complete them in class. You are encouraged to attend the class regularly and work
on those exercises.
 Free peer tutoring for this class is available in the Department of Economics. Tutoring
hours are posted in the department office during the first week of classes.
Policies
1. Academic honesty is expected. No cheating on homework or exams. I encourage you
to work together on problem sets and to help each other in studying, however, work
submitted for a grade must be that of the individual student. You will receive a mark
of zero on any work (including exams) where cheating occurs.
2. You are responsible for bringing a scantron form (#882-E) on the day of exams.
Exams will be closed book and given in class.
3. There will be no makeup examinations. Exam dates are given in the course outline
below and are on posted online. All exam dates are fixed, if you cannot take exams
on these dates, please do not enroll in this class.
4. Attendance is highly recommended. If you miss a class, be sure to check with your
fellow classmates, and the course web page to see what material you missed.
5. Come to class on time; you will not be given extra time if you are late for an exam.
6. If you decide to withdraw from this class, please make sure you do so with the
registrar. If you withdraw without permission, you will be assigned a failing grade.
7. Keep cell phones shut off during class. During exams, you may not use your cell
phone as a calculator. You must bring a calculator w/o programming capabilities.
8. Please do not browse the internet, look at materials unrelated to the course, play
computer games, or chat online.
9. If you have a learning disability or a physical disability that requires accommodation,
please let me know as soon as possible. All needs that have been verified through
the Services to Students with Disabilities (Lassen Hall) will be accommodated.
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Tentative Course Outline
Week 1
Dates
Topic
Reading
Aug. 30 – Sep. 3
1. Syllabus
2. The Science of Macroeconomics
3. The Data of Macroeconomics - GDP
Chapters 1
Chapter 2
Week 2
Sep. 6 – 10
4. The Data of Macroeconomics - Measuring the
Cost of Living
5. The Data of Macroeconomics - Measuring
Joblessness
Chapter 2
Week 3
Sep. 13 – 17
6. National Income - the Goods and Services
Market
Chapter 3
Week 4
Sep. 20 – 24
7. National Income - the Labor Market and the
Natural Rate of Unemployment
Chapter 6
Week 5
Sep. 27 – Oct.1
8. Money and Inflation
Chapter 4
Week 6
Oct. 4 – 8
Review for Midterm Exam #1
Midterm Exam #1 – (Thursday, Oct 7)
Week 7
Oct.11 – 15
9. Economic Growth I: An Introduction to Solow
Growth Theory
10. Economic Growth I: Solow Growth Theory
with Population Growth
Chapter 7, p192-210
11. Economic Growth II: Solow Growth Theory
with Technological Progress
12. Beyond Solow: Endogenous Growth Theory
Chapter 8, p222-236
Chapter 9
Week 8
Oct. 18 – 22
Chapter 7, p211-217
Chapter 8, p238-243
Week 9
Oct. 25 – 29
13. Introduction to Economic Fluctuations
Week 10
Nov. 1 – 5
Review for Midterm Exam #2
Midterm Exam #2 – (Thursday, November 4)
Week 11
Nov. 8 – 12
14. Aggregate Demand I
Campus closed on Nov. 11.
Chapter 10
Week 12
Nov. 15 – 19
15. Aggregate Demand II
Chapter 11
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Week 13
Nov. 22 – 26
Week 14
16. Aggregate Supply
Campus closed on Nov. 25.
Chapter 13
Nov. 29 – Dec 3
17. A Dynamic Model of Aggregate Demand and
Aggregate Supply
Chapter 14
Week 15
Dec 6 – 10
18. Government Debt and Budget Deficits
Chapter 16
Week 16
Dec 13 – 17
Final Exam (comprehensive) Thursday, Dec 16,
10:15a.m.-12:15 p.m.
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