ECON 2020 - 120 Principles of Macroeconomics
11:00 am - 12:15 pm
2452 Knauss Hall
Dr. Christine Moser
Department of Economics
5420 Friedmann Hall
email: christine.moser@wmich.edu
Office Hours
Tuesdays: 12:30-2:00
Thursdays: 9:00-10:30
The course
Why did the financial crisis and recession happen? Did the stimulus package work?
What does the Federal Reserve do and how does it affect me? Should I be worried
about the trade deficit or the budget deficit (and what’s the difference anyway)? These
are just some of the questions we will try to answer in this course. While
microeconomics focuses on the decisions of individual people or firms, macroeconomics
is the study of the “behavior” of the entire economy and the government policies that can
affect it. While some find the word “macroeconomics” intimidating, we will actually learn
some very relevant and useful things that you hear about in the news every day.
Textbook and MyEconLab
We will be using an online system called "myeconlab." An individual subscription to this
service is required for the course because your homework and quizzes will be posted
and submitted on this site. You will NOT pass the course without myeconlab.
Subscription to myeconlab without the e-text or hard text is $45.
The text for the course:
Foundations of Macroeconomics, 5/E
Robin Bade and Michael Parkin
ISBN-10: 0132543532
ISBN-13: 9780132543538
You do NOT have to purchase the hard copy of the text. The text (which comes with
myeconlab access) is $160. The best option is probably to purchase the e-text for $80,
which also includes the myeconlab access. Once you have done this, you also have the
option of ordering a loose-leaf version of the text for an additional $30. If you initially opt
for the basic myeconlab, you can purchase the e-text later.
E-learning
In addition to MEL, we will also be using the course e-learning site for announcements,
posted articles, the grade book, etc. It is your responsibility to check for announcements
and updates.
Lecture
I do not take attendance, but there will be (weekly) bonus questions on the homework
related to in-class work. When you come to class, I expect you to pay attention and
participate.
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Tentative Course Outline
Key Questions Week
How do choices Week 1
and incentives
build an
Week 2
economy?
Week 3
How can we
assess the
Week 4
state of our
economy?
Week 5
What drives
long-run
economic
growth?
Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
What is money
good for?
What is the
government’s
role in the
economy?
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
How does the
global economy
affect us?
Week 13
Week 14
Dates
September 7
September 9
September 14
September 16
September 21
September 23
September 28
September 30
October 5
October 7
October 12
October 14
October 19
October 21
October 26
October 28
November 2
November 4
November 9
November 11
November 16
November 18
November 23
Thanksgiving
November 30
December 2
December 7
December 9
Homework
Quizzes
Exams
Chapters
1-2
Hmwk 0
Quiz 1
3-4
Quiz 2
5
Quiz 3
6
Quiz 4
7
Hmwk 1
Hmwk 2
Hmwk 3
Exam 1
Quiz 5
8
Quiz 6
9
Quiz 7
10-11
Hmwk 4
Hmwk 5
Hmwk 6
Quiz 8
12
Exam 2
Quiz 9
13-14
Quiz 10
16
Quiz 11
17
Hmwk 7
Hmwk 8
Quiz 12
Hmwk 9
18
Exam 3
Quiz 13
19
Hmwk 10
Homework
All homework will be submitted online via MyEconLab (MEL). All homework is due
Thursdays at midnight. There is one assignment per week except for exam weeks. The
homework is meant to give you practice with the concepts we discuss in class. Even if
you miss a homework assignment, you must go back and complete it (with no score)
before you can do the next assignment. Homework #0 is not worth any points, but it is a
required practice assignment to familiarize you with MEL and give us time to work out
any kinks in the system. For homework, the system gives you a few tries per question so
make sure you click “Check Answer” before saving. I drop the lowest three homework
scores.
Quizzes
There are weekly quizzes on MEL based on the readings. These are due Tuesday
before class. I drop the lowest three quiz scores. Unlike the homework, you cannot
check your answer and try again. Do not click submit until you have finished all
questions.
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Exams
There are three in-class exams and a final. The exams are multiple choice. I will drop
the lowest of your three exam scores. Practice questions for the exams will be available
on MEL.
The final exam is on Thursday December 16, from 8:00 am to10:00 am in our regular
lecture hall (2452 Knauss Hall). NO EARLY EXAMS WILL BE GIVEN, so make your
travel plans accordingly.
News
This class covers many topics in the news (inflation, interest rates, exchange rates,
unemployment, government policy and recession, just to name a few) and I consider
understanding what’s going on in world to be an important part of the course. Assigned
news items are fair game for exam and assignment questions.
Missed assignments and exams
I do not allow make-up exams or late assignments. I instead drop three homework
scores, three quiz scores and one exam score. If you miss more than one exam, you
will receive a zero for that exam. If you have documented reasons for missing two
exams, the missing score will be replaced with the lowest of your other exam scores
(including the final).
Email policy
Please realize that this is a large class, so use email sparingly. I am happy to answer
questions via email (or the internal email in MEL) regarding specific homework questions
or technical problems with MEL/Course Compass. Because I do not take attendance
and I drop your lowest homework and exam scores, I do not need to know if you are
unable to attend class or complete homework assignments. Do not email me to ask
what you missed in class. If you miss class it is your responsibility to get notes from a
classmate.
Course grade
Quizzes (10 out of 13 counted)
Homework (7 out of 10 counted)
Exams (2 out of 3 counted)
Final
Percent
15%
35%
30%
20%
100%
Points
60
140
120
80
400
The grading scale is: A(90-100), BA(85-89), B(80-84), CB(75-79), C(70-74), DC(65-69),
D(60-64), E (<60). I generally do not curve since I drop some of your lowest scores.
Please note that you are responsible for making yourself aware of and understanding the policies
and procedures in the Undergraduate (pp. 274-276) [Graduate (pp. 25-27)] Catalog that pertain to
Academic Honesty. These policies include cheating, fabrication, falsification and forgery, multiple
submission, plagiarism, complicity and computer misuse. If there is reason to believe you have
been involved in academic dishonesty, you will be referred to the Office of Student Conduct. You
will be given the opportunity to review the charge(s). If you believe you are not responsible, you
will have the opportunity for a hearing. You should consult with me if you are uncertain about an
issue of academic honesty prior to the submission of an assignment or test.
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