F ALL 2015 (S ECTIONS 2&90)
Instructor: e-mail:
Office:
Dr. Yan “Joni” Zhou yzhou@csus.edu
Tahoe 3020
Office phone: 278-7653
Office Hours:
or by appointment
Course Information Lecture: MoWeFr 10:00 – 10:50 am at Mariposa Hall 1001
Course web page: http://login.cengagebrain.com/course/88VE-V3RH-4JLG
Class No.: 85229 for Section 2 and 82710 for Section 90
GE Area: D1A
Catalog Description Introductory inquiry into the workings and interrelationships of the aggregate economic system. The primary focus is on total production and its distribution,
Objectives employment and price levels, and the forces influencing them. Other considerations are the roles of government, the monetary sector, and related areas. 3 units.
Macroeconomics is the branch of economics that deals with the economy as a whole.
This is the broad field that focuses on economic issues you’ve seen discussed in the media: unemployment, GDP, inflation, and interest rates. Changes in macroeconomic conditions affect various gender, ethnic, and socio-economic groups differently.
Policy decisions have important implications for these groups and the economy as a whole.
At the end of this course, you should
(i) have a general understanding of the unique perspective taken by macroeconomics in its study of society and human behavior,
(ii) know the inquiry methods used by economists and be able to apply economic principles and models to everyday decisions,
(iii) be able to explain how key macroeconomic statistics are measured,
(iv) be able to explain the determinants of economic growth and people’s living standards,
(v) be able to analyze how macroeconomic policies affect the overall economic situation, and
(vi) know the basic concepts related to open-economy macroeconomics.
To meet the GE writing requirement, you will be asked to answer short essay questions
Required Textbook
(available online)
Grading on exams.
Mankiw, N. Gregory, Brief Principles of Macroeconomics, 7 th edition
You are required to register for this course online at http://login.cengagebrain.com/course/88VE-V3RH-4JLG . Details about how to register are given at the end of this syllabus. Your registration includes an online version of the textbook.
Homework 20%
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Assignments
Two midterm exams 40%
Comprehensive final exam 40%
Grades will be distributed approximately according to the following scale:
A >93 A- 90~93 B+ 87~89 B 83~86 B- 80~82 C+ 77~79
C 73~76 C- 70~72 D+ 67~69 D 63~66 D- 60~62 F <60
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You must be registered to this course online to access homework assignments and receive credits for it. It is very important that you have reliable (high-speed) internet access. It is highly recommended that you use the on-campus computer labs to complete your homework. Computer problems are NOT an excuse for missing assignments.

No late homework will be accepted.
Due dates for all assignments are posted online usually a week in advance. No extensions of due dates are allowed. You must keep track of the due dates for all homework assignments. I will announce in class when I assign new homework. You are also encouraged to check the course website frequently in case you miss the announcements in class. If you add the course late in the semester, you cannot makeup work you have missed.

Start working on the assignments at least a day before the due date.
These assignments are challenging and important both for your homework grade and your performance in the class. Please give yourself enough time to work on them.

The answers and explanations for each assignment will be available immediately after the due time. Please be sure to review the answers and explanations of each assignment.

Free peer tutoring for this class is available at Tahoe 3025 in the Department of
Economics. Tutoring hours are posted in the department office during the first week of classes. You can also email me, drop by my office at Tahoe 3020 during office hours (see the top of page 1), or make appointments with me if you have any questions regarding the homework assignments.
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Policies 1.
Academic honesty is expected. You will receive a mark of zero on any work
(including exams) where academic dishonesty occurs.
2.
You are responsible for bringing a scantron form (#882-E), a pencil and a calculator 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. All exam dates are fixed, if you cannot take exams on these dates, please do not enroll in this class.
4.
I recommend that you attend all the lectures of this class. Missing a lecture usually costs you plenty of time to catch up. Those who attend the lectures irregularly tend to perform poorly in this class. If you have to miss a lecture, you must provide the relevant documents (such as a doctor’s note) to me.
5.
Come to class on time and stay for the entire class session. If you do need to leave early, please let me know before class starts.
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.
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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Beginning
Date
Week 1 8/31
Week 2 9/7
Week 3 9/14
Week 4 9/21
Week 5 9/28
Week 6 10/5
Week 7 10/12
Week 8 10/19
Week 9 10/26
Week 10 11/2
Topic
Syllabus
Lecture 1: Ten Principles of Economics
No class on Monday 9/7 (Labor Day)
Lecture 1: Ten Principles of Economics (continued)
Lecture 2: Thinking Like an Economist
Lecture 3: Interdependence and Gains from Trade
Reading
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Lecture 3: Interdependence and Gains from Trade (continued)
Lecture 4: The Market Forces of Supply and Demand
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Midterm Review (Wednesday, 10/7)
Midterm Exam #1 – Lectures 1-4 (Friday, 10/9)
Lecture 5: Measuring the Nation’s Income
Lecture 6: Measuring the Cost of Living
Lecture 6: Measuring the Cost of Living (continued)
Lecture 7: Production and Growth
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Lecture 7: Production and Growth (continued)
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 7
Lecture 8: Savings, Investment, & the Market for Loanable Funds Chapter 8
Week 11 11/9
Week 12 11/16
Week 13 11/23
Week 14 11/30
Week 15 12/7
Week 16 12/14
Midterm Review (Monday, 11/9)
No class on Wednesday 11/11 (Veteran’s Day)
Midterm Exam #2 – Lectures 5-8 (Friday, 11/13)
Lecture 8: Savings, Investment, & the Market for Loanable Funds
(continued)
Lecture 9: The Basic Tools of Finance
Nov 26-27: Thanksgiving Recess
Lecture 10: Unemployment and its Natural Rate
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Lecture 11: The Monetary System
Review for Final Exam
Final Exam (Lectures 1-11): Friday Dec 18, 2015, 8:00am -
10:00am
Chapter 11
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Instructor:
Start Date:
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