CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
ECON 1A – Introduction to Macroeconomic Analysis
FALL 2015 (SECTION 3)
Instructor:
e-mail:
Office:
Office phone:
Office Hours:
Dr. Yan “Joni” Zhou
yzhou@csus.edu
Tahoe 3020
278-7653
Monday 1:00 – 3:00 pm and Friday 1:00 - 2:00 pm or by appointment
Course Information
Lecture: MoWeFr 11:00 – 11:50 am at Mariposa Hall 1001
Course web page: http://login.cengagebrain.com/course/9XM4-Y9WK-74FN
Class No.: 82336
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,
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.
Objectives
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
on exams.
Required Textbook
(available online)
Mankiw, N. Gregory, Brief Principles of Macroeconomics, 7th edition
You are required to register for this course online at
http://login.cengagebrain.com/course/9XM4-Y9WK-74FN. Details about how
to register are given at the end of this syllabus. Your registration includes an online
version of the textbook.
Grading
Homework
20%
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Two midterm exams
Comprehensive final exam
40%
40%
Grades will be distributed approximately according to the following scale:
A >93
C 73~76
Assignments
A- 90~93
C- 70~72
B+ 87~89
D+ 67~69
B 83~86
D 63~66
B- 80~82
D- 60~62
C+ 77~79
F
<60
 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. For the definition of
academic dishonesty, please visit:
http://www.csus.edu/umanual/AcademicHonestyPolicyandProcedures.htm.
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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Tentative Course Outline
Week 1
Beginning
Date
Topic
Reading
8/31
Syllabus
Lecture 1: Ten Principles of Economics
Chapter 1
Week 2
9/7
No class on Monday 9/7 (Labor Day)
Lecture 1: Ten Principles of Economics (continued)
Lecture 2: Thinking Like an Economist
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Week 3
9/14
Lecture 3: Interdependence and Gains from Trade
Chapter 3
Week 4
9/21
Lecture 3: Interdependence and Gains from Trade (continued)
Chapter 3
Week 5
9/28
Lecture 4: The Market Forces of Supply and Demand
Chapter 4
Week 6
10/5
Midterm Review (Wednesday, 10/7)
Midterm Exam #1 – Lectures 1-4 (Friday, 10/9)
Week 7
10/12
Lecture 5: Measuring the Nation’s Income
Lecture 6: Measuring the Cost of Living
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Week 8
10/19
Lecture 6: Measuring the Cost of Living (continued)
Lecture 7: Production and Growth
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Lecture 7: Production and Growth (continued)
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Week 9
10/26
Week 10
11/2
Lecture 8: Savings, Investment, & the Market for Loanable Funds
Week 11
11/9
Midterm Review (Monday, 11/9)
No class on Wednesday 11/11 (Veteran’s Day)
Midterm Exam #2 – Lectures 5-8 (Friday, 11/13)
Week 12
11/16
Lecture 8: Savings, Investment, & the Market for Loanable Funds
(continued)
Chapter 8
Week 13
11/23
Lecture 9: The Basic Tools of Finance
Nov 26-27: Thanksgiving Recess
Chapter 9
Week 14
11/30
Lecture 10: Unemployment and its Natural Rate
Chapter 10
Week 15
12/7
Lecture 11: The Monetary System
Review for Final Exam
Chapter 11
Week 16
12/14
Final Exam (Lectures 1-11): Monday Dec 14, 2015, 10:15am 12:15 pm
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How to access your Aplia course
Econ 1A Section 3
Instructor: Yan Zhou
Start Date: 08/31/2015
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