Economics 1120
Course Outline and Reading List
Spring 2010
Lecture
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Date
Jan. 26
Jan. 28
Feb. 2
Feb. 4
Feb. 9
Feb. 11
Topic
Introduction: What is Economics?
The US Economy - An Overview
Supply and Demand
Using Supply and Demand Analysis
Why Worry About Macroeconomics?
Measuring National Income
Reading
Chap. 1
Chap. 2
Chap. 3
Chap. 4
Chap. 5
Chap. 6
Assignment – Using the data for GDP per capita at
http://www.economagic.com/popular.htm find out how much output per person has
grown from the year you were born compared to now
7.
Feb. 16
Unemployment and Inflation
Chap. 7
Assignment – Using the data for the CPI at http://www.economagic.com/popular.htm find out first how much a dollar is worth today compared to the month you were born and
second what the average annual rate of inflation over that period has been
8.
9.
Feb. 18
Feb. 23
Equilibrium and the Macroeconomy
Fiscal Policy and the Role of the Government
Chap. 8
Chap. 9
Assignment – Do the “Penny Game” at
http://www.concordcoalition.org/education/penny-game/online/index.html
10.
11.
12.
Feb. 25
Mar. 2
Mar. 4
Money and the Role of the Fed
Money Demand and Monetary Policy
Linking Money and the “Real” Economy
Chap. 10
Chap. 11
Chap. 12
First Prelim - Evening of March 4 at 7:30 PM (covers everything thru March 2)
13.
14.
15.
Mar. 9
Mar. 11
Mar. 16
Aggregate Supply and Demand
Unemployment - Causes and Tradeoffs
Macro Policy and the Deficit
Chap. 13
Chap. 14
Chap. 15
Assignment – Look at the National Debt Clock at http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/ If this debt is shared equally by all citizens, what is YOUR share?
Mar. 18
Makeup for First Prelim, Uris Aud. 800AM
SPRING BREAK
16.
17.
18.
Mar. 30
Apr. 1
Apr. 6
Investment and Capital Markets
Consumption Decisions and the Life Cycle
Social Security, the Deficit and the Long Run
Chap. 15
Chap. 16
Assignment – Read Part I (thru page 18) of the Social Security Primer at:
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05193sp.pdf (also on course website)
19.
Apr. 8
Monetarism, New Classicals and Supply Siders
Chap. 18
Second Prelim – Evening of April 13 at 7:30 PM (covers everything thru April 8)
20.
21.
22.
Apr. 13
Apr. 15
Apr. 20
International Trade - Comparative Advantage
Barriers to Trade and International Agreements
Exchange Rates and the Balance of Payments
Chap.19
Chap. 19
Chap. 20
Assignment – Read the following article on exchange rates:
http://economics.about.com/cs/money/l/aa022703a.htm (A Beginner’s Guide to
Exchange Rates)
23.
24.
25.
26.
Apr. 22
Apr. 27
Apr. 29
May 4
May 6
International Debt and Capital Flows
Globalization, Trade and Immigration
Economic Growth - Sources and Structural Change
Economies in Transition and Central Planning
Makeup for Second Prelim, Uris Aud. 800AM
Chap. 20
Chap. 20
Chap. 17&21
Chap. 21
Final Paper is Due on May 6 IN CLASS. NO EXTENSIONS WILL BE GIVEN
FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER SO DON’T ASK
All readings are from Case, Fair & Oster Principles of Macroeconomics 9th Ed. Prentice Hall
2009.