PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS
SPRING 2008
Instructor:
Office:
Dr. Abdulhamid Sukar
N. Shepler 730
Office Hours: MWF 10:00-12:30
TR 11:00-12:00
Phone:
581-2845
Course Description:
Principles of macroeconomics is an introductory course that focuses on output and price
determination; employment and unemployment; interest rates; monetary and fiscal
policies; and international economic issues.
Course Objectives
The students will:
1. Understand economic concepts such as scarcity and opportunity cost.
2. Be able to apply economic models such as supply and demand
3. Develop an understanding of key macroeconomic variables such as output,
inflation, and unemployment.
4. Understand saving, investment and financial system.
5. Understand how fiscal and monetary policies may be used to stabilize business
cycle.
6. Analyze current economic issues and problems.
7. Understand the process of money creation and the Federal Reserve System.
8. Be able to understand different theories of economic growth, unemployment and
price stability.
9. Understand the basics of international trade and finance
Required
1. N.Gregory Mankiw, Brief Principles of Macroeconomics, 4th ed. (Thomson/
South-Western, 2006). ISBN: 0-324-36023-1
2. Registration for Aplia website.
Recommended:
1. David R. Hakes, Study Guide to Accompany Brief Principles of
Macroeconomics, 4th ed. (Mason, OH: Thonmson/Wouth-Western, 2004).
2. Wall Street Journal.
Class Attendance:
You are expected to be in class on time and attend all of the classes during
the course of the semester. Attendance will be taken at random and will
be used to decide on borderline grades.
Course Requirements:
Weekly Readings
Students are required to read the chapters from the text. Reading the
chapters ahead of time helps you come to class prepared and participate in
class discussion and raise questions.
Weekly Assignments
Aplia assignments are posted on a weekly basis. The assignments are very
important for both understanding the subject matter and as a practice for
the course exam. Aplia assignments are both for credit and
practice. The practice part is to prepare you for the graded portion. If you
are confident on the chapters, you can skip the graded part and do the
graded ones. Graded assignments are removed from the site after the due
dates and it is not possible to make-up for missed assignments.
Quizzes and Exams
There will be four quizzes and midterm exams. Your lowest quiz and
midterm exam will not enter your final grade. There will be no make-up
quiz or midterm under any circumstance. The final exam is on Tuesday,
May 6, 2008.
Grading:
Your final grade is based on your three best quizzes (10%), three best
midterm exams (50%), final exam (30%), and Aplia assignments (10%)
Course Outline
Date
Week ending
Jan 14-18
21-31
Feb4-9
11-15
18-22
25-29
Topic
Introduction
Reading Assignments
Chap1
Thinking Like Economist
Interdependence and the Gains from
Trade
The Market Forces of Supply and
Demand
Exam 1
Measuring a Nation’s Income
Chap 2
Chap 3
Measuring the Cost of Living
Exam 2
Production and Growth
Chap 4
Chap 5
Chap 6
Chap 7
10-14
Saving, Investment, and the
Financial System
The Basic Tools of Finance
Unemployment and the Natural Rate
Exam 3
The Monetary System
17-21
Spring Break
24-28
Money Growth and Inflation
Exam 4
Apr1-4
Open Economy Macroeconomics
Cha 13
7-11
A Macroeconomic Theory of Open
Economy
Chap 14
14-18
Aggregate Demand and Aggregate
Supply
Chap 15
Mar3-7
21-25
May 8
(8:00-10)
Chap 9
Chap 10
Chap 11
Chap 12
Chap 16
The Influence of Monetary and
Fiscal Policy on Aggregate Demand
28-2
Chap 8
The Short-Run Trade-off Between
Inflation and Unemployment
Final Exam
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Registration
Registration Instructions
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If you understand your payment options, pay now. Otherwise, postpone your purchase
decision by choosing the option to pay later. Your payment grace period ends at the end
of the day on 02/03/2008.
Payment
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