SYLLABUS – Spring 2010
ECON. 2133 - Principles of Macroeconomics
Sec. 002 (MWF 9 - 9:50 a.m. in Rivers West 105A)
Sec. 004 (MWF 10 – 10:50 a.m. in Rivers West 105A)
Dr. Gary W. Zinn
Dept. of Economics
Office: Brewster A-110 (inside A113 office suite)
Tel. 328-6751 (office); 756-3395 (home)
Office hours: MWF 11 – 11:45 a.m. and 2 – 3:15 p.m.; Tue 8:30 – 10:45 a.m.;
Thu 1:30 – 3:15 p.m.
e-mail: zinng@ecu.edu
Course website: core.ecu.edu/econ/zinng As the semester
progresses, I will post important documents (exam study guides, post-exam
summaries, grade reports, etc.) on this website, along with announcements,
reminders, etc. Please check the website every 2 – 3 days for new materials and
information.
Note: To access the website, type in the address exactly as above on the
location/address line on your web browser. This site cannot be accessed
through One Stop, Banner, Blackboard, or www.
ECONOMICS is the social science that studies how people use limited resources
to satisfy their needs and wants through the production, distribution, exchange,
and consumption of products (i.e., goods and services).
MACROECONOMICS studies the market economy at an aggregate level, with
focus on topics including measuring national output of goods and services,
overall price levels, inflation, and unemployment, and how these may be
influenced through governmental monetary and fiscal policy.
Text: Hall, R. and M. Lieberman. Macroeconomics – Principles and Applications
(4th) Thomson South-Western, 2008.
Aplia on-line resource: Review and practice materials that complement the text
are available on-line at www.aplia.com (subscription required).
Also, you will complete practice and graded exercises on-line via Aplia –
see (2), below.
Both the text and Aplia on-line resource are required. Information re.
acquiring the text and subscribing to Aplia are provided in the appendix at the
end of this syllabus.
Grading Basis
In-class exams (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300 pts.
On-line (Aplia) graded exercises
(10 of 12 scores apply) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200 pts.
Pre final total. . . . . . 500 pts.
Final exam (optional – see (3), below) . . . . . . . . . 180 pts.
Total . . . . . . . . . 680 pts.
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(1) In-class exams will be given as per the Class Schedule, below. Exams are
100 points each. Exams will consist of multiple-choice questions.
 An exam study guide will be posted on my website one week before each
exam date; this will outline exam coverage, subjects of exam questions, and
specific study suggestions.
 Exams may be taken only at the regularly scheduled class times; no makeup
exams will be given during the semester; however . . .
 The final exam will serve as a makeup exam for anyone who has missed a
regular exam; i.e., a student's percentage grade on the final exam will be
applied as a makeup score for a regular exam missed. This applies to one
missed exam only. Anyone who misses more than one exam will take a zero
for any additional exam(s) missed.
(2) On-line exercises will be completed as indicated in the Class Schedule,
below. Each graded exercise will have a raw point value of 15 - 25 points;
however, all exercise scores will be adjusted to a 20 point per exercise basis for
grade recording purposes. Twelve graded exercises will be assigned, but at the
end of the semester your total score on the exercises (200 point basis) will be
based on your ten best exercise scores.
You will have an announced period of days in which to log on and
work on each exercise; you may complete each exercise any time during
that period, but no later than the announced deadline. Any graded
exercises that you fail to complete cannot be made up.
(3) The final exam is optional. Before the final exam period begins, pre-final
letter grades will be posted for all students. Students who have taken all regular
exams and who are satisfied with their pre-final grade may opt not to take the
final. Of course, anyone may take the final in an effort to improve his/her course
grade.
 The final exam will serve as a makeup exam for anyone who has missed a
regular exam -- see (1), above.
 The final exam may be taken and its percentage grade applied as a
replacement score for a student’s lowest regular exam score, if the student
has taken all regular exams and does not have more than four recorded class
absences (see Attendance, below).
 If you take the final and do poorly on it, this will not reduce your course grade.
Note: The exams and exercises described above constitute the entire basis for
your course grade. No individual “extra credit” or “makeup” work will be
given under any circumstances.
Grade scales: Exams and exercises may be scored either on a “straight” scale
(i.e., 90% = A, 80% = B, 70% = C, 60% = D) or on a “curve” based on the class
mean and standard deviation for each exam or exercise.
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A grade report will be posted at intervals during the semester. The report
will show scores for all work completed to date, total points earned, and total
absences. Total points earned may be compared with a current letter grade
scale; thus you can verify your letter grade standing at that point in the course.
Please note: The grade report will be posted on my course website.
Individual students’ grades will be posted by Banner I.D. number only (no
names). Anyone who does not wish their grades posted in this manner
must so notify me, in writing, before the first exam.
Anyone who has questions about exams, grades, or other course
requirements at any time during the term should consult with me promptly.
Attendance: Regular class attendance is to your benefit, in that class time will
be devoted to explaining and amplifying key points in the text, supplementing
these with illustrations and discussion, etc. Thus your understanding of the
subject will be improved if you attend class faithfully. Course grades generally
correlate positively with regular class attendance.
I will use various means to verify attendance throughout the semester. As
an incentive to attendance, each student may earn a 20-point “attendance
bonus,” redeemable at the end of the semester, as follows. Four points will be
deducted from a student’s attendance bonus for each unexcused absence; thus
anyone with five absences or more will receive zero attendance bonus points at
the end of the semester. Also, anyone with more than four recorded absences
may not use the final exam to replace a low regular exam score (see (3), above).
(Anyone may take the final exam, regardless of number of absences.)
Recorded absences may be excused only via a documented excuse
(University, medical, or similar).
NOTE: If you fail to complete more than two graded Aplia exercises,
each additional exercise not completed will be counted as a recorded
absence.
Classroom Behavior: Some ECU undergraduates have a poor understanding of
proper classroom behavior. Specifically:
(1) This class is not a casual party, where people may drop in and leave at
will. I.e., it is not acceptable for students to get into the habit of being late to
class or leaving early. These behaviors are disruptive to the class session and
are disrespectful to classmates and to me. When you registered for this class,
you made a standing appointment for the scheduled class period for the duration
of the semester.
(2) No operating electronic devices such as cell phones, pagers, iPods,
etc. are allowed in the classroom. Laptops and calculators are OK.
(3) Class time is not a time to visit with friends. If you insist on engaging in
side conversations during class, I will be in your face!
(4) PLEASE pay attention! I have no idea how much time I spend each
semester answering questions or explaining things that have already been
announced or explained in class, or which have been given to you in writing. I
get grouchy when students waste everyone’s time because of inattention.
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Students with disabilities/special needs: ECU seeks to comply fully with the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students requesting accommodations
based on a disability must be registered with the Department for Disability
Support Services, located in Slay 138 (252)737-1016 (Voice/TTY).
Any student with a special need due to disability should so notify me and
we will work out suitable accommodations.
Academic Integrity Violations include cheating, plagiarism, and falsification on
or in relation to any academic requirement, assignment, or activity. A student
suspected of an academic integrity violation is subject to a legalistic procedure
that can result in severe penalties. As an instructor, I am obligated to deal
with any academic integrity violation firmly and in accordance with
University policies and procedures. For your own information and protection,
I recommend that you review the University’s Principles of Academic Integrity,
available via a link on the homepage of my course website.
ECON 2133 CLASS SCHEDULE – Spring 2010
This class schedule is subject to change at the instructor's discretion.
Significant changes will be announced in advance.
I. Critical dates
Jan 15 (Fri) – Exercise 1 due, 10 p.m.
Jan 25 (Mon) – Exercise 2 due, 10 p.m.
Feb 1 (Mon) – Exercise 3 due, 10 p.m.
Feb 3 (Wed) – Exam 1 (in class)
Feb 8 (Mon) – Exercise 4 due, 10 p.m.
Feb 15 (Mon) – Exercise 5 due, 10 p.m.
Feb 22 (Mon) – Exercise 6 due, 10 p.m.
Mar 1 (Mon) – Exercise 7 due, 10 p.m.
Mar 3 (Wed) – Exam 2 (in class)
Mar 19 (Fri) – Exercise 8 due, 10 p.m.
Mar 26 (Fri) – Exercise 9 due, 10 p.m.
Apr 6 (Tue) – Exercise 10 due, 10 p.m.
Apr 13 (Tue) – Exercise 11 due, 10 p.m.
Apr 14 (Wed) – Exam 3 (in class)
Apr 20 (Tue) – Exercise 12 due, 10 p.m.
Apr 21 (Wed) – No class meeting!
Apr 23 (Fri) – Final exam orientation
Apr 26 (Mon) – No class meeting!
Apr 30 (Fri) – Section 002 Final exam – 8 a.m.
May 3 (Mon) – Section 004 Final exam – 8 a.m.
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II. Subject Sequence
Course material will be covered in the following sequence. Text assignments
for each subject are indicated.
1. Introduction – course requirements and guidelines. Basic concepts,
definitions, and principles of macroeconomics. READ Ch. 1 & 2 (review);
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2. Measuring national income/output and employment. READ Ch. 5
3. Measuring price levels and inflation. READ Ch. 6
4. Production and growth; saving and investment. READ Ch. 8
Note: review Ch. 3 on demand and supply
5. The monetary system. READ Ch. 11
6. Classical macroeconomic modeling. READ Ch. 7
7. Economic fluctuations (business cycles). READ Ch. 9
8. Short run macroeconomic modeling. READ Ch. 10
9. Monetary system modeling. READ Ch. 12
10. Aggregate demand – aggregate supply modeling. READ Ch. 13
11. Monetary and fiscal policy. READ Ch. 14, 15
12. Open market macroeconomics. READ Ch. 17 (review); 16 (emphasis)
G.W. Zinn
December 2009
Appendix – Acquiring the text and Aplia resource
Please read the material below carefully. It explains your options for acquiring
the course textbook and how to register and pay for access to and use of the
Aplia system.
Please note that Option 1: Digital Textbook with Aplia Access, is your
lowest cost option ($80 total).
Student Registration and Payment Instructions
Course Name: Econ 2133 Prin Macro -Hall/Lieberman (4e)- SP 10
Start Date: 01/08/2010
Instructor: Gary Zinn
Course Key:
X267-ND77-B3WJ
You can begin working on your homework as soon as you register!
• In this course, you will use a textbook and Aplia's website.
• In most cases, you can save money if you buy Aplia and your textbook together. See
payment options below.
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• You will have access to a digital version of your textbook using Aplia.
Registration
If you have never used Aplia before...
1. Connect to http://www.aplia.com.
2. Click the New Student link and enter your Course Key: X267-ND77-B3WJ.
Continue following the instructions to complete your registration.
If you have used Aplia before...
1. Connect to http://www.aplia.com.
2. Sign in with your usual e-mail address and password and enter your Course Key when
prompted: X267-ND77-B3WJ. If you are not prompted for a new Course Key, click
the Enter Course Key button to enroll in a new Aplia course. Enter your Course Key when
you are prompted.
* You will have different payment options after you register for your course. If you choose to
pay later, you can use Aplia without paying until 11:59 PM on 01/28/2010.
Payment
Option 1: Digital Textbook with Aplia Access
• From Aplia: Purchase access to your course from Aplia's website for $80.00 USD.
Option 2: NEW Physical Textbook with Aplia Access (also includes digital textbook)
• From Aplia: Purchase access to your course for $80.00 USD and a physical book for
$45.00 USD from Aplia's website.
• From Bookstore: Purchase an Aplia Access Card and a physical book together as a
bundle from your campus bookstore. Total cost will be the bookstore’s combined
price for the textbook and Aplia access card.
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* If you purchased an Aplia Access Card from a bookstore, enter the Access Card's payment
code on Aplia's website as payment for your Aplia course.
* You will have access to your digital textbook up until the end of this course.
Option 3: USED Physical Textbook + Aplia Access – Purchase a used textbook from
whatever source; plus you will have to purchase Aplia Access directly on-line (see
“Registration,” above). Total cost will be whatever you pay for the used textbook plus $80 for
your Aplia registration.
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