P R I N C I P L E S
E
O F
M A C R O E C O N O M I C S
C O N O M I C S
2 0 1 3 - 0 7
SUMMER SEMESTER 2014
BRIAN MEEHAN
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL SCIENCES AND PUBLIC POLICY
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
BEL 204 MTWTF; 5:15 – 6:30 pm
Office Hours 2:00-3:00 pm MTWTF BEL
COURSE DESCRIPTION & LEARNING GOALS
Economics is the study of how and why people make choices due to scarcity of resources, and the
consequences of these choices. This class will focus on the market system of economic choice. We will
analyze how individuals choose, and how large groups of individuals, and countries involved in the
market system impact economic activity. We will also investigate how government policy impacts the
overall economy.
Macroeconomics is the study of the national economy as a whole or of its major components. It deals
with the “big picture,” not the details, of the nation’s economic activity. Instead of concentrating on how
many bicycles or hand calculators are sold, macroeconomists watch how many good and services
consumers purchase in total or how much money all producers spend on new plants and equipment.
Instead of tracking the price of a particular good in a particular market, macroeconomics monitors the
general price level or average of all prices. Instead of focusing on the wage rate and the number of people
employed as plumbers or engineers, macroeconomists study incomes of all employees and the total
number of people employed throughout the economy. In short, macroeconomics involves the study of
national production, unemployment, and inflation. For that reason it is often referred to as aggregate
economics. (Heyne, Prychitko, Boettke)
PREVIEW OF THE SEMESTER SCHEDULE
The following is the order in which we will proceed through the text. I will make every effort to follow
this order in its entirety. However, adjustments may be needed during the semester and I will give you as
much advanced notice as possible. The exam dates provided are subject to change.
Chapters 1, 2, 3 (only certain sections), 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 6, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 5,
CONTACT INFORMATION
AND
OFFICE HOURS
My office is located in 251 Bellamy.
My email is bmeehan@fsu.edu. When sending email, you MUST completely identify yourself which
includes stating your full registered name and your class. For example, end with “John Doe, Micro 2:00”
or “Jane Doe, ECO2013-07.”
To the best of my ability, I will be available to you outside of class on Monday through Friday from 2:00
pm to 3 pm. If these hours do not fit your schedule you can request an appointment outside regular office
hours.
PLEASE NOTE THE REALLY IMPORTANT DATES
MIDTERM 1:
MONDAY JULY 7
1
MIDTERM 2:
MONDAY JULY 21
FINAL
LAST DAY OF CLASS FRIDAY AUGUST 1.
COURSE MATERIALS
Main textbook: Macroeconomics, Private and Public Choice, 15th edition by Gwartney, Stroup, Sobel,
and Macpherson. The 14th, 13th and 12th editions are also acceptable. You have multiple purchase
options. New and used copies of the paperback book are available at the FSU Bookstore and at Bill’s.
You may also rent a book from several different sources.
Other Materials (not required): The Economic Way of Thinking, any edition by Heyne, Prychitko,
Boettke.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE
I will assume that your attendance on any given day is an explicit signal that you are prepared for the
topics to be covered, ready to answer questions, are committed to focusing on class, and will not be a
distraction to your classmates. I respectfully ask you to not attend class on a day in which you are
unwilling to fulfill that assumption.
Any distracting behavior or use of an electronic device will result in the following actions. I may ask you
to leave class. Failure to leave immediately and quietly will result in a one letter grade reduction from
your final assigned grade at the end of the semester.
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES
I ask that you do your best to arrive to class on time and stay for the duration. I recognize the difficulty
of getting around campus quickly between classes and respect your time but arriving late and/or leaving
early are distractions. If you need to leave early, please tell me before class and sit in the back rows so
that you may exit quietly.
We will spend several class periods discussing each chapter. Break the chapter into segments to coincide
with the number of days we discuss it. For example, we’ll probably spend at least two class periods
discussing Chapter 3 so review about 1/2 of the chapter at a time. I believe you will learn more by
reading and working in many relatively short study sessions as opposed to a few long ones.
Extra credit points may be available for classroom participation at some point in the semester, but that is
not guaranteed. If they are available, there will be an isolated incident or two that will not be announced
in the previous classes.
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GRADING TOOLS
AND
SCALE
ASSESSMENT
#
POINTS
EACH
TOTAL
POINTS
%
SYLLABUS AND
POLICY
CONFIRMATION
1
20
20
4
WEEKLY QUIZZES
5,
DROP
LOWEST
SCORE
20
80
16
MIDTERMS
2
1
100
200
200
200
500
40
40
FINAL
TOTAL
OF TOTAL
GRADE (TOTAL
CATEGORY)
SCALE
GRADING SCALE
92-100
90-91
88-89
82-87
80-81
78-79
72-77
70-71
60-69
0-59
(%)
LOW POINTS
NEEDED
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
460
450
440
410
400
390
360
350
300
0
SYLLABUS CONFIRMATION
By the start of class Thursday, June 26, you will confirm you have read, understand, and agree to abide by
the rules and conduct of class as outlined on the syllabus by answering a one-question quiz in Blackboard.
Any unearned weight from this assignment will not be moved to your final exam.
HONOR CODE CONFIRMATION
By the start of class Thursday, June 26, you will confirm you understand the honor code conditions for
this class by answering a one-question quiz in Blackboard. Any unearned weight from this assignment
will not be moved to your final exam.
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FINAL EXAM
The final exam will consist of 60 multiple choice questions. I will be cumulative and will be administered
on:
LAST DAY OF CLASS FRIDAY AUGUST 1.
The exam will reflect the fact that the class discussions and the text are not perfect substitutes. Most of
the questions will be based on material that is covered both in class and the text. Some of the questions
will be based solely on text material.
WEEKLY QUIZZES
Each Thursday after class, a new quiz will be posted on blackboard. You will have until the beginning of
class on Friday to complete this quiz. 5 quizzes will be administered, 4 of which will count toward your
grade (the lowest quiz score will be dropped).
Failure to properly submit your answers will result in a paper and pencil icon appearing in your
gradebook. Common reasons for an icon are having multiple browser windows open for the same quiz,
not clicking submit at the end of the quiz, clicking on the back arrow in your browser after you click
submit (which causes Blackboard to think you’re starting over), or starting a quiz but closing your
browser window without clicking submit. An icon will not be replaced or corrected and will essentially
be treated as a zero in your grade calculation.
MIDTERM EXAMS
Two midterm exams will be administered in class. They will be 50 multiple choice questions each, with
the possibility of a few short answer and essay questions.
Please mark your calendars with the following exam dates.
MIDTERM 1:
MONDAY JULY 7
MIDTERM 2:
MONDAY JULY 21
IF YOU HAVE SPECIAL NEEDS…
Or accommodations because of a disability (i.e. physical, mental, psychological, learning), have
emergency medical information to share with me, or need special arrangements in case the building must
be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible.
This syllabus and other class materials are available in alternative format upon request.
In addition, I recognize that this class is not the only event taking place in your life right now. Other
personal or professional matters may arise during the semester. If another life event inhibits your ability
to perform in this class, please see me as soon as you can. Telling me about a situation after the semester
is over leaves me very little flexibility to help you.
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MAKEUP POLICIES
Midterm Exams: If you miss a midterm exam, no action is required. The points from that exam will be
automatically moved to your final exam so you don’t lose the opportunity to gain those points. The final
will be worth 300 points rather than 200 if you miss one midterm.
Final Exam: According to FSU policy, the following are the only valid reasons for requesting a makeup:
(1) Four or more final exams within a 24-hour period around our exam; (2) Another exam scheduled at
the same time as our exam; (3) A documented medical emergency; (4) Some other documented
extraordinary event. If one of these apply to you, you must receive see me as soon as possible to schedule
another time to take the exam.
PROPER USE
OF
BLACKBOARD
AND
EMAIL
Since FSU is a public institution, email messages are subject to open access requests and other intrusions.
I will not address any specific grading or other sensitive issues via email. Those issues must be addressed
in person during office hours. Also, do not state your SSN on any message.
The class Blackboard site is restricted for use of class-related material. Please do not use the site for
personal reasons such as selling property, advertising, or soliciting. Mass emails are especially suspect
because FSU administrators and faculty may be listed as users of the site and receive those messages.
Any files, including videos, are intended for educational use for this class only. Except for the class
Powerpoints and other specifically designated files, the material is subject to copyright laws and should
not be downloaded and distributed.
LIBERAL STUDIES
AT
FSU
The Liberal Studies Program at Florida State University has been designed to provide a perspective on the
qualities, accomplishments, and aspirations of human beings, the past and present civilizations we have
created, and the natural and technological world we inhabit. This course has been approved as meeting the
requirements for Liberal Studies Area III, History and Social Science, and in combination with your
other Liberal Studies courses, provides an important foundation for your lifelong quest for knowledge.
QUESTIONS ABOUT CLASS
You should check Blackboard or this syllabus. If that fails email me.
ACADEMIC HONOR SYSTEM
The Academic Honor System of the Florida State University is based on the premise that each student has
the responsibility to: 1) uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student’s own work; 2)
refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the academic community, and 3) foster a high sense
of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the University community. Violations of the
Academic Honor System will not be tolerated in this class.
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