AP MACROECONOMICS-COURSE SYLLABUS
2015-2016 School Year
Teacher: Jerry Hurtado
e-mail: jhurtado@dpisd.org
Website: https://www.coursesites.com
Telephone: 832-668-1277
Office: Room 1277 (2:00 -2:50) conference
Textbook: Principles of Economics
Adapted from sixth edition
By N.Gregoy Mankiw
ISBN: 9781435462120
Supplementary: Reading and web site
1. The Wall Street Journal
2. The New York Times
3. The Economist
Materials needed:
Supplies: Spiral notebook for note taking, Calculator (graphing calculator is not required) Access to
internet from home or the ability to come before school to get lessons.
NOTE: Bring a notebook or binder with you to class each day. Calculators will occasionally be
required for class work, homework and tests.
In order to be successful in this course, you will be expected to read the chapters in the book as they
are assigned to you (see course outline on the next page).
We have a lot of material to cover. Please come to class on time and prepared to work. Class
absences should be avoided. You are responsible to make up any missed work when you are absent.
Course
Outline: This course will consist of the following units:
Unit I Reviewing basic graphing techniques and basic economic principles like the scarcity of
resources, tools of supply and demand, comparative economic systems and comparative advantage.
A., Scarcity, Choice, and opportunity cost
B. PPC
C. Comparative Advantage, Absolute advantage, specialization and exchange
D .Demand, Supply and Equilibrium
E. Macroeconomic issues
Unit II Evaluating our nation’s economic health while defining and measuring inflation and
unemployment and fiscal policies to stabilize the economy.
A. The Circular Flow and Gross Domestic Product
B. Interpreting Gross Domestic Product
C. The Meaning and Calculation of Unemployment
D. The Causes and Categories of Unemployment
E. Inflation: An Overview
F. The Measurement and Calculation of Inflation
Unit III
A. Income and Expenditure
B. Aggregate Demand: Introduction and Determinants
C. Aggregate Supply: Introduction and Determinants
D. Equilibrium in the Aggregate Demand-Aggregate
Supply Model
E. Economic Policy and the Aggregate Demand
Aggregate Supply Model
F. Fiscal Policy and the Multiplier
G. Long-run Implications of Fiscal Policy: Deficits and the Public Debt.
Unit IV Discussing the impact of money and its creation, the value of the dollar, and monetary
policy.
A. The Definition and Measurement of Money
B. The Time Value of Money
C. Banking and Money Creation
D. The Federal Reserve System: History and Structure
E. The Federal Reserve System: Monetary Policy
F. The Money Market
G. The Market for Loanable Funds
Unit V Analyzing inflation, unemployment, stabilization policies and the necessary conditions for
economic growth.
A. Monetary Policy and the Interest Rates
B. Supply side and demand side effects
C. Types of Inflation, Disinflation, and Deflation
D. Inflation and Unemployment: The Phillips Curve
E. History and Alternative Views of Macroeconomics
F. The Modern Macroeconomic Consensus
G. Cost Push Inflation and Demand Pull inflation
H. Deficits and debts
I. Crowding out
J. Policy Mix
Unit VI
A. Long-run Economic Growth
B. Productivity and Growth
Unit VII International Trade
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Capital flows and the Balance of Payment
The Foreign Exchange Market
Exchange Rate Policy
Exchange Rates and Macroeconomic Policy
Putting It All Together
Homework
And Tests: Tests and quizzes will be given throughout the marking period. They will consist of both
multiple choice and essay questions. A final exam will be given in January
Grading: Your marking period grade will be calculated by adding points in the following categories:
Tests will make up 50% of your grade
Course sites participation is 20%, Class work is 10% and quizzes are 20%.
Extra credit: Choose an article from one of the study resources listed earlier. Explain in a 500 word
response how this applies to economics by using terminology from the class. This will add 1 point to
your overall six week grade. You can do up to three in a grading period.
Student Signature: ________________________________________________
Parent Signature__________________________________________________