Homework: September 1 - 11

For Tuesday, Sept. 1 (E)
B&B 2 w/ notes and questions. Be sure to know and be able to use the key terms. Think especially about questions 3,4, and 6.

For Wed., Sept. 2 (F)
For tomorrow, listen to this interview on digital music and answer the questions found here. Provide well-reasoned answers, particularly for the second section of questions: be creative but also base your answers on what we have covered in the text.

For Thu., Sept. 3 (A)
Read B&B 3. Read and answer a few of the TEST YOURSELF questions.

For Fri., Sept. 4 (B)
Read the article from the Economist handed out in class today or found here. You must come to class with: 1. a basic understanding of the author's argument, 2. questions regarding the details of the article that you do not understand, and 3. a critique or critical question of some aspect of the article.
Come with a marked text and prepared to discuss with one another intelligently.

For Tue., Sept. 8 (C)
B&B 4 - further instructions TBA

For Thu., Sept. 10 (E)
TBA

For Fri., Sept. 11 (F)
Harford, Ch1

Day 1

From class discussion on Wednesday:

Robert Skidelsky, August 5th, 2009

Ben Stein

Homework: August 26-28

For Thursday, Aug. 27 (B)
Prepare for Quiz on The China Fantasy

For Friday, Aug. 28 (C)
Read B&B 1, come ready for discussion with notes and questions

For Tuesday, Sept. 1 (E)
Read B&B 2, come ready for discussion with notes and questions
   

Course Syllabus

Instructor: Mr. Eason
Office: 4229
Email: jeason@usmk12.org
Texts:
Baumol, William J. and Alan S. Blinder, Macroeconomics: Principles & Policy, 11th Edition, Mason, OH: Southwestern Cengage Learning, 2009 (B&B)
Harford, Tim, The Undercover Economist, New York: Random House, 2007 (Harford)
Other readings as assigned

Syllabus:
This course introduces students to the basic principles of the discipline of economics, especially macroeconomics. The class will teach students to perceive world events, government policies, and much of modern history through the eyes of the economist, to “think economically.” This semester, we will divide the study of economics into four parts, as follows:
     I.   Fundamental Economic Principles
     II.   Understanding the Macroeconomy: Basic Measures
     III.   Stabilizing the Macroeconomy: Fiscal and Monetary Policy
     IV.   Trade, Exchange, and the Open Economy

Expectations and Tasks:
1. Keep up with current economic events and issues by reading The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, The Economist or other sources of your choice.
2. Read all assigned readings pertaining to each topic and come prepared to discuss.
3. Study the Key Terms and Discussion Questions at the end of each chapter. These are an excellent way to prepare for quizzes and tests.  In fact, some of these questions and problems or their modifications may appear on quizzes or tests. They may also be assigned as homework.
4. Participate in class discussion, feel free to ask questions and take notes.
5. Please respect the rights of your fellow classmates to a quiet and orderly class atmosphere.
6. Academic dishonesty will absolutely not be tolerated.



Assessment:
First Quarter (40% of your semester grade)
Homework and Class Participation                20%
Tests and Quizzes                                         60%
Summer Reading Quiz                                   20%

Second Quarter (40% of your semester grade)
Homework and Class Participation                20%
Tests and Quizzes                                         40%
Class Project and Paper                               40%

Final Exam (20% of your total grade)

Course Schedule

The course schedule aims to provide you with a general sense of how the class will advance in reading the textbook and Harford. It is organized by cycle. The class website will provide you with more specific assignments, from both the books and from online articles and additional work on a weekly basis. As a major feature of this class will be discussion based on current economic events, there will certainly be changes made regularly to the overall schedule.

Cycle 1: Wed. 8.26 – Wed. 9.02
Course Introduction
Summer reading discussion and quiz
 What is Economics? (B&B 1)
The Economy: Myth and Reality (B&B 2)

Cycle 2: Th. 9.03 – F. 9.11
Scarcity and Choice (B&B 3)
Supply and Demand (B&B 4)

Hartford chapter 1

Cycle 3: M. 9.14 – Th. 9.17
Review

Test 1

Introduction to Macroeconomics (B&B 5)
**Senior Retreat**

Cycle 4:  Tu. 9.22 – Tu. 9.29
**Senior Retreat**
Macroeconomic Policy (B&B 6)
Economic Growth (B&B 7)

Cycle 5: W. 9.30 – W. 10.07
Aggregate Demand (B&B 8)

Harford 2 & 3

Review

Test 2

Demand-Side Equilibrium (B&B 9)

Cycle 6: Th. 10.08 – F. 10.16
Supply-Side: Recessions and Stabilization (B&B 10)

Harford 4, 5

Quiz on chapters 9-10

End Quarter 1

Cycle 7: M. 10.19 – M. 10.26
Fiscal Policy (B&B 11)
Money and Banking (B&B 12)
Monetary Policy (B&B 13)

Cycle 8: Tu. 10.27 – W. 11.04
Combining Monetary and Fiscal Policy (B&B 14)

Harford 6

Review

Test 3

Budget Deficits (B&B 15)

Cycle 9: Th. 11.05 – M. 11.16
Inflation and Unemployment (B&B 16)

Harford 7,8

Quiz 2

International Trade (B&B 17)

Cycle 10: Tu. 11.17 – Tu. 11.24
The International Monetary System (B&B 18)
Exchange Rates and the Macroeconomy (B&B 19)

Cycle 11: M. 11.30 – M. 12.07

Harford 9, 10

Projects

Cycle 12: Tu. 12.08 – F. 12.11

Projects

Review

Final Exam