PRINCIPLES OF MACRECONOMICS
ECON
203
PRINCIPLES OF MACRECONOMICS
2007 Quiz Correct Answers: 1, 2, 3, 4 , 5, 6
Spring 2007 Quizzes: 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6
Spring 2008 Quizzes: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Grades Spring 2008
(FINAL GRADES)
Macro
Data Websites:
BEA Data /CIA
World Fact
Book /Economagic (data)/ Aplia / Penn World
Table /
Dr. Brian Goff/414 Grise Hall
Phone (270)745-3855/brian.goff@wku.edu
Last Modified: January 18, 2008
Western Kentucky University
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Dr. Brian Goff (Grise 414/745-3855)
Office Hours: (I am in my office or on
campus most days from around 9-5 except
12:00-1:15)
OBJECTIVE:
To provide
students with a basic anatomy of national and
international economies and to introduce explanations for key economic
outcomes and debates. Special
Note: This course fulfills
one requirement for General Education category C -- Social and
Behavioral
Sciences. It is designed to provide an
understanding of the concepts, ideas, policy issues, and methods of
analysis which
are central to understanding economies at the local, regional,
national, and
global level. Upon completion of this course, students should be able
to apply
concepts to contemporary issues and understand the impact that economic
decisions and actions have on individuals and society.
TEXTS/MATERIALS:
Brief
Principles of Macroeconomics by Mankiw + Aplia
(See Aplia
Student Registration & Payment Instructions)
Aplia Access (Including Online Access to Mankiw textbook) = $70
Aplia Access (Online textbook access) + Physical Copy of textbook =
$115-$120 (apx) Once on the Aplia site, you will pay $70 for
access to Aplia and the
online version of the textbook. Then, you have the option of
"upgraded" to a physical copy of the textbook for an additional amount.
Aplia
Course Key: YTFC-HTGB-LVAC
(See Aplia Student
Registration Instructions & Help on Aplia
Website)
GRADES: Your final grade is
based on your final average: A=90+
B=80-89 C=70-79 D=60-69 F<60. Do not expect to "negotiate" or do
"extra credit" work for a higher grade
Bi-Weekly Quizzes (6)
= 50%
Aplia (Online) Assignments = 15%
Brief Reports (5)
= 15%
Final Exam
= 20%
Total
= 100%
Quizzes:
NO makeup or early quizzes will be given. For one (1) missed quiz
due to
a signficicant event (illness, WKU activity, family matters, ...), your
final exam will be weighted to compensate. You should clear
missed quizzes with me in advance if possible or as soon as practical
if not known in advance.
Aplia
Assignments:
You
must register with Aplia and
enroll in the course. Many weeks, you will have one Aplia
assignment. These
assignments will be 4-6 multiple choice questions over the assigned
reading. They will have a deadline
of 9:00 A.M. on the morning of the assigned class. (Aplia
weeks run Monday-Sunday). These are
firm deadlines, so be sure to complete the assignments with plenty of
time to spare. These assignments are to be completed by
each
individual, but you may ask questions of other students. Another
student may not enter answers for you. The first
week's (ungraded) assignments are all about using Aplia. I will
help to iron
out bugs (along with
Aplia help) during the first week. After the first week, you
should use the
support services and help provided by Aplia for any question dealing
with use of the Aplia system (non-economics-related questions).
Aplia
Course Key: YTFC-HTGB-LVAC
(See Aplia Student
Registration Instructions & Help on Aplia
Website)
Brief Reports: You will be
responsible for 7 brief reports
on material from readings outside the textbook. They are
not bonus points, but they do
represent a relatively easy way to boost your grade. For each summary
which
is satisfactorily completed, you will receive 2 points toward your
final grade. Each report summary will receive either a check (2 pts),
a check-minus for a minor problem (1 pt), or
an X for multiple or major problems (0 pts). Deadlines for turning in
the reports are clearly stated. No reports will be accepted
after the deadline -- this includes unexpected, last-minute
problems. (If you
have an extended illness/problem, let me know, and I will make an
accommodation.). Refer to the Guide for Preparing Brief
Reports for the format of these reports.
Final
Exam:
The final exam key questions from
all of the semester quizzes as well as
the material from the last section of the class.
MISCELLANEOUS & CLASSROOM
POLICIES: Last day to drop with a "W" or change to audit
is listed in Course Bulletin. If you have an ADA covered disability
requiring special consideration, please register with the ADA
Compliance Office, and then see me. If class is canceled
unexpectedly, Aplia assignment
deadlines are not changed. Any exam or report deadline will roll
back to the next class meeting.
Classroom Policies: Orderly behavior and respect
for others who are speaking (including me) is expected. No food or
drink permitted. If late, please enter with a minimum of disturbance
and be seated in the nearest seat. Distracting or inappropriate
behavior is not permitted. Individuals
involved in incidents that significantly violate these policies will
receive a warning and then will be notified of a letter grade reduction
per subsequent incident. Also see FAQ
COURSE
OUTLINE (Subject
to
small modifications along the way)
Week
2
(Begins Jan 27) -- Income & Wealth
Monday: Reading-- Chapter 5
ApliaAssignment
Measuring National Income and Purchasing Power (Sears
Catalogue
Data)
Wednesday:
Reading -- No new reading
Measuring Wealth; Relationships between Income, Wealth, & Happiness
Friday:
Question/Help day
Week
3
(Begins Feb 3) -- Prices in the Macro Economy
Monday: Reading -- Chapter 4;
Markets & Prices
Wednesday: Reading -- Chapter 6;
ApliaAssignment
Nominal v. Real Prices -- Case of Gasoline
Excel File w/Gas Prices
Friday:
Quiz 1
Week
4 (Begins Feb 10) -- More on Prices in the Macro Economy
Monday: Reading-- 13:285-294;
Aplia Assignment
Exchange Rates
Wednesday: No Additional Reading
Law of One
Price & Purchasing
Power Parity; Big Mac Prices-- Economist
Website
Friday:
Question/Help Day
Week 8 (Begins Mar 9)
SPRING BREAK!
[SECTION ON MONEY & FINANCIAL MARKETS]
Week 9 (Begins Mar 16) Money & Banking System
Monday: Reading -- Chapter 11;
Fed, Banking, &
Monetary System
Wednesday: Reading -- Chapter
12
ApliaAssignment
Inflation:
Causes & Consequences
Friday:
Question/Help Day
Week
11
(Begins Mar 30)
Labor Markets & Macroeconomy
Monday: Reading -- 10:197-212;
Employment
Trends & Unemployment Measurement
Wednesday: Reading -- Fed
Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Article ; Immigrants &
Cities
Brief
Report #2 on Reading from Philadelphia Fed (A-M) OR Immigration &
Cities (N-Z)
Immigration Issues
Friday: Question/Help Day
[SECTION ON MACROECONOMIC SPECIAL
TOPICS]
Week 12 (Begins Apr 6)
Government & the Macroeconomy
Monday: Reading -- Cross Country Tax Burdens;
Government
Spending Net Cost-Benefit (Marginal Revolution)
Overview of
Government
Spending & Economic Outcomes; Problems
of Fiscal Stimulus (MR)
Wednesday Reading -- Social
Security Problems; Medicare
Meltdown;
Brief
Report #3 on SS & Medicare Readings (A-M on SS ; N-Z on
Medicare)
Social Security & Medicare Financing
Friday: Quiz 5
Week
13 (Begins Apr 13) Health Care &
National Economy
Monday: Pricing Restrictions
Pricing Problems in Health Care;
Brief
Report #4 on Readings -- Pricing
Restrictions (A-M) or Life is Good (N-Z)
Wednesday: Reading -- Reading -- "Life is
Good" (Minneapolis FR);
Insurance & Health
Care
Friday: Question/Help Day
Week 14 (Begins Apr 20)Macroeconomic
Equity Issues
Monday: Reading -- "Beyond
'Rich and Poor'" (Minneapolis FR); Kotlikoff
on
National Sales Tax
Brief Report
#5 on Beyond Rich &
Poor Reading (A-M) or Kotlikoff Reading (N-Z)
U.S.
Income-Wealth
Distribution, Mobility, and Causes
Wednesday: No New Reading
Debates about Alternatives to
Taxing Schemes
Friday:
Quiz 6
Guide for Preparing
Brief
Reports
The Brief Reports must PRECISELY adhere to the following format.
You will receive full for reports that adhere to the instructions in
all details. Half credit will be given for reports that deviate
from the instructions in minor ways. No credit will be given for
reports that deviate from the instructions in significant ways.
1. Rports must be neatly typed or printed originals (NO SCRIPT --
"cursive")
-- no crumpled papers.
2. All sentences must use standard American English -- subject, verb,
object (when needed), correct punctuation, aggreement of subject and
verbs, and so on.
3. Do not share information with others in the class about your
reports. Reports that appear to be copies or very close to copies
will receive no credit.
4. Reports must be turned in by the deadline to receive any credit. You
are encouraged to turn them in early if you may be absent. Unexpected
circumstances the day they are due do not alter the deadline.
5. Reports must adhere to the template below. Reports that
deviate
from its format will receive no credit. (Text which is in italics below
is for you to fill in and not for you to copy on the summary. For
example, do not write "paragraph 1".)
Your Name
Brief Reports #(put report #
here)
(Put Topic Here)
Paragraph #1: 2-3 sentences
explaining the main question, issue, or
problem addressed in the readings
Paragraph #2: 3-6 sentences explaining a key point(s) from the readings.
Paragraph #3:1-3 sentences describing a particular point which was especially important to you, with which you disagree, or which was unclear.