Economics 1120
Course Outline and Reading List
Fall 2013 – Prof. Kyle
Lecture Date Topic Reading
1. Aug. 28 Introduction: What is Economics? Chap. 1
2. Sep. 4 The US Economy - An Overview Chap. 2
3. Sep. 9 Supply and Demand Chap. 3
4. Sep. 11 Using Supply and Demand Analysis Chap. 4
5. Sep. 16 Why Worry About Macroeconomics? Chap. 5
6. Sep. 18 Measuring National Income Chap. 6
Optional Assignment – Using the data for GDP per capita at http://www.economagic.com/popular.htm find out how much output per person has grown from the year you were born compared to now
7. Sep. 23 Unemployment and Inflation Chap. 7
Optional Assignment – Using the data for the CPI at http://www.economagic.com/popular.htm - find out first how much a dollar is worth today compared to the month you were born and second what the average annual rate of inflation over that period has been
8. Sep. 25 Equilibrium and the Macroeconomy Chap. 8
9. Sep. 30 Fiscal Policy and the Role of the Government Chap. 9
Optional Assignment – Do the “Penny Game” at
http://www.concordcoalition.org/education/penny-game/online/index.html
10. Oct. 2 Money and the Role of the Fed Chap. 10
11. Oct. 7 Money Demand and Monetary Policy Chap. 11
12. Oct. 9 Linking Money and the “Real” Economy Chap. 12
13. Oct. 16 Aggregate Supply and Demand Chap. 13
First Prelim - Evening of October 17 – 7:30 PM
14. Oct. 21 Unemployment - Causes and Tradeoffs Chap. 14
October 21 - Makeup for First Prelim 7:30 PM
15. Oct. 23 Macro Policy and the Deficit Chap. 15
Optional Assignment – Look at the National Debt Clock at http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/ - If this debt is shared equally by all citizens, what is YOUR share?
16. Oct. 28 Investment and Capital Markets Chap. 15
17. Oct. 30 Consumption Decisions and the Life Cycle Chap. 16
18. Nov. 4 Social Security, the Deficit and the Long Run
Assignment (This one is NOT optional) – Read the Social Security Primer at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d05193sp.pdf (also on course website)
19. Nov. 6 Monetarism, New Classicals and Supply Siders Chap. 18
Second Prelim – Evening of November 7 - 7:30 PM
20. Nov. 11 International Trade - Comparative Advantage Chap.19
21. Nov. 13 Barriers to Trade and International Agreements Chap. 19
22. Nov. 18 Exchange Rates and the Balance of Payments Chap. 20
Assignment (This one is NOT optional) – Read the following article on exchange rates:
http://economics.about.com/cs/money/l/aa022703a.htm (A Beginner’s Guide to Exchange Rates)
November 18 - Makeup for Second Prelim 7:30 PM (Location To be Confirmed)
23. Nov. 20 International Debt and Capital Flows Chap. 20
24. Nov. 25 Globalization, Trade and Immigration Chap. 20
Assignment (This one is NOT optional) – Read “Ten Economic Facts About Immigration” by M. Greenstone and A. Looney - http://www.hamiltonproject.org/files/downloads_and_links/09_immigration.pdf
25. Dec. 2 Economic Growth - Sources and Structural Change Chap. 17&21
26. Dec. 4 Economies in Transition and Central Planning Chap. 21
Makeup for First Prelim at 7:30 PM on October 21
Makeup for Second Prelim at 7:30 PM on November 18
Final Exam is on Thu, Dec 12, 2013 7:00 PM
All readings are from Case, Fair & Oster Principles of Macroeconomics 11th Ed. Prentice Hall 2013.