Central Connecticut State University
Department of Economics

Economics 200 Brian Noe

Principles of Economics I - Macroeconomics Fall 2007

Office: Before/After Class & Cyberspace Phone: 832-2725 (Secretary)

Textbook: McConnell, and Brue, Macroeconomics, 17^thed. (paper) New York McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2008. Required

Printed Study Guide: “Study Guide to Accompany Macroeconomics: McConnell, Brue, and Walstad 17th ed. (paper) McGraw-Hill Irwin, 2008. Not Required

All course materials are on WebCT. You can get there through Campus Pipeline.

Course Outline

			Chapter	Pages
I.	Introduction to Economics and the Economy
	1	Limits, Alternatives, and Choices	1	all
		Graphs and Their Meaning	1	Appendix
	2	The Market System and Circular Flow	2	all
	3	Demand, Supply, and Market Equilibrium	3	all
	4	U.S. Economy: Private & Public Sectors	4	all
	5	The U.S. in the Global Economy	5	all

II.	Macroeconomic Measurement and Basic Concepts
	6	National Income Accounting	6	106-07 & 116-19
	7	Economic Growth and Instability	7	all
	8	Basic Macroeconomic Relationships	8	all

III.	Macroeconomic Models and Fiscal Policy
	9	Aggregate Expenditures Model	9	all
	10	Aggregate Demand & Aggregate Supply	10	all
	11	Fiscal Policy, Deficits, and Debt	11	all

IV.	Money, Banking and Monetary Policy
	12	Money and Banking	12	all
	13	Money Creation	13	all
	14	Interest Rate and Monetary Policy	14	all

Note: Some adjustments may be as the semester progresses due to time constraints and other factors.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

This course fulfills one of your Study Area II requirements of the General Education curriculum. The basic objective of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of how the economy impacts on society and on our daily lives. The general objectives of the course are:

To introduce the student to the core principles of macroeconomics.
To develop an understanding of the basic macroeconomics concepts and to encourage their application in the analysis of economic problems.
To provide the student with a minimal level of economic literacy. That is, to integrate the core principles and concepts of macroeconomics into the student’s thinking within a framework which will allow the student to evaluate contemporary economic problems and policies as citizens, consumers, and business decision-makers.
To make the student aware of the interdisciplinary character of the modern economy and of the need for an economic framework in approaching, analyzing, and understanding socioeconomic problems. The underlying objective will be to generate an interest in economics as a subject area with practical applications.

More specifically:

To make the student appreciate the significance of scarcity and opportunity cost in an economic framework, with an emphasis on the underlying price mechanism.
To encourage the student to apply the basic macroeconomic principles and concepts to the real world issues relating to the current economic problems and government policies.

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance

You will be responsible for all material covered in class. If you are absent you will not be allowed to make-up some class exercises. You must be present and submit all assignments in person.

Tentative Exam Dates

First Exam:	September 27
Second Exam:	October 25
Third Exam:	November 20
Final Exam:	December 13???

Make-up Policy

You are expected to take all announced exams at the scheduled times. If you cannot be present for an exam at the scheduled time, you must make arrangements prior to the time that the exam is given. See me in advance or speak to me on the phone on the day of the exam. An e-mail or voice mail message is not acceptable. Failure to take an exam when scheduled or failure to make alternate arrangements will result in a reduction in your grade on the exam and in the course. There will be no make-up for an unannounced quiz. If we have graded homework assignments a penalty will be assessed if they are submitted late.

Assignments

You are expected to do all work when assigned. This includes reading chapters in the text, completing homework assignments, study guide problems, computer exercises and end of chapter questions. An unannounced quiz may be given at any time on assignments and class material. There will be no individual extra credit assignments.

Grading

There will be four examinations. The four exams will count for 80% of your final grade. The remaining 20% will be subjective, based on class participation and how much interest you have shown for the course material. If there are quizzes, this formula will be adjusted.

Classroom Rules

1. No talking in class.

2. Be on time for class.

3. Be prepared for class.

4. Do not copy notes or do other assignments during class.

5. You may use a basic calculator during an exam. You may not use a programmable calculator (one that does more than add, subtract, multiply and divide) during an exam.

6. Do not record lectures.

7. Turn off cell phones, beepers, and other electronic devices and keep them out of sight during class.

8. Have Student ID on all exam days.

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment to talk with me as soon as possible. My office location and hours are at the top of this syllabus.

Central Connecticut State University Department of Economics