ECONOMICS 202: MACROECONOMICS
Instructor: Dr. Ralph J. Brown
Office:
Patterson 210E
Office
Hours:
Office Phone: 677-5620, E-mail: rbrown@usd.edu
My Website:
http://www.usd.edu/~rbrown/
Course Description: A study of the basic economic concepts, principles, and theories that relate to the economy as a whole. Special emphasis is given to how well the economy accomplishes its national goals. Where problems exist, (i.e., inflation, unemployment, poverty, pollution, and debt) policies are identified, discussed, and evaluated for the purpose of having the students develop an economic way of thinking. This way of thinking, derived from theory, will be used to better understand actual events.
Prerequisites: Econ 201
Required
Text:
Mankiw, Principles of Economics or Microeconomics 3rd Edition
(Do Not Purchase Textbook Until You Read About APLIA below)
Roberts, The Choice : A Fable About Free Trade
Aplia
online problem sets (see below)
Internet:
Students are expected to access to the internet and how to operate it. Web
page for Mankiw text http://mankiw.swlearning.com
includes learning resources and practice exercises and testing. The learning
resources section provides online quizzes.
USD
Economics Home:
information
about economics program at USD.
Instructional Methods: Instructional methods include lecture, discussion, and homework.
Supplemental
Instruction: This course participates in the Supplemental Instruction
(SI) program. Under this program a highly qualified advanced economics
students attends the class and provides student assistance. Your student
assistant is Ryan Galerl eomdahl@usd.edu.
We will announce in class the details of how Ryan will assist you in this
course.
Grading
Policy:
Grades are based on scores on three tests, the final,
and online exercises. The tests will cover my lectures, assigned material in
text, online problem sets (Aplia), and the Roberts book. My lectures will cover
some but not all of the material covered in the textbook. Many of my lectures
will parallel material in the text but additional material will be added as
well.
Cheating and Plagiarism: Students found cheating will receive a zero for the assignment.
Make-Up Policy: As needed. Emergencies, athletic travel, etc. will be allowed and the professor and student will schedule a time to make-up the test.
Homework
Assignments: Students
are required to complete weekly (sometimes several per week) online homework
assignments. You will be graded on
your performance on these assignments. The
homework assignments will account for 20% of your course grade.
Therefore, you can not expect to pass this course without completing the
weekly online homework assignments.
Aplia
Assignments
The
Registration Instructions
Econ 202, Principles of Macroeconomics, Spring '06
Professor Ralph J Brown
**DO NOT PURCHASE A TEXTBOOK AT THE BOOKSTORE UNTIL YOU READ THIS**
You will be using Aplia for this course. Aplia is an online product that contains both a digital version of the textbook and online homework.
Your course key is:
9U5P-TRCU-3FLB
How to Use Aplia
Step 1: Register for Your Aplia Course
First Time Aplia Users:
1. Connect to http://econ.aplia.com
2. On the Sign In page, click the Go button next to "Test Your System Configuration"; this takes just a few seconds and provides detailed information on how to update your system if necessary
3. Head back to the Sign In page and click the "Register Here" link
4. Fill out the form and click Continue
5. Enter Your Course Key (above)
Returning Aplia Users:
1. Connect to http://econ.aplia.com and sign in using your usual e-mail and password
2. Enter your course key (above)
Problems with registration or sign in? You can always e-mail Aplia by clicking on the "Help" link in the upper-right corner of any page or by e-mailing support@aplia.com.
Step 2: Choose Your Payment Option (You have until 02.06.06 to pay for your course and decide which option to choose)
You have several payment options. To find the right option for you, decide whether you want to purchase a physical textbook.
Note that your Aplia course includes a digital edition (online version) of the textbook. The physical text is optional.
Do you want to buy a physical textbook?
If No, simply pay for your Aplia course ($60.00):
* Instructions on the Aplia website walk you through the payment process. There are several ways to pay. You can pay online with credit, debit, or electronic check. Aplia also accepts money orders mailed to: Aplia, Inc., 959 Skyway Rd, Suite 325, San Carlos, CA 94070.
If Yes, choose from these two options:
Note that if you buy a physical copy of the textbook this term (through either of the following options), you will receive a 0 credit towards your next course using Aplia.
1. Purchase a physical textbook through Aplia ($60.00 for Aplia, plus $50.00 for the physical textbook and $5.00 in shipping and handling)
* First, purchase your Aplia course. Instructions on the Aplia website walk you through the payment process. You can pay online with credit, debit, or electronic check. Aplia also accepts money orders mailed to: Aplia, Inc., 959 Skyway Rd, Suite 325, San Carlos, CA 94070.First, either purchase Aplia online by following the payment instructions at Aplia or by using an Aplia Access Card from your campus bookstore. If you decide to use the Aplia Access Code, then use the Aplia Payment Code located inside the card as your means for payment at the Aplia website. An Aplia Payment Code will cover your entire Aplia course fee. Aplia does not offer refunds for courses paid for with an Aplia Payment Code.
* Next, purchase your physical textbook from Aplia. After you pay for your Aplia course you can order a textbook through Aplia. Just sign into your Aplia course, click on the Bookstore link on your Home page, and follow the prompts to place your order.
* You can view Aplia's refund policy on textbooks in Aplia's Terms and Conditions of Use: http://econ.aplia.com/af/support/terms.jsp?
Or
2. Buy your physical textbook from the campus bookstore (price determined by bookstore)
* Textbooks from your campus bookstore come bundled with an Aplia Payment Code. Use the payment code to pay for your Aplia course online. The Aplia Payment Code covers your entire Aplia course fee. Aplia does not refund courses paid for with an Aplia Payment Code.
Grace period for payment: You may register and use the website until 02.06.06 without paying the fee. If you are considering dropping this course during the drop/add period, do not make a payment until you decide to stay in the course. You need to pay the full amount before the end of the grace period to continue using the site.
Aplia assignments: Most assignments come in pairs of practice problem sets and graded problem sets. Practice problem sets give you immediate feedback and an explanation of the correct answer. They do not count toward your homework grade. Use them to check your understanding of the material. If you feel confident about the material, you can go directly to the graded set and refer to the practice set only if you want some help.
The graded problem sets have a firm due date. You can change your answers as many times as you like before the due date passes. Once the due date passes, Aplia records your grade and you can no longer change your answers or complete the assignment. In other words, Aplia assignments must be done by the due date. The software does not understand excuses. Do your assignments early to keep last minute emergencies from getting in your way. After the due date, Aplia displays the correct answers and explanations for graded problems.
Student benefits of Aplia: Cramming is an ineffective learning method. Aplia lets you learn by doing -- you can apply what you hear and see in the classroom and what you read in the text. Think of the regular assignments on Aplia as a weekly economics workout. Regular work in Aplia will better prepare you for lectures and exams.
FAQ
What is an Aplia Payment Code and how can I get one?
The Aplia Payment Code is just another way to pay your Aplia course fee. You can find it bundled with your text. Your Aplia Payment Code is different from your Aplia Course Key. The course key allows us to identify your economics class and professor; the payment code tells us that you prepaid your entire Aplia course fee when you purchased the code. An Aplia Payment Code follows the format of xxxxx-xxx-xxxxx-xxx and is printed on a separate card included with your textbook.
What if I purchase a payment code after paying for Aplia with my credit/debit card or electronic check?
We can refund your payment. To speed up the refund process, sign into your Aplia course and go to the My Account tab. Click on My Courses, and enter your payment code. You will then receive an automatic refund.
Under what circumstances can I get a refund?
Refund Policy: You are entitled to a refund if you submit a refund request to Aplia during the original grace period for payment. The grace period for your course expires on 02.06.06. No refunds will be granted after this date. Requests for refunds must be submitted by email or letter and received by Aplia within the stipulated time period. Contact support@aplia.com or write to Aplia, Inc., 959 Skyway Rd, Suite 325, San Carlos, CA 94070 USA, to request a refund.
Note: No refunds are issued for courses paid for with an Aplia Payment Code under any circumstances.
How do I access my textbook on the Aplia website?
A digital version of your textbook is available in your Aplia course. You can access textbook chapters on the Home page or through your weekly assignments.
Disclaimer: I receive no monetary benefit from requiring Aplia assignments.
Problems Sets, etc.
In
this class, a certain level of mathematics, graphical analysis, and numerical
analysis is assumed. I do not teach
mathematics or graphical analysis in this class as I assume that you have the
appropriate training in these areas before you have enrolled in this course.
We are not assuming a particularly high level of mathematical or
graphical analysis understanding. A
course in college algebra is sufficient and perhaps a high school course in
algebra is all that is needed.
Other assignments are in the form of problem sets and readings or news analysis. Some of the problems sets are for practice to help you prepare for the graded problem sets and some of the problem sets are graded. You can tell whether they are practice or graded by viewing the SCORE column. “Practice only” indicates practice and “Not graded yet” indicates that this problem set is a graded problem. Also you can determine if it is practice or graded by viewing the TYPE column. If it has P icon it is practice and if has a √ icon it is a graded problem. The STATUS column tells you whether the problem is “Complete” or “Not Started.” News analyses which are graded have an icon with a magnifying glass. In many cases, an assignment will be designated as “I” and “II.” The “I” will be a practice assignment and the “II” will be the graded assignment.
You will receive an Email 24 hours before your assignments are due.
Attendance:
Attendance at the lectures is compulsory. Six or more absences are the
basis for an instructor initiated drop or reduced final grade.
Learning
Outcomes:
It is the objective of this course to introduce to the student the basics of the
economic way of thinking. Your instructor firmly believes that economics can be
both useful and enjoyable. Emphasis is on the application of economic analysis
to real-world issues and problems. Such concepts as scarcity, opportunity costs,
supply and demand, and marginal analysis will be introduced and discussed in
detail and used throughout the course. The course and the economic way of
thinking is probably something very new to most of you so give this course the
attention it deserves. Just reading the book the night before the test and
memorizing a few phrases like "supply and demand" will not cut it. You
will need to work at it and learn how to apply the economic principles to real-
world cases. Memorizing is not enough.
Disabilities:
Students
who are registered with Disability Services must speak to the professor during
the first full week of class if special arrangements are to be made.
OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE
This is a course in macroeconomics, which is the second course in the principles of economics sequence. The subject matter of this course is the aggregate economy, which focuses on such topics as the business cycle, economic growth, inflation and unemployment. The topics covered in this course are the typical news stories about economic matters. Be sure to pay a little more attention to the economic news, as it will help you to develop a better understanding of the material covered in the text. The course is quite rigorous so you should keep up with your reading. I am quite sure that you will enjoy The Choice.
COMPUTER SITES OF INTEREST
WEB SITE FOR THE MANKIW TEXT: http://www.dryden.com/econ/mankiw/
Good site for STUDYING FOR the test. includes ON-LINE tests, information on other web sites OF ECONOMIC INTEREST, etc.
YOU SHOULD ALSO TRY THE ECONOMIC BRIEFING ROOM SITE WHICH PROVIDES LATEST UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION ON KEY ECONOMIC INDICATORS.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/fsbr/esbr.html
ALSO if you are really interested in economic data and information try:
http://rfe.org
INSTRUCTIONAL OUTLINE (MANKIW - MACROECONOMICS)
CH. 23(10): MEASURING A NATION’S INCOME
CH. 24(11): MEASURING THE COST OF LIVING
CH. 25(12): PRODUCTION AND GROWTH
TEST 1
CH. 26(13): SAVING, INVESTMENT, AND THE FINANCIAL SYSTEM
CH. 28(15): THE NATURAL RATE OF UNEMPLOYMENT
CH. 29(16): THE MONETARY SYSTEM
CH. 30(17): MONEY GROWTH AND INFLATION
TEST 2
CH. 31(18): OPEN-ECONOMY MACROECONOMICS
CH. 32(19): A MACROECONOMIC THEORY OF THE OPEN ECONOMY
ALL CHAPTERS: THE CHOICE
TEST 3
CH. 33(20): AGGREGATE DEMAND AND SUPPLY
CH. 34(21): THE INFLUENCE OF MONETARY AND FISCAL POLICY
CH. 35(22): THE SHORT-RUN TRADE-OFF BETWEEN UNEMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION
CH. 36(23): FIVE DEBATES OVER MACROECONOMIC POLICY
FINAL (FINAL WILL BE COMPREHENSIVE)
This course is available to students who
have been accepted into the
School of Business and have satisfied the prerequisite of Econ 201. If
you have not yet been accepted or are taking this course for other
reasons, you must complete a waiver form and submit it to the Student
Services Center by Wednesday, January 16. If there are problems relating
to your enrollment in the course, you will be notified by Thursday,
January 17. If you have not submitted a waiver form by Wednesday,
January 16, you may be dropped from the course at your own expense.
Waiver forms are available in the Student Services Center (Patterson
104). (Accepted graduate students taking courses as prerequisites or
electives are excluded from the waiver program.) If you have questions
about the waiver program, it is best to seek assistance from the Student
Services Center staff rather than waiting until after the deadline.
Mission Statement:
We are a community of scholars and practitioners committed to superior undergraduate and graduate business programs accredited by AACSB International. We emphasize excellence in teaching, promote intellectual exchange and development, and advocate continuous learning reflecting a dynamic global environment. Our services deliver value to our students, the university, business disciplines, and society.
South Dakota Board of Regent General Education Requirements:
This class fulfills the following Goals of the South Dakota System General Education Requirements:
GOAL #3: Students will understand the organization, potential, and diversity of the
human community through study of economics.It
is the objective of this course to introduce to the student the basics of the
economic way of thinking. The course and the economic way of
thinking is probably something very new to most of you so give this course the
attention it deserves. Just reading the book the night before the test and
memorizing a few phrases like "supply and demand" will not cut it. You
will need to work at it and learn how to apply the economic principles to real-
world cases. Memorizing is not enough.
Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will:
Mission Statement:
We are a community of scholars and practitioners committed to superior undergraduate and graduate business programs accredited by AACSB International. We emphasize excellence in teaching, promote intellectual exchange and development, and advocate continuous learning reflecting a dynamic global environment. Our services deliver value to our students, the university, business disciplines, and society.
South Dakota Board of Regent General Education Requirements:
This class fulfills the following Goals of the South Dakota System General Education Requirements:
GOAL #3: Students will understand the organization, potential, and diversity of the
human community through study of economics.It
is the objective of this course to introduce to the student the basics of the
economic way of thinking. The course and the economic way of
thinking is probably something very new to most of you so give this course the
attention it deserves. Just reading the book the night before the test and
memorizing a few phrases like "supply and demand" will not cut it. You
will need to work at it and learn how to apply the economic principles to real-
world cases. Memorizing is not enough.
Student Learning Outcomes: As a result of taking courses meeting this goal, students will: