UNIVERSITY
OF COLORADO
PRINCIPLES OF MACROECONOMICS: ECON2020-100
Fall 2008
Jay Kaplan
Office: Economics Room 4C
Office Telephone: 492-2651
Office
Hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:30-11:00, or by appointment.
e-mail: kaplan@colorado.edu
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
This course is designed
to give the student an understanding of macroeconomic concepts and related issues. First,
lets us discuss what is macroeconomics. Most people are familiar with the idea of
economics. It covers information such as jobs, inflation, economic growth, interest rates,
some guy named Ben Bernanke that always seems upset by good news, as well as politicians
taking credit for all of that good news and blaming the others for the bad events. For
many students, economics is a required course that seems sort of interesting and even
useful if they are going to have dinner with their Uncle Mort, the banker. But you won't
find too many students discussing economic news at the ball game or at a party with
friends.
But the economy affects
our lives constantly. From our employment opportunities, longevity and potential for
advancement, to the price we pay for food at the grocery. Economic conditions can
determine if we can afford that great new car or the 1978 Ford Pinto that your
seventeen-year-old cousin has outgrown.
Aside from teaching you
the basics, the primary emphasis of this course is to help you understand that latest
economic news that you may read in the newspaper, and hear on the radio or television. By
comprehending the materials presented in this course, you will have the background needed
to interpret this information on your own some day in the future. For example, let us move
ahead a few years when you are thinking about saving some of your substantial salary in
the stock market. You pick up the newspaper and spot economic news that leads you to
conclude that inflation rates are marching upward. As a result, you reconsider your
savings decision since you expect interest rates to rise as well.
A good strategy for the
course is to be sure to understand the basic concepts and how they relate to each other,
since this knowledge will be the primary determinant of your class grade. Go through each
section carefully and ask questions in class and recitation. Visit your instructors during
office hours or e-mail separately. Use the practice questions provided throughout the
course to test your knowledge of the materials. To get the most out of this course, pick
up the newspaper, listen to NPR on the radio, look around on the Web for economic news at
Web sites such as CNN and MSNBC. Try to relate actual economic events to what you are
learning.
As often as possible,
class discussion will expand on theoretical topics by relating actual events to the
theories presented in class. It is hoped that the students will make a better linkage
between actual events and a hypothetical approach. Students are encouraged to contribute
their ideas and opinions on these subjects.
Course
Materials