Bus 1104 Macroeconomics

BUS 1104: MACROECONOMICS

Course Description:

This course provides a solid overview of the field of macroeconomics with the intent to develop a general understanding and appreciation of the factors and methods used to manage macroeconomic policy and the impact of these policies on the global economy. Macroeconomics is oriented largely toward national economic policy. The topics in this course appear regularly in the news. This course will help you to understand how a nation’s economy works and how macroeconomic policy impacts a nation’s economy. It will help you to judge what policies you, as an informed member of society and participant in the economy, will or will not support.

Required Textbook and Materials:

The main required textbooks for this course are listed below, and can be readily accessed using the provided links. There may be additional required/recommended readings, supplemental materials, or other resources and websites necessary for lessons; these will be provided for you in the course’s General Information and Forums area, and throughout the term via the weekly course Unit areas and the Learning Guides.

• Rittenberg, L. and Tregarthen, T. (2012). Macroeconomics Principles V. 2.0. Licensed under Creative Commons by-nc-sa 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/). PDF available here.
• Additionally, students may find the CEO Express website of value for completing their written assignments and for accessing information. It may be accessed via: http://www.ceoexpress.com

Software Requirements/Installation:

No special requirements.

Learning Objectives and Outcomes:

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Compare and contrast how a nation’s economy works.
2. Examine macroeconomic policy issues and the potential and limitations of economic policy.
3. Evaluate conflicting economic policy proposals.

Course Schedule and Topics:

This course will cover the following topics in eight learning sessions, with one Unit per week. The Final Exam will take place during Week/Unit 9.

Week 1: Unit 1 – Economics: The Study of Choice. Demand and Supply

Week 2: Unit 2 – A Brief History of Macroeconomic Thought and Policy and Macroeconomics: The Big Picture

Week 3: Unit 3 – Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply and Consumption and Aggregate Expenditures Model

Week 4: Unit 4 – Financial Markets and the Economy and Monetary Policy and the Fed

Week 5: Unit 5 – Government and Fiscal Policy and Socialist Economies in Transition

Week 6: Unit 6 – Economic Growth and Net Exports and International Finance

Week 7: Unit 7 – Inflation and Unemployment and Inequality, Poverty, and Discrimination

Week 8: Unit 8 – Investment and Economic Activity and Economic Development