Req’d Text:  Macroeconomics, 10^th Edition by Michael Parkin

Optional material: The Study guide for Parkin’s Macroeconomics text, any edition.

Course Description: Macroeconomic theory is a set of practical ideas about how highly aggregated variables in the economy, such as total output (GDP), the number of people working (Employment), and the overall price level (Consumer Price Index) are related to each other. These economic relationships are being used throughout the world to analyze business and social choices and to try to predict economic outcomes. The course objective is for students to develop a useful understanding of macroeconomic theory.

The presentation of the main concepts in the assigned readings from the text is based on in-class lectures and discussion. Your best source of information about the course – what will be covered on each exam, for instance – will be provided in class. Questions and discussion are welcome and encouraged during class and during my office hours. There are exercises at the end of each chapter in the text; and any edition of the study guide for Parkin’s Macroeconomics text can be a useful source for more exercises. Some un-graded exercise assignments from the text or other sources may be handed out in class.

Your course grade will rest on two midterms and a final exam. We will have three midterm exams over the semester, your lowest midterm grade will be dropped. There will be no make-up exams, a missed midterm will count as the one to be dropped. Each midterm exam is worth 25% of the course grade and the final is worth 50%. The midterms are not comprehensive (each only covers material ‘since the last midterm’.) The final, however, covers all of the material in the course and will occur on our last class day. All of these exams will consist of word problems with multiple choice answers. In lecture the material will often be presented graphically and algebraically, and students should work toward being able to use these tools to answer questions. Exam questions will emphasize material that is both in the text and has been covered in class, so your lecture notes will be a good guide to the testable material in the course.

Please note that cases of scholastic dishonesty will receive maximum sanctions in this course. You are asked to turn your cell phone off during class.

Important course dates: Besides this syllabus, a course schedule and a reading guide are available on the Blackboard site for this course. The midterms will be in-class exams, the midterm dates are on the course schedule. The final exam, again, will be on our last day of class at the end of the semester.

Suggested Readings               

In Macroeconomics, 10^th Edition, by Michael Parkin (copyright 2012 by Pearson Education, Inc.)

 This reading list is basic guide; we may not be able to cover all of this material. Updates will be provided in class and online as the class progresses.

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                                    Chapter 1                    pages 8-10 + the Appendix (pages 13-23)

                                    Chapter 2                    to page 42

                                    Chapter 3                    to page 68

                                    Chapter 4                    to page 97

                                    Chapter 5                    to page 123

                                    Chapter 6                    All

                                    Chapter 11                  All

                                    Chapter 10                  to page 255

                                    Chapter 12                  to page 301

                                    Chapter 13                  to page 333

                                    Chapter 7                    to page 168, especially p. 164-168

                                    Chapter 8                    to page 199 & pages 183-196

                                    Chapter 14                  to page 357

                                                                                      Course Schedule*

Macroeconomics, ECON-2301

Fall 2011 ACC Marble

* Subject to minor modifications in the course of the semester.

The course objective is for students to develop a useful, practical understanding of macroeconomic theory.