ECON 201
Principles of Macroeconomics
Fall 2008
 
Class Notes,
Homework and answers
Assignments, and Handouts
 
TTH
 
3:10 pm - 4:40 pm
Academic 1026

Dr. Gabriel Martínez
Office: Academic 2056
 
 
Office Hours:
TTh 1:30 – 3:00

Department of Economics
Ave Maria University
 

Economics can be one of the most interesting and useful things you’ll ever learn. Economics is filled with excitement: the pleasure of understanding a model, the thrill of the hunt for explanations, the electrifying debates about the big questions of society.


At the same time, it is tremendously useful. Families, corporations, and governments use economics when they make decisions about their income and their expenses, the products they make, their reactions to events, and their world-changing policies.

Some of the most influential people in the world are economists by training and by profession. The world is in great need of economists who are leaders, both professionally and morally.

If you put your brain and your heart into this class – if you do the work and go beyond the assignments – you will be richly rewarded.
 
Schedule of Classes, Readings, and Assignments
Click on the name for the Class Notes or Assignments
 
Date
Reading
Assignment
Answers
 
 
 
INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aug
26
T
Introduction   /   Syllabus

Useful sites with current economic data, news, and analysis
International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook
Yahoo Finance http://finance.yahoo.com/
Economic Data from the St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank
Nouriel Roubini's Global Economics Monitor
 
 
 
Aug
28
Th
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MACROECONOMICS
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sept
2
T
Chapter 17: Macroeconomics: A Bird's-eye View of the Economy PPT PDF
Homework on Readings
 
 
4
Th
Chapter 18: Measuring Economic Activity: GDP and Unemployment PPT PDF
    GDP and Inflation Handout XLS
    The Pulse of the Economy: JEP article
Homework ch 17
 
 
 9
T 
Chapter 21: Unemployment (pp. 603-610)

 Homework ch 18
 
 
11
Th
Chapter 19: Measuring the Price Level and Inflation PPT PDF
 
 
16
T
Ch. 19, cont.
Homework ch 19
 
18
Th
 Quiz 1 (30 minutes)

      Practice: Test 1-2006    Test 1- 2007
Study Guide for Quiz 1
 Answers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
RECESSIONS AND PROSPERITIES: THEORY AND POLICY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23
T
Chapter 25: Short-Term Economic Fluctuations: An Introduction PPT PDF
 
 
 25
Th 
Chapter 26: Spending and Output in the Short Run; Appendices PPT PDF
Income-Expenditure Exercises XLS
Homework ch 25
 
 
30
T
Ch. 26, cont.
   The Economist: 2008 Recession and Fiscal Stimulus
 
 Oct
 2
Th
Homework ch 26
 
 
7
T
Pre-Test Review
 
9
Th
 Midterm Exam (60 minutes)

      Practice: Test 2-2006    Test 2- 2007
 Study Guide for the Midterm
 Answers
 
14
T
Chapter 23: Money, Prices, and the Federal Reserve
 PPT PDF
The Deposit Multiplier XLS
Alchian: Why Money
 
 
 16 Th
Chapter 3: Supply and Demand (briefly) PPT PDF

                        Report on Current Events
 
Homework ch 23
 
 
21
T
Midterm Break
 
 
 
23
Th
Chapter 27: Stabilizing the Economy: The Role of the Fed; Appendix PPT PDF
Homework ch 3 and Supply/Demand
 
  28 T Ch. 27, cont.: Monetary Policy

Report on Current Events

 
 
30
Th
Chapter 28: Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply; Appendix (pp. 795-820) PPT PDF

   Dr. Martinez's Notes

Homework ch 27
 
 Nov
4
T
Ch. 28, cont.: Sources of Inflation (pp. 795-820)
Chapter. 29: The Practice and Pitfalls of Macroeconomic Policy (pp. 831-836)
The powerpoint notes that correspond to this section of chapter 29 are included in the ch. 28 notes under "controlling inflation".
  

 

Ben Shalom Bernanke, Ph.D.
The most important economist in the world: Ben Bernanke (pronounced ber-NAN-kee), one of the authors of our textbook, is the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors.
Economics opinion-makers had nothing but good things to say about him at the time of his nomination.

Here are some of his main contributions to Economics.
His most important policy writings:
Ben S. Bernanke and Frederic S. Mishkin, Jul 1997
 Inflation Targeting: A New Framework for Monetary Policy?
Federal Reserve, Governor Ben S. Bernanke, Mar 10, 2005
 The Global Saving Glut and the U.S. Current Account Deficit
Federal Reserve, Remarks by Governor Ben S. Bernanke, Nov 22, 2002
 Deflation: Making Sure "It" Doesn't Happen Here
 
 
 
 
GROWTH AND THE OPEN ECONOMY
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  6 Th Chapter 20: Economic Growth, Productivity, and Living Standards PPT PDF
                   Useful questions for Chapter 20		  
 
11
T
Quiz 2 (30 minutes), chapters 23, 3, 27, 28 (not 20)

      Practice: Test 3 ECO 201  Test 3 ECO 201 2007
                   Test 4 ECO 201  Test 4 ECO 201 F07
 Study Guide for Quiz 2
 
13
Th
Chapter 22: Saving and Capital Formation PPT PDF
Homework ch 20
 
 
18
T
Chapter 24: International Capital Flows PPT PDF
Homework ch 22
 
 
20
Th
Quiz 3 (30 minutes), chapters 22 and 24
 Study Guide for Quiz 3

 
 
25
T
Chapter 30 (chapter 29 in the 2nd edition): Exchange Rates and the Open Economy  PPT PDF
Homework ch 24
 
 
27
Th
Thanksgiving Break - no class
 
 
Dec
2
T
Ch. 30, cont.: Monetary Policy and the Exchange Rate

 Homework ch 30
 
4
Th
Pre-Test Review
 
 
 
F
 12
  2:00pm - 5:00pm: Final Exam               -- STUDY GUIDE --
due Dec 5
 
 

 

Last Revised: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 03:53 PM


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