Principles of Macroeconomics

Economics  202

Yakima Valley College

Autumn Quarter 2018 – Line Item #3635

 

Instructor: Timothy Jeske, Ph.D.                                         Office: Glenn-Anthon 167

Telephone: 574-4809 (Voice Mail)                                       E-mail: tjeske@yvcc.edu or through Canvas     

Office Hours: M - Th 2:00 - 3:15 pm, or by appointment.

Course Description

This course examines the organization of and issues surrounding the modern U.S. macro economy.  The concepts explored include the business cycle, inflation, unemployment, and economic growth.  Other topics will include an introduction to the historical development of macroeconomic thought, government intervention through fiscal policy, and the roles of the Federal Reserve Banking system and monetary policy.     

This course fulfills five credits towards the social science distribution requirement towards completion of the Associate of Arts degree at Yakima Valley College.  

The social sciences are a collection of academic disciplines that use a variety of methods to investigate human behavior and culture. These methods share a commitment to explanations derived from observable, measurable, and verifiable phenomena. Claims of knowledge require such empirical evidence to be considered valid.  The social sciences generally are committed to employing knowledge for the improvement of the human condition.  In the context of American democracy, social scientists typically share a commitment to influencing public discussions and policies regarding individual liberty, social responsibility, and what constitutes a more just society.

Institutional Assessment: In addition to the content of each discipline, YVC emphasizes the development of the following three outcomes: Communication (C), Computation/Analytical Reasoning (C/AR), and Human Relations (HR). As a student, your abilities may be assessed in one or more of these outcome areas. For further information, refer to general education outcomes in the catalog.

Course Prerequisites

Students enrolled in Economics 202 must be eligible for ENGL 101 or successful completion of BA 138 and MATH 084/085 or successful completion of BA 115.

Course Outcomes 

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Analyze/apply current economic data in reference to unemployment, inflation, interest rates, and the money supply. 
• Apply fiscal policy levers used by the government to alter the growth of the economy.
• Analyze monetary policy changes as the Federal Reserve Board influences the economy. 

 Course Objectives and Abilities Practiced

Students will have the opportunity to practice Analytical Reasoning (AR). 

To reach the designated Outcomes of this course, students will:

• Interpret relevant language and acronyms used in the study of the field of macroeconomics.
• Identify the causes and implication of business cycles and their influence on income, unemployment and inflation. (AR)
• Develop a systematic approach for accounting for GDP, NDP, NI, PI, and DI. (AR)
• Solve the consumption function for aggregate expenditure, recognize destabilizing factors and apply fiscal policy to stabilize the economy.  (AR)
• Apply deficit spending and identify the positive and negative aspects of public debts. (AR)
• Identify the significance of money and banking and the role of the Federal Reserve System, including money multipliers. (AR)
• Apply supply-side policies to an unstable economy to correct the instabilities. (AR)

Required Texts:

Lucky you! Your e-textbook is free and a print version is available at very low cost! The book is available in a wide variety of free online formats via the website listed below. You can use the book in whichever format(s) you want; we recommend that you download the entire .pdf so that you always have access to your book.

Principles of Macroeconomics, from OpenStax College, ISBN 1938168259, https://openstaxcollege.org/textbooks/principles-of-macroeconomics

Printed copies at a significantly reduced textbook rate are also for sale via the YVC college bookstore or www.openstaxcollege.org

Special Accommodations (ADA)

If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me to discuss your special needs as soon as possible. 

Student Rights and Responsibilities

The YVC student handbook states that the following is a violation of college rules: buying, copying, or borrowing or otherwise plagiarizing another’s images, ideas, evidence, examples, opinions, or other original products or documents from published, unpublished, or electronic sources for the purpose of deceiving an instructor as to the product’s origination.  If the student is found plagiarizing or in otherwise being academically dishonest, s/he may receive an immediate failure and disciplinary action may be taken in accordance with the code procedures.  The 2018-19 YVC catalog and the most current copy of Students Rights and Responsibilities reviews your rights and responsibilities as a student.

Class Attendance: Requirement and Policy

Regular class attendance is an important element for this course because students who do not regularly attend class generally do not keep up with the assigned readings and do not succeed to their full potential.  A high rate of absences by several students also slows down the progress of the entire class.  Students are expected to make every effort to schedule other appointments around this class period including medical or dental appointments.  You are expected to arrive to class on time; arriving late disturbs other students and will not be tolerated.    

Students are responsible for withdrawing themselves from the course. The instructor can administratively withdraw students who fail to attend class on a regular basis.  The last day to withdraw from the course is Friday, November 16, 2017. The instructor will not give administrative withdrawals or an incomplete grade after November 16 unless there is a bona fide medical or family emergency and the student is currently passing the course.

Graded Assignments:

Your final course grade will be determined from the satisfactory completion of the following graded assignments:

• Four in-class examinations; @ 75 points each = 300 points
• 10 homework quizzes; @ 20 points - 200 points. 
• Bonus points added to some homework and exams; other bonus point opportunities at instructor's discretion.  

About the exams: Please purchase Scantron Form - FORM NO. 886-E .  These forms are available for purchase in the YVC Bookstore.  Exams will be multiple-choice questions and answer free response questions. There is no make-up examination without prior approval of the instructor. If you are not able to attend class on an exam day you should arrange with the instructor to take the exam early.  Late, make-up examinations will be penalized 5 points for each day late and no make-up exam will be given after two class sessions from the original exam day.  There is no make-up exam for the fourth exam.       

About the quizzes: The ten quizzes are to be completed by the due date/time.  They are timed, and available for the student to attempt only one time.  Do not open the quiz until you are ready to take and complete the quiz.  Be sure when you take your quiz that the technology you are using is reliable and take it when you won't be interrupted. If you are taking the quiz on your own computer I will not allow another attempt should your technology fail or you were interrupted during the quiz time.  I recommend that you take the quiz in a YVC computer lab so that should a technology problem occur that prevents you from completing the exam it can be verified by the lab technicians and I can allow you another attempt.  

The following percentage scale based on 500 points (note there are also bonus points added to several exams) determines your final grade:

100% - 94% = A  

93.9% - 90% = A-

89.9% - 87% = B+        

86.9% - 83% = B 

82.9% - 80% = B-

79.9% - 77% = C+        

76.9% - 73% = C 

72.9% - 70% = C-

69.9% - 67% = D+        

66.9% - 60% = D 

59.9% - 0%   = F 

 

Course Section Schedule   (Subject to Instructor Change)

Section One: Introduction to Economics & Macroeconomics.     September 24 - October 5

Readings: Textbook, Chapters 1 - 3

Section Two: Macroeconomic Perspective   October 9 - 29

Readings: Textbook, Chapters 6 - 9

Section Three: Macroeconomic Theories     October 30 - November 12

Readings: Textbook, Chapters 11 - 13

Section Four: Government and the Economy: Monetary and Fiscal Policies     November 14 - December 9

Readings: Textbook,  Chapters 14 & 15 , 17 & 18