E202 - Macroeconomics

Indiana University Kokomo

Summer 2008   

Dr. Steven Cox

^* If a student is found to be without the required prerequisite, he or she may be administratively withdrawn at any point in the semester.

Goals

To increase awareness of how the U.S. economic system functions at the aggregate level, how

macroeconomic problems are tackled using fiscal and monetary policies, and how the U.S. economy

fits into the global arena. Specifically:

• Understand basic macroeconomic terms/concepts.

• Understand economic reasoning

• Be able to systematically analyze current national economic problems.

• Understand limitations of economic analysis.

• Understand implications of global economy to the United States

In addition, I have two personal goals relating to this course. First, I want to make economics interesting and perhaps even fun. Second, I want to award grades fairly. Students that come to class, do the reading, and practice the problems, will do well in my class.

Objectives

At the completion of this class, the student should:

• Be able to use descriptive and analytical graphs.
• Identify linkages between and among markets and the household, business, government and
• foreign sectors.
• Define the concepts of inflation, unemployment, and GDP.
• Explain and apply contemporary theories of employment, output, income, and growth.
• Distinguish between fiscal and monetary policies, their goals, and the controlling
• authority.
• Define the functions of money, measures of money in the economy, the motivation for
• keeping money, the role of banking institutions in the creation of money, the tasks of the
• Federal Reserve system and the instruments of monetary policy.
• Apply the concept of multiplier.
• Explain how international trade and the global economy affect the US.

The School of Business Mission Statement
 

 http://www.iuk.edu/~kobus/Mission.shtml

Computer Usage

Students are strongly encouraged to use the computer to access selected web sites and to contact me via e-mail. IU Kokomo also offers a variety of computer resources for course assignments and projects (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, presentation software, database management, and statistical analysis packages). 

Library Usage

The IU Kokomo library system offers a large variety of resources for the student to supplement the content of this course. Examples include current newspapers (Wall Street Journal), magazines (Business Week), databases (ABI Inform), and access to the Internet.

Grading 

Grading Scale 

Exams

Unexcused absences will result in zeros on exams. The midterm exam will be in class on July 14^th. The final exam will be in class on August 6^th.

Quizzes

Short 10-point quizzes will be given in each class. You will receive your highest ten scores out of twelve quizzes. There are no make-ups on quizzes for any reason.

Students with Special Needs

Indiana University Kokomo provides equal access and support services to students with special needs.  Students with documented disabilities should contact the University Division and discuss any necessary support services or accommodation with the instructor. 

Course Schedule