Descriptor Details

  • Descriptor Title
    Principles of Macroeconomics
  • C-ID Number
    202
  • Units
    3.0
  • Date of Last Revision
    9/17/2024 02:49:07 PM GMT+0000

General Description

An introductory course focusing on aggregate economic analysis. Topics include: aggregate measures of economic activity, macroeconomic equilibrium, money and financial institutions, monetary and fiscal policy, international economics, and economic growth.

Prerequisites

Elementary Algebra

Corequisites

None

Advisories

Intermediate Algebra

Content

  1. Fundamentals of economic thinking
  2. How markets operate
  3. Measuring the economy
    1. National output and productivity
    2. Price level (inflation)
    3. Business cycle
    4. Unemployment
  4. AD/AS analysis (i.e. Keynesian and/or classical model
  5. Monetary system
    1. Money creation and banking
    2. Role and function of central banks
    3. Money demand
    4. Saving, investment, interest rates
  6. The role of the government in the macro economy
    1. Stabilization policy
    2. Deficit and debt
    3. Fiscal and monetary policy
  7. Determinants of economic growth
  8. Open economy
    1. Balance of payments
    2. Exchange rates
    3. International trade

Lab Activities

No information provided

Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

  1. Identify and interpret macroeconomic data
  2. Apply macroeconomic models to understand the economy
  3. Analyze the economic impacts of monetary and fiscal policy
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the function of the central bank and the banking system

Evaluation Methods

Assessed written work is recommended for this course and may include any of the following (colleges are encouraged to work with local CSU and UC departments to determine writing requirements):

  • Current event analysis
  • Term papers
  • Essay questions on exams

Exams and quizzes containing one more:

  • Multiple choice questions
  • Short answers
  • Problem solving
  • True/false
  • Essays

Homework

Presentations
Debates and class discussion
Group projects
Experiments

Textbooks

These are examples of acceptable two-semester textbooks covering both Macroeconomics and Microeconomics. The one-semester edition covering only Macroeconomics is acceptable as is any other equivalent textbook, including an OER textbook.

Arnold, R. A. Economics.
Boyes, W., Melvin, M., Economics. 
Case, K. E., Fair, R. C., & Oster, S. M. Principles of economics.
Colander, D. Economics. 
Cowen, T., & Tabarrok, A. Modern principles of economics.
Frank, R. H., & Bernanke, B. S. Principles of economics.
Hubbard, R. G., & O’Brien, A. P. Economics. 
Krugman, P. & Wells, R. Economics.
Mankiw, N. G. Principles of economics. 
McConnell, C. R., Brue, S. L., & Flynn, S. M. Economics: Principles, problems and policies.
Miller, R. L. Economics today. 
Rittenberg, L., & Tregarthen, T. Principles of economics. Flat World Knowledge.
Schiller, B. R. The economy today. 
Sexton, R. L. Exploring economics. 
Slavin, S. Economics. 
Tucker, I. B. Economics for today.

Descriptor Administration

  • Public Review Needed
    No
  • Next Descriptor Review
    No information provided
  • Resubmission Requirements for Courses
    Descriptor changes were administrative only
  • Resubmission Deadline
    Fall 2032
  • Comments

    No information provided

  • Notes

    No information provided

  • Keywords

    No information provided