Hunter College Department of Economics Economics 201 Fall 2012 OFFICE: Hunter College, HW 1504 Voice: (212) 772-5405.

Email: tagbeyeg@hunter.cuny.edu

Professor Temisan D. Agbeyegbe Introduction to Macro-economics

CLASS: Eco 201: 0911 Section 001. T/F 11:10-12:25 HN 510 OFFICE HOURS: T/F 3:00-4:30 and also by appointment. COURSE SYLLABUS REQIRED TEXT: Parkin, Michael, Macroeconomics. 10th. Edition, 2012.
ISBN 978-0-13-139445-2

RECOMMENDED: Subscription to Wall Street Journal , Barron's, or New York Times. COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course does not violate any truth-in-labeling laws; it covers economics at an introductory level. The main focus of the course is on macroeconomic theory, but I also pay some attention to empirical evidence on major macroeconomic issues. You should have some familiarity with using simple charting tools. LEARNING GOALS: http://econ.hunter.cuny.edu/programs/courses-of-study/ba-ineconomics/learning-goals-for-economics-majors READINGS assigned in the text should be done before class (see attached course schedule), and I suggest you re-read the chapter after it is covered in class as well. You should also do the problems corresponding to the text chapters assigned. There is no good substitute for solving problems. Problem sets will be assigned as appropriate throughout the semester. You should see me during my office hours or by appointment if you need help in doing these or other problems. EXAMINATIONS AND GRADES: There will be three examinations. The examinations will be comprehensive and cumulative. The exams will be of a multiple choice type. If you have questions on the grading of particular questions on the examination, you are welcome to submit in writing an explanation of why you think your answer is right and the grading was wrong, along with the examination for re-grading. This must be done within two days of my handing back the exam. Bring your ID cards to the exams, #2 pencils and an eraser. Exam I will be given on Tuesday, October 16. It will cover material through Friday, October 12 and Chapters 1,2,3,4,5, 6 ,7 and 8 in the text and lectures. Exam II will be given on Tuesday, November 20. Exam II will cover lecture material through Friday, November 16 and chapters 9, 10, 11 and 12 in addition to the material required for Exam I, and the accompanying lectures. Your mid-terms and final examination will be graded on a regular 0 to 100 basis. Your 1

final grade will be computed as a weighted average of your homework, mid-terms and final examination grade. The weights correspond to 10% homework, 50% for all your midterms and 40% for the final examination. To get an "A," your total points should be 90% or above, for a "B," the range should be 80-89%, "C," ranges between 70-79%, a "D," is between 60-69%. Below 60% guarantees you "F". You may opt to be graded on a credit no credit basis if you so desire. No makeup hour examination will be given for any reason. Students who have a valid excuse (serious illness or family emergency) for missing an hour examination and who provide written documentation will have their term grade computed as 1/3 of the other examination grade plus 2/3 of the final examination grade. Others will have a 15-point penalty deducted from their final grade. Students who provide written documentation of a valid excuse for missing the final examination will receive a grade of "IN," and may take a makeup examination to be administered by the College during the next semester. (Vacation plans, non-refundable airline tickets, etc., are not acceptable excuses.) Other students who miss the final will receive a term grade of "F." CLASS PARTICIPATION I encourage and welcome class participation. As a reward for constructive and helpful comments, I give up to a maximum of 4 percentage points, extra credit based on my subjective evaluation of student contributions to the intellectual exchange in the class room. To make certain no student is penalized for lack of class participation, I determine all grades first on the basis of total points excluding extra credit points, and only after that will I look for the possibility that extra credit points change any student's grade. COURSE OUTLINE Date 8/28 8/31 9/4 9/7 9/11 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/2 10/5 10/9 10/12 10/16 10/19 10/26 Topic Introduction Basics, What is Economics Graphs The Economic Problem Consumer demand (D) Supply decisions (S) Mathematical Notes on D/S and Equilibrium Measuring real GDP and economic growth Monitoring jobs and Inflation Economic Growth Finance saving and Investment Money, the price level and inflation Examination I The exchange rate and the balance of payment I The exchange rate and the balance of payment II 2 Reading Assignment Chapter 1 Chapter 1. Appendix Chapter 2. Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 9

10/30 11/2 11/6 11/9 11/13 11/16 11/20 11/23 11/27 11/30 12/4 12/7 12/11

The Aggregate Supply Chapter 10 The Aggregate Demand Chapter 10 Expenditure Multipliers; The Keynesian Model Chapter 11 The Keynesian Model. Algebraic Formulation Chapter 11 Appendix US Inflation, Unemployment and Business Cycle. Chapter 12 (First part) US Inflation, Unemployment and Business Cycle. Chapter 12 (Second part) Examination II Fiscal Policy I Chapter 13 Fiscal Policy II Chapter 13 Monetary Policy II Chapter 14 Monetary Policy II Chapter 14 Trading with the world Chapter 15 Trading with the world Chapter 15 Final Exams. Tuesday, December 18, 2012 9:00-11:00

September18, 25, October 23 No classes.