SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Selden, New York
Social Science Department

COURSE OUTLINE

 

Instructor:            
Department:          Social Science

Catalog No.:          EK-21
Semester:              

Required Text:
1.  Miller, Economics Today 
Recommended Reading:
1.  The Wall Street Journal
2.  The Economic Report of the President

Objectives of the course:
1.  The objective of this course will be to familiarize the student with macroeconomic theory and in particular how theory can be applied in solving and explaining real world problems.  Upon completion of this course the student will be able to understand terminology frequently encountered in the Wall Street Journal and other professional journals as well as understand the economic policies that our elected officials have created.

 

Teaching Methodology:

  1. The emphasis in this course will be in developing concepts; identifying the tools economists use to deal with these concepts; and presenting (when appropriate) different ways economists view economic problems.  To accomplish this class time will be primarily devoted to lectures supported with an extensive selection of transparencies of pertinent data from the professional journals.

Procedure for Accomplishing These Objectives:
1.  Read assigned chapters in text.
2.  Satisfactory performance on the exams.

3.  Satisfactory attendance.

4.  Submission of research paper (due December 2, 2003).

 

Weekly Outline
of
Topics Tuesday Eve EK-21

 

 

 

Date

Topic

Chpt.

 

September 9

The Nature of Economics                                                                                   

Scarcity and the World of Trade-offs

1         

 

September 16

Supply and Demand                                     
Extensions of Demand & Supply                                                                                                                

The Public Sector

3, 4, 5

September 23

Exam I

 

 

September 30

Measuring the Economy                               

Business Cycles

8, 7

October 7

Inflation & Unemployment

7

October 14

Aggregate Demand & Supply

10

October 21

Desired Aggregate Demand                          

Classical & Keynesian Analysis, The multiplier

10

October 28

Exam II

 

11, 12

November 4

Fiscal Policy

13

November 11

Veterans Day: No Classes

 

November 18

Deficit Spending and the Public Debt

13

November 25

Money and the Banking System

14

December 2

Money Creation

15

December 9

Monetary Policy

17

December 16

Exam III

 

 

 

        

                                                                                                                                     

                                                                       

                                                                                                                                      

 

                                                                       

 

Grading Procedure:

1.  There will be three (3) in class exams given throughout the semester.  It is your responsibility to be present for scheduled exams. Each exam will contribute equally to the final grade calculation.

2.  In addition, students are required to submit a research paper that will be equal in weight to a formal exam.  The research paper will be submitted by December 2, 2003.  Final grades will then be based on three (4) assessments (3 formal exam grades and the research paper). 

 

Absence Policy:

1.  Students are expected to attend every class.  If you happen to be absent from a class it is your responsibility to find out what material was covered.

2.  Two cuts is permissible, however, if you exceed this number you will be dropped from the course.

Withdrawal Policy:

1.  If you wish to drop this course you must notify your instructor prior to mid-semester.  Without this notification your final grade will be calculated based on the scores you have earned.



SUGGESTIONS FOR ADDITIONAL READING

1.  Heilbroner, Robert L., The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times and Ideas of the Great Economic Thinkers.  Simon and Schuster (1972).

 2.  Lakachman, Robert, Economists at bay: Why the experts will never solve your problems.  New York, McGraw-Hill (1976)

  3.  Braudel, Fernard. The Wheels of Commerce (Civilization and Capitalism 15-18th Century).  Harper and Row (1979)

  4.  Fair, Ray C., Specification, Estimation and Analysis of Macroeconomic  Models.  Harvard Univ. Press, 1984

  5.  Samuelson, Paul A., Foundations of Economic Analysis.  Harvard Univ.   Press, 1983.

  6.  Harrington, Michael.  The New American Poverty, 1984

 

  7.  Barlett, Donald and James B. Steele, America What Went Wrong, 1991

 

8.  Galbraith, John, K.  The Affluent Society
                                 
                                  The New Industrial State

                                  The Age of Uncertainty

  9.  Thurow, Lester, The Zero Sum Society.  New York: Basic Books 1980

10.  Friedman, Milton, Free to Choose.  New York: Avon Books 1981

 

11.  Rukeyser, Louis.  What's Ahead For the Economy; The Challenge and the Chance, Simon & Schuster NY 1983

12.  McCraw, Thomas K., Prophets of Regulation, Harvard University Press, 1984

13.  Greider, William, Secrets of the Temple: How the Federal Reserve Runs the Country

14.  Mullins, Eustace, The Secrets of the Federal Reserve

15.  G. Edward Griffin, The Creature From Jekyll Island