Archive Page for ECON200

Syllabus

Note on textbooks: This semester we are using two main textbooks. First, we are using a customized online textbook by Taylor and Weerapana available through FlatWorld for $35.95. Use your DUKES email to register. At the FlatWorld site, you can enter codes you purchase from the bookstore, as well as choose if you want additional versions of the textbook (downloads or paper). We are also using the CORE Team Econ textbook. This is free, but you have to register. While it might be confusing, I am doing this in an effort to minimize costs to you.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers:
  • When is my midterm/Canvas Quiz/FlatWorld assignment due?
    • Look at the Canvas calendar. All dates are posted there.
  • When is my final exam?
    • Do NOT schedule your trip home before your scheduled final exam on December 12th. Otherwise, search Google for "JMU Final Exam Schedule," or if you have trouble with that website, just click here or here for a schedule.
  • Where is the final exam?
    • In our regular classroom.
  • Where do I find PowerPoint slides?
    • Here. They are also on Canvas in the "Files-PowerPoint" folder.
  • When are office hours?
    • Look in the syllabus, or move your gaze up a couple of inches.
Tutoring:
  • Tutors are privately hired and will often be happy to work with groups of students.
  • Hire tutors early in the semester! Tutors are other JMU students who often get busy with their own work!
  • A list of available tutors can be found at the bottom of this page
  • Madison Economics Club will provide *FREE* tutoring for ECON 200 & ECON 201 in location and time TBD.

Lectures


Material for each Canvas Quiz is listed in order below. Required and suggested readings are listed below.

Unit 0

First Day Reading

  • “Planet Money Makes a T-Shirt” which walks through the global supply chain of clothing, and helps put a human face on international trade.
  • Taylor & Weerapana (TW) Chapter 1
  • Taylor & Weerapana Chapter 1: Appendix A, B & C

Lecture 0 includes some algebra, a little geometry, and some useful equations you will need to know and understand to succeed in this course. I have put together a post that describes the math you need to succeed here, as well as numerous ways to practice.

FlatWorld Assignment 0
CANVAS QUIZ 0 ON MATH REVIEW VIDEO, CHAPTER 1 AND APPENDICIES

Unit 1

Reading

Video Series: Complexity of the Economy

  • These videos exemplify the difficulty in truly understanding how anything is made in our global economy. You may be asked to watch one or more of these at some point this semester.

Invention, Innovation, and Entrepreneurs

A Video to Summarize Credit and the Economy

FlatWorld Assignment 1

CANVAS QUIZ 1 ON THE CENTRAL IDEA


Unit 2

Reading

  • TW Chapter 3
  • CORE Unit 1 with particular focus on:
  • CORE Unit 13.8 (up to GDP deflator)
  • CORE Unit 5.12
  • CORE Units 9.0 & 9.2

HELP on Compound Growth Equations (i.e., the Present Value Formula) and Gini Coefficients

HELP on Capital & Labor Markets and Unemployment

FlatWorld Assignment 2

CANVAS QUIZ 2 ON MACROECONOMICS: THE BIG PICTURE


Unit 3

Reading

HELP on Banks and Lending

Lehman Collapse, the Financial Crisis, and the Great Recession (10 Year Update)

FlatWorld Assignment 3

CANVAS QUIZ 3 ON MONEY, BANKING & THE FED


Unit 4

Reading

  • TW Chapter 5 (but SKIP 5.2)
  • TW Chapter 1.6 (present discounted value)
  • CORE 6.0-6.4 & 6.10

HELP on Bonds & Present Value

FlatWorld Assignment 4

CANVAS QUIZ 4 ON FIRMS & FINANCING


Unit 5

Reading

  • TW Chapter 6
  • CORE 13.8

HELP on GDP, Savings & Inflation (also for Unit 6)

FlatWorld Assignment 5

CANVAS QUIZ 5 ON SAVINGS & INFLATION


Unit 6

Reading

FlatWorld Assignment 6

CANVAS QUIZ 6 ON CPI INFLATION & REAL VALUES


Unit 7

Reading

FlatWorld Assignment 7

CANVAS QUIZ 7 ON SUPPLY & DEMAND


Unit 8

Reading

  • TW Chapter 8.5 (Interference with Market Prices)
  • TW Chapter 9 (Public Goods, Externalities and the Role of Government)
  • TW Chapter 19.0-19.1 & 19.4-19.6 (International Trade)
  • CORE 12

HELP on Supply & Demand (Regulations)

FlatWorld Assignment 8

CANVAS QUIZ 8 ON MARKET FAILURE


Unit 9

Reading

  • TW Chapters 5.1 and 5.2
  • TW Chapter 7
  • Code.org on the lack of coders in the U.S. (1min, 5min, 9min)

FlatWorld Assignment 9

CANVAS QUIZ 9 ON CAPITAL & LABOR MARKETS


Unit 10

Reading

  • TW Chapters 11 & 12

HELP on Economic Growth

FlatWorld Assignment 10

CANVAS QUIZ 10 ON ECONOMIC GROWTH


Unit 11

Reading

FlatWorld Assignment 11

CANVAS QUIZ 11 ON THE SPENDING ALLOCATION MODEL


Unit 12

Reading

  • TW Chapters 14 & 15

HELP on Economic Fluctuations Model

FlatWorld Assignment 12

CANVAS QUIZ 12 ON THE ECONOMIC FLUCTUATIONS MODEL

Final Exam up through here


VIDEOS

The Crisis of Credit Visualized

Economics Themed Playlist