Overview
The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the basic analytical principles and tools of modern macroeconomics, and to illustrate how these can be used to help understand observed economic phenomena, contemporary economic problems, and government economic policies.
In particular, macroeconomics studies the determination of aggregate economic quantities, such as the level of national output (and its rate of growth), the level of total employment and the rate of unemployment, and the average price level and rate of inflation. Macroeconomics also examines how government policies influence the aggregate behavior and performance of the economy.
Learning Outcomes
- Use the basic analytical principles and tools of modern economics to understand and assess observed economic phenomena, contemporary economic problems and government economic policies.
- Describe and model the relationships between aggregate economic variables, including national output, the level of aggregate consumption and investment, interest rates, employment and unemployment, and the average level and rate of change of all prices.
- Explain how government policies influence the aggregate behaviour and performance of an economy.
Topics
| Microeconomic Foundations | Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 33 (pgs 823 - 835) Chapter 3 Chapter 19 |
| Introduction to Macroeconomics | Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 (incl. Appendix) Chapter 23 |
| The Economy in the Short-Run | Chapter 24 Chapter 25 |
| The Economy in the Long-Run | Chapter 26 |
| Money, Banking, and Monetary Policy | Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Additional Topic from MyEconLab website: “Interest Rates and the Slope of the AD Curve” Chapter 29 Chapter 30 |
| Macroeconomic Problems | Chapter 31 Chapter 32 |
| Open Economy Macroeconomics | Chapter 35 |
Terms
Evaluation
30% - Quizzes (best 5 of 6)
20% - Assignments (best 2 of 3)
50% - Proctored Final exam
Live Sessions
This course has optional live sessions (e.g. webinars, synchronous activities).
STUDENTS ENROLLED IN ONLY ONLINE COURSES WILL HAVE TWO OPTIONS TO WRITE THEIR EXAMS:
- You may choose to write your exam(s) online using Examity proctoring services where you will be charged the additional $100 exam fee; or
- You may choose to write your exam(s) in-person on Queen's campus in Kingston where you will NOT be charged the additional $100 exam fee.
LOCATION AND TIMING OF FINAL EXAMINATIONS
Once the exam schedule has been finalized the exam date will be posted on your SOLUS account. The exam dates for each Term are listed on the Faculty of Arts and Science webpage under "Important Dates." Student exam schedules for the Fall Term are posted via SOLUS immediately prior to the Thanksgiving holiday; for the Winter Term they are posted on the Friday before Reading Week, and for the Summer Term they are individually noted on the Arts and Science Online syllabi. Students should delay finalizing any travel plans until after the examination schedule has been posted. Exams will not be moved or deferred to accommodate employment, travel/holiday plans or flight reservations.
Textbook and Materials
ASO reserves the right to make changes to the required material list as received by the instructor before the course starts. Please refer to the Campus Bookstore website at http://www.campusbookstore.com/Textbooks/Search-Engine to obtain the most up-to-date list of required materials for this course before purchasing them.
Required Textbook
- Macroeconomics, with MyEconLab (Sixteenth Canadian Edition) by Ragan, Christopher T.S., Pearson, 2016.
**Materials Subject to Change**
Time Commitment
Students can expect to spend, on average, about 10 - 12 hours per week (120 hours per term) on the course.