• Thank you for visiting my website, for specific information about classwork, please visit my Canvas page. Canvas is the hub where I distribute classwork, reading materials and homework.  

     

    https://casdschools.instructure.com/

  • The AP Macroeconomics course is a college level introduction to Macroeconomics. The course is divided into 6 units and focuses on the economy as a whole; including basic economic concepts, economic measures, economic growth, fiscal policy, monetary policy, and international economics. AP Macroeconomics focuses on the principles that apply to economic systems like free market capitalism, or state managed communism, or systems with elements of both the free market and state management.  The course emphasizes the study of national income and price-level determination; it also develops the students’ familiarity with economic performance measures, the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth, and international economics. Students learn to use and develop their own graphs, charts, and data to analyze, describe, and explain economic information. Students who participate in this course are encouraged to take the AP Macroeconomics exam in May

  • I. Basic Economic Concepts (5-10%)

    Related Krugman Sections 1 and 2 – p.1 – p. 102

    • What does the field of economics study?
    • How do economists analyze the world? (What approach do they take?  How do they tend to think?)
    • How do economists use models to explain phenomena in the economy?
    • How does scarcity drive the economy?
    • Why does the economy fluctuate (go from strong to weak)?

    II. Measurement of Economic Performance (12 - 17%)

    Related Krugman Section: 3 p.103 to p.155

    • How do macroeconomists measure the performance of a nation’s economy?
    • How do macroeconomists compare economic performance over time?
    • How do economists measure unemployment?
    • What role does employment play in nation’s economic performance?

    III. National Income and Price Determination (17 - 27%)

    Related Krugman Section: 4 p. 156 - p. 214

    • How does price and changes in price level influence the ability of economy to generate output?
    • Why do economists sometimes disagree on how best to model the economy?
    • How can spending money contribute to economic growth?

    IV. Financial Sector (18 – 23%)

    Related Krugman Section: 5 p.215 – p. 283

    • Why do we use money?
    • Why is the supply of money in existence important to maintaining a stable economy?
    • How would an economy without banks and loans differ from one with lending institutions?
    • Why did the United States create a central bank and how can it help or hurt an economy?

    V. Long-run Consequences of Stabilization Policies (20 – 30%)

    Related Krugman Section: 6, and 7 p. 284 – p. 388

    • How is the economy used as a campaign tool for politicians?
    • Why do some economists argue that fiscal policy has no long - term effect on the economy?
    • What is the value of looking at the economy in the “short run” and in the “long run”?
    • How important is it to consider the impact of human belief and behavior on the economy?
    • Why is it impossible to predict the future of the economy?

        (a.) Economic Growth

           Related Krugman Section: 7

    • Why are some nations “richer” than others?
    • How does a country grow its economy? Why do some stagnate, some grow, some crash?
    • Why do some economists argue that there is a limit to economic growth?

    VI. Open Economy: International Trade and Finance (10 – 13%)

    Related Krugman Section: 8 p. 389 – p. 438

    • How can trade help or hurt a nation’s economy?
    • Why are some currencies worth more than others?
    • How do economists keep track of the exchange of money between nations?