AP Macroeconomics Course Calendar:   Fall 2008

 

Quarter #1:

Week 1 [8/18-22]: (4)           [Freshman Orientation (M)];

                                                Course requirements & expectations; text distribution. (T)

Student Group Lesson Preparation (W/Th.)

                                                Student Lessons Presented (F) Scarcity, Choice, & Production Possibilities;

[Read Text: Ch.1]

[Student Lessons due -- Friday]

 

Week 2 [8/25-29]: (5)           [Mass 8/27]

                                                Student Lessons presented (M-W).

The Market System & 3 Fundamental Questions; Demand & Supply;

Reinforcement exercises (Th./F)

                                                [Read Text: Ch.2, 3, & 4]

[Annotated Article Review #1 due -- Friday][Paper #1/or Documentary Assignments]

 

Week 3 [9/1-5]: (4)               [Labor Day: (M)][Senior Panoramic Photo (W)]

                                                Intro to Macroeconomics;

                                                Circular Flow of the Macro-economy;

                                                Broad Economic & Social Goals.

GDP/Real GDP (National Income Accounting).                                   

Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch. 2 & 7

                                                Activities: Student Activities 5; 6; 7; 8; 9

                                                                                “Test of Macroeconomic Thinking:”

                                                                                     (Scarcity; Resources; GDP; Inflation; Demand Deposits; The Federal Reserve;  Tariffs)

                                                                                “Understanding the Circular Flow of the Macroeconomy” (Diagram/Graphing)

                                                                                     (Business; Government; Households; Resource Markets; Product Markets)

                                                                                “Numbers that Make the News”

                                                                                     (CPI; PPI; Unemployment; Employment; Index of Leading Economic Indicators; Prime Rate)

                                                                                “Measuring Economic Goals”

                                                                                     (Defining & Calculating Employment, Unemployment, Inflation,

                                                                                     Nominal & Real GDP) “All About GDP

                                                                                     (Consumption; Investment; Gov’t Spending; Net Exports; Transfer Payments)

                                                Graphs: Circular Flow

 

 

Week 4 [9/8-12]: (5)             [Mass 9/10]

                                                GDP & its Cousins (Calculating GDP: Income vs. Spending Approach)

Price Indexes & Inflation

Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch. 7 & 8

Activities: Student Activities 10; 11; 12

                                GDP & Its Cousins”

                                     (GDP; GNP; Net National Product; National Income; Personal Income; Disposable  Personal Income; Personal Savings)

                                “Price Indexes”

                                     (Base Year Cost; Market Basket; Comparing CPI figures; GDP Deflator; Nominal vs.  Real GDP)

                                “Who is Hurt and Who is Helped by Inflation?”

                                     (Lender vs. Debtor)

                                                [Annotated Article Review #2 due Friday]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 5 [9/15-19]: (5)           Unemployment;

                                                The Business Cycle

Aggregate Demand & Supply.

Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch. 7 & 8

Activities: Student Activities 13; 14; 16; 17

                                “Types of Unemployment”

                                     (Frictional; Cyclical; Structural; Seasonal)

                                “The Business Cycle”

                                     (Peak; Trough; Expansionary; Contractionary)

                                “Introduction to Aggregate Demand”

                                     (Price Level; Real National output/GDP)

                                “An Introduction to Short-Run Aggregate Supply”

                                     (Keynesian/Recessionary Range; Sticky Wages; Unemployed Resources; Intermediate   Range; Classical/Vertical Range; Full Employment; Fully Employed Resources)

                                                Graphs:   Business Cycle

                                                                Aggregate Supply & Demand Model

                                                [Exam #1 – Friday (through Unemployment]

                                 

Week 6 [9/22-26]: (5)           Aggregate Demand & Supply: Long vs. Short Term Affects on Output & Price Level (M-F)

                                                Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch 11& 16.1-2

Activities: Student Activities 18; 19; 20

                                                                                “The Equilibrium Price Level and Equilibrium Output”

                                                                                “Long-Run Aggregate Supply (LRAS) & Production Possibilities Curve (PPC)

                                                                                “Manipulating the AD/AS Model: Exogenous Demand and Supply Shocks”

                                                Graphs: Aggregate Supply & Demand Model

                                                [Paper #1 (Economic Current Events or “Voice of Democracy” speech) due -- Monday]

                                                 

Week 7 [9/29-10/3]: (5)       [Cafetorium Ceremony (W)]

                                                Keynesian vs. Classical theories

Marginal Propensity to Consume/Save

Consumption & Savings Function

                                                Reading: McConnell & Brue,  Ch. 19.1; Ch 11; Ch 9.1

                                                Activities: Student Activities: 21; 22; 23; 24; 25

                                                                                Full Employment in a Capitalist Economy (Part I: Keynesian Analysis)”

                                                                                     (Unemployed Resources; Sticky Wages & the non self-correcting economy)

                                                                                “Full Employment in a Capitalist Economy (Part II: Classical Analysis)”

                                                                                     (Fully Employed Resources; Say’s Law; flexible wages & the self-correcting  economy)

                                                                                “Classical and Keynesian Views on the Economy”

                                                                                “What is an MPC?”

                                                                                     (Marginal Propensity to Consume; Marginal Propensity to Save)

                                                                                “The Consumption Function”

                                                                                     (Consumption Expenditure; Disposable Income; 45 degree line)

                                                Graphs: Aggregate & Supply Model

                                                                                Aggregate Expenditure Model (Keynesian Cross)

                                                                                               

Week 8 [10/6-10]: (5)           [Faculty Meeting (M)][Quarter Exams Periods A & C: (F)]

                                                Investment Function

The “Multiplier”

Keynesian Equilibrium, Recessionary/Inflationary Gaps

Reading: McConnell & Brue,  Ch. 10

                                                Activities: Student Activities: Activities: 26; 27; 28; 29

                                                                                “Plotting the Investment Function”

                                                                                     (Aggregate Expenditure; Investment Expenditure)

                                                                                “The Magic of the Multiplier”

                                                                                     (The Multiplier & its calculation)

                                                                                “Keynesian Equilibrium w/o Government”

                                                                                     (plotting income-expenditure; Recessionary Gaps & Inflationary Gaps)

                                                                                “Reconciling the Keynesian Aggregate Expenditure Model

                                                                                  with the Aggregate Demand & Supply Model”

                                                Graphs:                  Aggregate & Supply Model

                                                                                Aggregate Expenditure Model (Keynesian Cross)

[Exam #2 – Friday]

 

                                                 

Week 9 [10/13-17]: (3)         [Quarter Exams: (M/T)][PSAT: (W)][Teacher Workday: (F)]

                                                Student Group Lesson Prep (M/T/Th.)

                                                Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch. 12, 13, 14 & 15 (depending upon teaching assignment)

 

 

Quarter #2

Week 10 [10/20-24]: (5)      Fiscal Policy

                                                Money & Banking;

The Federal Reserve & Monetary Policy;

Student Lessons presented

Reinforcement lectures/activities follow presentations

Discussion of the Net Export Effect for Monetary & Fiscal Policy: How Monetary & Fiscal policy influence: interest rates in the money market, international capital flows, foreign exchange markets, the value of the dollar and subsequent U.S. exports & global trade. 

                                                Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch. 12, 13, 14 & 15 (depending upon teaching assignment)

                                                Activities: Student Activities: Activities: 30; 31; 32

                                                                                “Discretionary and Automatic Fiscal Policy”

                                                                                     (Automatic Stabilizers; Budget Surplus; Budget Deficit; Countercyclical Fiscal Policy)

                                                                                “The Tools of Fiscal Policy”

                                                                                     (Taxes; Government Spending; Transfer Payments; Contractionary &

                                                                                      Expansionary Fiscal Policy)

                                                                                Two Ways to Analyze Fiscal Policy”

                                                                                     (graphing fiscal policy with the Aggregate Expenditure Model)

                                                Graphs:                  Aggregate & Supply Model

                                                                                Aggregate Expenditure Model (Keynesian Cross)

[Student Lessons due -- Monday]

 

Week 11 [10/27-31]: (5)      Money & The Banking System;

The Federal Reserve & Monetary Policy

Reinforcement Activities

Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch. 12, 13, 14 & 15

Activities: Student Activities: 33; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38

                                                                                “Analyzing the Macro-economy”

                                                                                “Money Is as Money Does”

                                                                                     (functions of money; double coincidence of wants; medium of exchange; store of value; standard of value)

                                                                                “What’s All This About the M’s?”

                                                                                     (M1; M2; M3; Demand Deposits; Time Deposits)

                                                                                “The Monetary Equation of Exchange”

                                                                                     (MV = PQ; Velocity of money)

                                                                                “The Multiple Expansion of Demand Deposits”

                                                                                     (Required Reserves; Excess Reserves; Loanable funds; Interest Rates)

                                                                                “Reserve Requirements and the Multiplier”

                                                                                     (Money Multiplier)

                                                Graphs:                  Aggregate & Supply Model

                                                                                Aggregate Expenditure Model (Keynesian Cross)

                                                                                Money Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 12 [11/3-7]: (4)          [Homecoming Week]

[Early Release: Faculty Meeting (M)][Field Day (T)][Report Card Night (W)]

                                                Keynesian Contractionary & Expansionary Monetary Policy; Policy Decision-making

                                                Monetarist Theory;

“The Fed’s” Dilemma with Monetary Policy.

                                                Activities: Student Activities: Activities: 39; 40; 41; 42

                                                                                “The Federal Reserve System and Monetary Policy”

                                                                                     (Open Market Operations; Bonds; Securities; Discount Rate;

                                                                                       Federal Funds Market; Reserve Requirements)

                                                                                “Monetary Policy”

                                                                                “Graphing Keynesian Monetary Policy”

                                                                                     (Supply & Demand for money in the Money Market; Impact on Investment

                                                                                       expenditures & Aggregate Demand)

                                                                                “Monetarist Monetary Policy”
                                                Graphs:                  Aggregate & Supply Model

                                                                                Aggregate Expenditure Model (Keynesian Cross)

                                                                                Money Market

                                                                                Investment Schedule/Curve

 

Week 13 [11/10-14]: (4)      [Veteran’s Day: No Classes (T)][Diakonia Retreat (W-Th.)]

                                                Fiscal & Monetary Policy: Decision-making

                                                Crowding Out” The potential impact of Expansionary Fiscal Policy Decision-making;

Phillips Curve: Short run trade-off between unemployment & inflation; Long-Run & vertical Phillips Curve

                                                Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch. 16.3-4

                                                Activities: Student Activities: Activities: 43; 44; 45

                                                                                “Monetary & Fiscal Policy” (Counter-cyclical policy decision-making)

                                                                                “Graphing Monetary and Fiscal Policy Interactions”

                                                                                “Crowding Out: A Graphical Representation”

                                                                                     (Crowding Out/In: defined, explained, and graphed)

                                                Graphs:                  Aggregate & Supply Model

                                                                                Aggregate Expenditure Model (Keynesian Cross)

                                                                                Money Market

                                                                                Phillips Curve

                                                [Paper #2 (or optional Group Documentary) due-Monday]

 

Week 14 [11/17-21]: (4)      [Plan Testing (F): Juniors & Seniors off]

Economic Growth & Productivity

Analyzing Short-Run & Long-Run Effects of Monetary & Fiscal Policy

                                                Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch. 17

                                                Activities: Morton, Student Activities: Activities: 46; 50

                                                                                “Economic Growth and the Determinants of Productive Capacity”

                                                                                     (Economic Growth & impact on standard of living; measurement; productivity; real investment/capital; interest rates; savings rates; human capital/skills                                                                                                                                                             development; technology; legal & social environmental factors)

                                                                                “Analyzing Short-Run & Long-Run Effects of Monetary Policy”

                                                Graphs:                  Aggregate & Supply Model

                                                                                Aggregate Expenditure Model (Keynesian Cross)

                                                                                Production Possibilities Curve

                                                [Exam #3 -- Monday]

                                 

Week 15 [11/24-28]: (3)      [Thanksgiving Break Th./F (and W if Raffle goal met)]

Macroeconomic Theories: Schools of Thought [Classical; Keynesian; Monetarist; Rational Expectations/New Classical] Student Macroeconomic Theory Presentations

Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch. 19

[Macroeconomic Theories Presentations due--Monday]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week 16 [12/1-5]: (5)          [Early Release: Faculty Meeting (M)]

                                                Macroeconomic Theories  Student Macroeconomic Theory Presentations (if necessary)

Benefits of Trade & Specialization: Open vs. Closed economy

                                                Comparative vs. Absolute Advantage

                                                Barriers to Trade: Tariffs & Quotas

                                                Balance of Trade

                                                Current Account Balance;

                                                Capital Account Balance;

                                                Balance of Payments

                                                Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch. 6; 20; 21

                                                Activities: Morton, Student Activities: Activities: 55; 56; 57; 58; 60

                                                                                “The Iowa Car Crop”

                                                                                “Determining Comparative Advantage”

                                                                                “The Gains From International Trade”

                                                                                  (economic efficiency)       

                                                                                “Economic Efficiency and the Gains from Trade”

                                                                                “Imbalance of Payments”

                                                Graphs:                  Production Possibilities Curve

                                                                                Supply & Demand Curves                                 

 

Week 17 [12/8-12]: (5)        [Christmas Activity Week][Mass (M)]           

                                                Exchange Rates & Currency Values

                                                Reading: McConnell & Brue, Ch. 21

                                                Activities: Student Activities: Activities: 61; 62; 63

                                                                “Using Foreign Exchange Rates”

                                                                “Using Supply & Demand to Analyze Exchange Rates”

                                                                “The International Effects of Monetary & Fiscal Policies”

                                                Review for Final Exam

                                                Graphs:                  Money Markets

                                                [Exam #4 – Thursday]

 

Week 18 [12/15-19]: (1)    [Semester Exams 12/16-18][Teacher Work Day 12/19]

                                                Semester Exam Free Response portion (M); Semester Exam Multiple Choice Section (Exam Day)

                                                [Semester Exam = Mock AP Exam]

 

 

 

 

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