Syllabus
ECON 3020-1
Macroeconomics for Business Decisions
CRN 10023
Spring 2013
David Tufte, Ph.D.
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Description: |
Explores the macroeconomics environment within which business decisions are made. Source data is used to obtain measures of the economy. Macroeconomic theory underlying the conduct of monetary and fiscal policy is analyzed. |
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Pre-Requisites: |
You must meet either criteria 1 or 2. 1a) ECON 2010, 2020 1b) MATH 2040 1c) MATH 1100 or ECON 2500 2) Approved Minor in department |
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Location: |
Room 201, Dixie-Leavitt Business Building |
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Time: |
9:00 to 9:50 A.M., Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays |
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Text: |
Intermediate Macro, by Robert J. Barro.
Handbook for Macroeconomics for Business Decisions, by David Tufte.
Access to The Wall Street Journal is required. Heavily discounted 15 week subscriptions are available through Dr. Tufte. Access to The New York Times is required – complementary issues are available around campus.
There is also a blog (SUU Macroblog) on which I post material that is required reading for class (http://suumacroblog.blogspot.com/). |
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Office: |
Room 313, Dixie-Leavitt |
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Office Phone: |
586-5407 |
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Office Fax: |
586-5493 |
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Office Hours: |
Monday, 8:10 to 9:00 a.m. Monday, 5:20 to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, 5:20 to 6:00 p.m. Thursday, 9:30
a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Appointments are available at other times.
I have kids that aren’t old enough to drive: I’m generally here all day when they’re in school. I’m in at other times, but irregularly. |
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E-Mail and Texting: |
Tufte@suu.edu (not case sensitive)
E-mails from students are increasingly being caught by spam filters. If you’d like to make sure that I get your e-mail, write it professionally (i.e., no l33t), and put the following keywords in the subject line: ECON 3020. |
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Canvas: |
This is not an online class, and I don’t like Canvas much. But it is useful for certain activities, so I will set up a Canvas section for this class. |
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Websites: |
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Grades: |
Exams and homeworks are equally weighted, so that each will count half of your grade.
Each of the exams is equally weighted.
Each of the homeworks is equally weighted, but homeworks will typically count less than exams because there will be more of them. |
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Exams: |
There will be an exam after we complete each chapter in the text. The last of these chapter tests will be given during the scheduled final exam (which is not comprehensive). Exams are short answer and multiple-choice questions. Material is drawn from the lectures, the text, and articles discussed on SUU Macroblog. – but the focus of the exams will be the textbook material. |
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Exam Dates: |
This semester I will have to be flexible on exam dates. When we finish a chapter, we’ll schedule an exam.
The final exam is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1st, at 9:00 A.M. This is not flexible. |
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Missed Exams and Make-Ups |
I will drop your lowest exam score.
As a rule, expect a request for a make-up exam to be denied. This is why you are permitted to drop your lowest score. If you need a make-up, make sure you ask the rest of the class how they feel about adding their low score back in. |
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Homeworks: |
You will get a homework assignment on many class days – figure about a dozen. |
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Homework Due Dates: |
Most homeworks are assigned at the end of one class, and are due at the start of the class after the next. Check my webpage to see if there is a homework if you missed class.
You may always slide a homework under my door, or place it in my mailbox in the main office.
E-mails of homeworks are accepted as proof of completion on-time, but please turn in a hard copy when you next see me.
Some homeworks will be submitted through Canvas. I won’t need hard copies of those. |
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Late and Make-Up Homeworks: |
Late homeworks will not be accepted.
On occasion, I may give you a make-up homework. Expect it to be twice as much work.
I will drop your two lowest homework scores. |
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Homework Files: |
You will be turning in some homeworks digitally.
You will lose points if your filename is not in the following form:
Your Last Name, Homework Number, ECON 3020
You will also lose points if you don’t include your name inside the file too. |
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This class is intended to be somewhat more business-focused than the typical “Intermediate Macroeconomics” course.
I am comfortable if we get no further than Chapter in the 5.
We will cover the entire handbook.
We will supplement this with a lot of current events discussion, and model building in Excel.
How This Course Addresses University, School and Course Goals
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SUU’s Essential Learning Outcomes |
This is an SUU class; the Provost’s website offers details about the following essential learning outcomes:
· Knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world · Intellectual and practical skills · Personal and social responsibility · Integrative and applied learning
This class supports your achievement of all four. |
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School Learning Outcomes: |
This course is offered by the School of Business; the course catalog details the following: We will produce business graduates at the Baccalaureate level who: 1. Are able to communicate effectively through written documents and oral presentations. 2. Understand ethical issues and standards as they relate to business within society. 3. Possess the technical and analytical skills that are generally used to facilitate decision making in complex environments. 4. Are familiar with the fundamental principles and tools associated with each major functional area of business. 5. Have strong critical thinking skills. This class supports your achievement of all five learning outcomes.
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Department Learning Outcomes:
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This course is offered by the Department of Economics and Finance; the course catalog details the following: In fulfilling the mission of the program, economics graduates will: · Have effective written and verbal communication skills · Have strong analytical and critical thinking skills · Understand microeconomic principles at an intermediate level and be able to apply them to the analysis of individual, firm and market behavior · Understand macroeconomic principles at an intermediate level and be able to apply standard models to contemporary policy questions and problems · Understand basic probability and statistical inference and be able to apply these concepts in data analysis and decision making · Be able to conduct basic econometric analysis; appreciate the major issues involved in estimating, using, interpreting and evaluating econometric models · Be able to model and solve a wide range of optimization problems in economics and related fields This class supports your achievement of all the bullet points (this even includes some support for the third point). |
Program Fees
A fee of $3 per credit hour to go toward funding mediated classrooms, computer labs, purchased cases, field trips, software, instructional materials and other student-related costs.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. You are expected to have read and understood the current issue of the student handbook (published by Student Services) regarding student responsibilities and rights, and the intellectual property policy, for information about procedures and about what constitutes acceptable on-campus behavior.
The School of Business uses Turnitin.com to screen written work for plagiarism and other violations of SUU policy. At this time, you are not required to register for Turnitin for this class.
HEOA Compliance Statement
The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law. Detailed information can be found at http://www.suu.edu/it/p2p-student-notice.html."
Emergency Management Statement
In case of emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at http://www.suu.edu/emergency.
Students with medical, psychological, learning or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Southern Utah University Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or phone (435) 865-8022. SSD determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.
SANS Statement
I care about your success and therefore will participate in the Student Assessment Notification System (SANS) an early alert program designed to provide peer mentor support and resources. If I feel you are struggling in my course, you will receive a notice of concern from me through SANS. I expect you to utilize these resources designed for your benefit.
Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor. When feasible, updates will be posted to my website.