Calendar


 * **__UNIT ONE__**


 * ECONOMIC SYSTEMS, SCARCITY AND THE PRODUCTION POSSIBILITIES MODEL** || **__Essential Question__:**


 * What kind of economic system results in the best allocation of society’s scarce resources?** ||  ||   ||
 * February 6 || Intro to Course ||  || Scarcity Activity and get books. ||
 * February 8 || The production possibilities model || **__Read__:** Chapter 1 and 2 in textbook before class. || __Lecture__: Click on the link below, save and print the lecture. Bring the printout to class.

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 * February 12 ||  || **__Read__:** [|“Droughts, Floods and Food”]


 * Click the link above to access the assigned reading. Read the article, be prepared for a comprehension quiz and a discussion of the article, too. || * Reading Quiz
 * Scored Discussion
 * In-class problem set (below)


 * [[file:Problem Set #1 - Production Possibilities and Opportunity Cost.pdf]] ||
 * February 14 ||  || **__Quiz__:** Study for a quiz on the production possibilities model. || * Quiz
 * Research ||
 * February 16 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__

On balance, are governments helpful or harmful in allocating society’s scarce resources?

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 * **__UNIT TWO__**


 * DEMAND** || **__Essential Question__:**


 * What are the forces that influence the demand for goods and services and should governments try to control those forces?** ||  ||   ||
 * February 20 || Demand || **__Read__**


 * [|Chapter 4 of "Principles of Economics" from Boundless Learning]


 * Chapter 4 in textbook before class.


 * __Complete__**


 * __[|Online Discussion #1]__**

Should the free market be allowed to solve the shortage in body parts for transplant or should governments continue to regulate this market?


 * [|Click here for an article to get your thinking on this started.]


 * [|Here's another article on the topic.>] || __Lecture__: Click on the link below, save and print the lecture. Bring the printout to class.


 * [[file:2 - Demand and Circular Flow.pdf]]


 * For more help with this concept, watch the following videos:
 * 1) [|The Law of Demand]
 * 2) [|The Determinants of Demand] ||
 * February 22 ||  || **__Read__:** “[|Rising Demand for Oil Provokes New Energy Crisis]” || * Reading Quiz
 * Scored Discussion
 * In-class problem (PDF below)
 * [[file:Demand Problem Set.pdf]] ||
 * February 26 ||  || **__Quiz__:** Study for a quiz on demand. || * Quiz
 * Research ||
 * February 28 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__

Should governments legalize drugs that are currently banned? ||
 * **__UNIT THREE__**


 * SUPPLY AND EQUILIBRIUM** || **__Essential Question__:**


 * What are the forces that influence the supply for goods and services and should governments try to control those forces?** ||  ||   ||
 * March 1 || Supply || **__Read__:** Chapter 5 in textbook before class.


 * __[|Online Discussion #2]__**

Should all education be privately supplied or should governments provide some public education? || __Lecture__: Click on the link below, save and print the lecture. Bring the printout to class.

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 * March 5 ||  || **__Read__:** “[|Mideast Facing Choice Between Crops and Water]” || * Reading Quiz
 * Scored Discussion
 * In-class problem (PDF below)
 * [[file:Supply Problem Set.pdf]] ||
 * March 7 ||  || **__Quiz__:** Study for a quiz on supply and equilibrium. || * Quiz
 * Research ||
 * March 11 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__

Should the government use price controls (price ceilings) to limit the cost of prescription drugs? ||
 * **__UNIT FOUR__**


 * MARKET FAILURE** || **__Essential Question__:**


 * Why are markets sometimes inefficient?** ||  ||   ||
 * March 13 || Market Failure || **__Read__:** Pages 173-183 in textbook. Boundless Learning Chapters 10 and 11.


 * __[|Online Discussion #3]__**

Should governments use minimum wage laws to help low wage workers? || Lecture ||
 * March 15 ||  || **__Read__[|:]** " [|Are you being served]?” || * Reading Quiz
 * Scored Discussion
 * In-class problem
 * March 19 ||  || **__Quiz__:** Study for a quiz on the production market failure. || * Quiz
 * Research ||
 * March 21 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__
 * March 21 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__

Should governments strictly regulate and heavily tax polluting firms? ||
 * March 25 || **QUARTER 3 TEST REVIEW** || **QUARTER 3 TEST REVIEW** || **QUARTER 3 TEST REVIEW** ||
 * March 27 || **QUARTER 3 TEST** || **QUARTER 3 TEST** || **QUARTER 3 TEST** ||
 * **__UNIT FIVE__**


 * DISPUTES IN MACRO THEORY AND AGGREGATE DEMAND** || **__Essential Question__:**


 * How do Keynesian and Classical economists disagree about the macroeconomy?** ||  ||   ||
 * March 29 || Macro Disputes || No Homework || **__Video__:** //Commanding Heights// ||
 * **Spring Break** || **Spring Break** || **Spring Break** || **Spring Break** ||
 * April 10 || Disputes in macro theory and aggregate demand || **__Read__:** [|Chapter 33 of "Principles of Economics" from Boundless Learning]

__**Additional reading (optional)**__**:** Glanville (Pp. 245-264).


 * __[|Online Discussion #4]__**

Should governments provide rent-controlled housing for the poor? || __Lecture__: Click on the link below, save and print the lecture. Bring the printout to class.

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 * April 12 ||  || **__Read__**: "[|The Global Locomotive Loses Steam]" || * Reading Quiz
 * Scored Discussion
 * In-class problem ||
 * April 16 ||  || **__Quiz__:** Study for a quiz on disputes in macro theory and aggregate demand. || * Quiz
 * Research ||
 * April 18 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__

Was the stimulus bill signed by Barack Obama in 2009 a good policy decision? ||
 * **__UNIT SIX__**


 * AGGREGATE SUPPLY** || **__Essential Question__:**


 * What are the forces that influence aggregate supply and should the government try to control them?** ||  ||   ||
 * April 23 || Aggregate Supply || **__Read__:** [|Chapter 33 of "Principles of Economics" from Boundless Learning]

__**Additional reading (optional)**__**:** Glanville (Pp. 245-264).


 * __[|Online Discussion #5]__**

Should governments provide national health care or should it be provided by private suppliers? || __Lecture__: Click on the link below, save and print the lecture. Bring the printout to class.

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 * April 25 ||  || **__Read__:** [|Great Depression] || * Reading Quiz
 * Scored Discussion
 * In-class problem
 * April 29 ||  || **__Quiz__:** Study for a quiz on aggregate supply. || * Quiz
 * Research ||
 * May 1 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__
 * May 1 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__

Do supply-side fiscal policies work? ||
 * **__UNIT SEVEN__**


 * FISCAL POLICY** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * May 3 || Fiscal Policy || **__Read__:** [|Chapter 34 in "Principles of Economics" from Boundless Learning]


 * __[|Online Discussion #6]__**

Should the 2001 Bush tax cuts be repealed? || __Lecture__: Click on the link below, save and print the lecture. Bring the printout to class.




 * For more help with this concept, watch the following videos:
 * 1) [|Introduction to expansionary and contractionary fiscal policy]
 * 2) [|Fiscal policy and the government spending multiplier effect]
 * 3) [|Fiscal policy and the tax multiplier]
 * 4) [|Fiscal policy and the crowding out effect (money market interpretation)]
 * 5) [|Fiscal policy and the crowding out effect (loanable funds market interpretation)] ||
 * May 7 ||  || **__Quiz__:** Study for a quiz on fiscal policy. || * Quiz
 * Research ||
 * May 9 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__

Should governments be required to balance their budgets? ||
 * **__UNIT EIGHT__**


 * MONETARY POLICY** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * May 13 || Monetary Policy || **__Read__:** Chapter 34 in "Principles of Economics" from Boundless Learning


 * __Online Discussion #7__**

Which tax system is best for a country


 * Progressive income tax?
 * Flat tax on income?
 * Consumption tax? || __Lecture__: Click on the link below, save and print the lecture. Bring the printout to class.


 * For more help with this concept, watch the following videos:
 * 1) Introduction to the money market
 * 2) The tools of monetary policy
 * 3) Money creation and the fractional reserve banking system ||
 * May 15 ||  || **__Read__:** [[file:Babysitting Coop.pdf]] || * Reading Quiz
 * Scored Discussion
 * In-class problem ||
 * May 17 ||  || **__Quiz__:** Study for a quiz on monetary policy. || * Quiz
 * Research ||
 * May 21 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__

Should the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve Bank be employing loose monetary policies now? ||
 * **__UNIT NINE__**


 * INTERNATIONAL TRADE (FREE TRADE AND PROTECTIONISM)** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * May 23 || Comparative Advantage, Free Trade, and Protectionism || **__Read__:** [|Chapter 31 in "Principles of Economics" from Boundless Learning]

[|**__Online Discussion #8__**]

Was Alan Greenspan a great Fed chairman? || __Lecture__: Click on the link below, save and print the lecture. Bring the printout to class.


 * For more help with this concept, watch the following videos:
 * 1) Determining comparative advantage
 * 2) @The effects of a tariff
 * 3) The effects of a protectionist subsidy
 * ||  || **__Read__:** [|“] The Greek Run [|”] || * Reading Quiz
 * Scored Discussion
 * In-class problem ||
 * May 27 ||  || **__Quiz__:** Study for a quiz on international trade. || * Quiz
 * Research ||
 * May 29 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__
 * May 29 ||  || **__Fact Sheet__:** Bring your completed fact sheet to class. || __Scored Discussion__

Was the U.S. justified in imposing tariffs on tires from China? ||
 * **__UNIT TEN__**


 * EXCHANGE RATES, FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS AND GLOBALIZATION** ||  ||   ||   ||
 * May 31 || Free Trade Agreements and Globalization || **__Read__:** [|Chapter 32 in "Principles of Economics" from Boundless Learning]


 * __[|Online Discussion #9]__**

Was China justified in pegging the Yuan to the dollar? || __Lecture__: Exchange rates, free trade agreements, and globalization


 * For more help with this concept, watch the following videos:
 * 1) Introduction to the foreign exchange market and exchange rate determination
 * 2) The determinants of exchange rates and managed exchange rate systems
 * 3) The balance of payments and exchange rates ||
 * June 4 ||  || No Homework || * Research and complete position paper in class. ||
 * June 6 ||  || No homework except to bring the position paper you completed last class. || __Scored Discussion__

Should Europe abandon the Euro? ||