PRBA 200 Survey of Economics Introduction

Summary

This course, PRBA 200, is a comprehensive introduction to economics, focusing on both microeconomics and macroeconomics. It explores key concepts like market economics, business-consumer interactions, economic structures, and the role of input and output markets. Students will also delve into macroeconomic topics such as inflation, interest rates, and fiscal policy, along with global economic issues. The course is structured in weekly modules with lectures, readings, quizzes, and papers, designed to help students apply economic concepts to real-world scenarios. Engagement with the course materials and regular communication with the instructor are essential for success.

Takeaways

• 😀 The course is a survey of economics, covering both microeconomics and macroeconomics.
• 😀 Students will learn to understand and analyze economic activity in the marketplace and at the national level.
• 😀 The course is structured in modules, with a focus on weekly topics and assignments for an eight-week term.
• 😀 The microeconomic section covers how market economies work, including the interaction between businesses and consumers.
• 😀 The course will explore the structures of the economy that connect businesses with consumers and their resources.
• 😀 Topics will include situations where markets fail to serve the best interests of society.
• 😀 The macroeconomics section will cover national-level economic activity, such as interest rates, inflation, and overall economic output.
• 😀 Students will study how monetary and fiscal policies influence the functioning of the economy.
• 😀 The course will also touch on global economic activity and how international interactions can benefit countries involved.
• 😀 Weekly assignments, including quizzes or brief papers, are designed to help students internalize course content and apply it to real-world scenarios.
• 😀 The lectures will be organized into short segments (less than 20 minutes each) with PowerPoint presentations, and students are encouraged to engage with course materials and ask questions when needed.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the PRBA 200 course?

The PRBA 200 course is a survey of economics, covering principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics. It aims to help students understand economic activities both in the marketplace and on a national level.

What topics will be covered in the microeconomics section of the course?

The microeconomics section will explore how market economics works, the interaction between businesses and consumers, market structures, and the factors affecting the input and output markets. It will also address situations where markets may fail to benefit society as a whole.

What is the purpose of the macroeconomics section in the course?

The macroeconomics section focuses on national-level economic activities, including topics such as interest rates, inflation, national output, economic growth, and the interaction between monetary and fiscal policy.

What global economic issues will be discussed in the course?

The course will explore global economic activity and how the United States interacts with other countries. It will also discuss the benefits that both countries can gain from these interactions.

How is the course structured in terms of modules?

The course is divided into modules, with different topics covered each week over an eight-week term. There are assignments, quizzes, and papers to help students engage with the material.

What is expected from students each week in the PRBA 200 course?

Each week, students are expected to complete assignments such as quizzes or brief papers to ensure they are absorbing and applying the course material.

Where can students find course materials and assignments?

All course materials and assignments can be found in the 'Modules' section on Canvas, which is the platform used for the course.

What should students do before starting the course?

Students should review the course syllabus, which contains important information about the course structure, expectations, and how to succeed in the course.

What is the format of the lectures in this course?

The lectures are designed to be short, with each video being less than 20 minutes. They are voice-over presentations of PowerPoint slides, organized by the course’s topics.

How can students get additional help or clarification during the course?

Students are encouraged to reach out to the instructor for help with any questions they have about the course material.