Course Objective: An introduction to the principles of economics for university students with no background in the subject.

 

Prerequisites & Co-requisites: No pre-requisite but a co-requisite of Math 100 or equivalent; co-requisite of English 098.

 

Hours of Instruction: Three lecture hours and one problem solving hour per week.

 

Course Content: Throughout this course students will be asked to consider the "Economic Way of Thinking". How are the choices of many self interested individuals coordinated in a market? Topics include:

Microeconomics: demand, supply, equilibrium, elasticity, sunk cost vs marginal cost, comparative advantage and the problem of market power.

Macroeconomics: aggregate statistics, money, Classical vs Keynesian theories of coordination, fiscal and monetary policy, exchange rates and the balance of payments.

 

Required Text: Heyne & Palmer The Economics Way of Thinking, 1^st Canadian ed., Prentice Hall 1999

 

Additional Recommended Readings: Hazlitt, Economics in One Lesson; Jevons Murder on the Margin; Heinlein The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

 

Course Evaluation: Take home Assignment(2) 15% each

Midterm 25%

Final 45%

 

Stéphane Deseau, M.Econ. ( Maine, France), M.Sc. ( Quebec)
Cheryl Fu, B.A. ( Beijing), M.A. (Simon Fraser), Ph.D. candidate
Paul Geddes, B.A. ( Claremont), M.A. (Carleton)
Fatin Jallad, B.A., B.Sc. ( Portland), M.Sc. ( New Mexico), M.Sc. ( Arizona)
Susana Leung, B.B.A., M.A. (Simon Fraser)