| Eric Doviak | Doviak.net
Economics and Public Policy Analysis |
Income Inequality
Health Insurance
Ridge Regression
Graduate MACRO
INTRO
intro lecture notes
email me
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BMCC will close at noon today. There will be no class this evening. ...Our next classes will be on Wed. 17 Feb. in S755 and Thurs. 18. Feb. in N404. (All classes follow a Monday schedule on Thurs. 18 Feb.) Enjoy the snow! - Eric Doviak Snowfall -- Cheap copy of textbook Students, The National Weather Service is predicting a very large snowfall tomorrow (Wed. 10 Feb.). Most of the accumulation is expected to occur during the day and evening. Nonetheless, BMCC has not cancelled tomorrow's classes yet. If there is heavy accumulation tomorrow evening, many of us would have extreme difficulty returning home. So here's the plan:
Regards, - Eric Doviak Welcome Message for Spring 2010 Students Welcome to the course website. Please check this site regularly. I've posted a copy of the syllabus. I've posted a PDF file of my Lecture Notes. The Lecture Notes contain brief summaries of core macroeconomic theory, homeworks and other materials which explain the some of the theory in more detail. To download the Lecture Notes -- click HERE. It's a fairly large file (about 4.4 MB) so it may take a while to download if you have a slow connection. When you print the Lecture Notes, please DOUBLE SIDE. Save the trees. Save the Earth. You should get pre-printed bound copies of the lecture notes. Kinko's has a "print online" option which allows you to send them a PDF file (via the internet), choose the printing options and select a location where you can pick it up. (The closest Kinko's location to BMCC is at 105 Duane St., which is half a block west from Broadway). You can also have FedEx deliver it to your home or office if you like. That must be the most convenient option for everyone. So send the PDF file of the Lecture Notes to their website, choose the printing options (e.g. double-sided, black-and-white, coil binding, clear vinyl cover, black vinyl back cover), choose a delivery option and marvel at what 21st century technology can do! The course revolves around the Lecture Notes and the homework assignments. I strongly encourage you to do the homework assignments regularly. We'll spend most of our classtime reviewing the homework assignments and I'll draw exam material from the homework assignments. My Lecture Notes contain a lot of information, but lecture notes do not a textbook make. You need a textbook for depth. The textbook that I recommend is Robert H. Frank and Ben Bernanke's Principles of Macroeconomics (ISBN: 0073362654). I looked at many textbooks and none of them stimulated my interest as much as Frank/Bernanke. I even tested it out on my little sister. She couldn't put it down. Somehow, the book just keeps your attention and draws you in. Their aim is to provide you with an intuitive understanding of economics and they offer a complete verbal/graphical explanation of all the key concepts. The less mathematically inclined among you will greatly appreciate that. The content is intriguing. The artwork and layout are phenomenal. Examples and real world applications fill the text. You can't ask for a better textbook. Shop around to get the best deal on the textbook. Comparing prices at Amazon, Alibris, AbeBooks and Powell's, I found a wide range of prices -- from as little as $29 to a wallet-busting $136.  I also recommend that you purchase a copy of The MIT Dictionary of Modern Economics, edited by David W. Pearce. After all, learning the vocabulary of economics is a fundamental part of any introductory course and I will test you on your understanding of the vocabulary. The MIT Dictionary ... is published by the MIT Press and its ISBN number is: 0-262-66078-4. You're going to learn a lot this semester and I'm looking forward to working with you. It's going to be a great semester. All the best, - Eric Doviak |
- syllabus (in PDF format)
- Lecture Notes
- message board with all old messages
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This course has two sets of objectives: practical and academic. The
practical objectives aim to teach you how to apply mathematics and economics
in daily life. The academic objectives (which are listed with the class
schedule) aim to teach you basic macroeconomics.
The practical objectives consist of:
The practical objectives consist of:
- enabling you to interpret graphs and equations, both mathematically and intuitively,
- developing your logical thinking skills,
- teaching you how independent variables affect dependent variables and
- helping you apply the concept of opportunity cost, marginalism and efficient markets in everyday life.
Knowledge of algebra is a prerequisite. I will conduct a review of basic algebra, but it's meant to be a review, not an opportunity to learn it for the first time. If you are unable to grasp the concepts I cover during the math review, I will advise you to drop the course -- not because I'm cruel, but rather because I don't want you to suffer for four months and fail.
- your attitude towards the course material,
- how well you demonstrate an understanding of the required readings and homework assignments and
- how often you ask intelligent questions in class.
Your final grade will be determined by a weighted average of a mid-term exam (35 percent), a final exam (45 percent) and the quality of your class participation (20 percent).
The exams will consist of a section of identifications -- in which you will write brief definitions and describe the relevance of key concepts, theories, etc. -- and a section of essays.
Homework will be assigned and the solutions will be reviewed in class, but I will not collect them and I will not grade them. If you read the Lecture Notes and the textbook do the homework regularly, you will develop a good understanding of the course material and you will score higher on the exams. If you only read the Lecture Notes and do the homework the night before the exam, don't expect to pass.
Finally, in evaluating the quality of your class participation, I will consider:
Saying "I don't understand" and explaining what you don't understand and why you don't understand it is one of the most intelligent things you can do. It demonstrates curiosity and interest in the course material. By contrast, sitting in silence when you don't understand is one of the dumbest things you can do.