Econ 102 - Spring 2012

Kurt G. Lunsford

TA Page for Econ 102 - Spring 2012

Principles of Macroeconomics

Course Information

Instructor:

Steven Rick

Time and Place:

Tuesday and Thursday 9:55am to 10:45am

1310 Sterling Hall

Textbook:

R. Glenn Hubbard & Anthony Patrick O'Brien. Macroeconomics. 3rd Edition. Pearson Prentice Hall.

Course Materials

Week 1: January 23 to January 27

Here are Prof Rick's lecture slides. They cover the current macroeconomic situation in the United States. The economic indicators for this week are Unemployment Insurance Claims, and Existing Home Sales, Inventory and Prices. There were no discussion sections this week.

Week 2: January 30 to February 3

Here are Prof Rick's lecture slides. They cover the first chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which provides an introduction to the economic way of thinking. The economic indicators for this week are Retail Sales, and Personal Income, Saving and Spending. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Week 3: February 6 to February 10

Here are Prof Rick's lecture slides. They cover the third chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses supply, demand and equilibrium in a market setting. The economic indicators for this week are Producer Price Index (or PPI) and the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank Business Outlook Survey. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Week 4: February 13 to February 17

Here are Prof Rick's lecture slides. They cover the seventh chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses how to measure total production and income. The economic indicators for this week are Gross Domestic Product (or GDP) and business inventories. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Week 5: February 20 to February 24

Exam this week! The exam will be held on Thursday, February 23 during class. Here are Prof Rick's lecture slides. They cover the eighth chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses unemployment and inflation. The economic indicators for this week cover the employment situation. Practice materials for the exam are as follows:

Here is Prof. Rick's Spring 2011 exam, and here is the answer key.

Here is Prof. Rick's Fall 2011 exam, and here is the answer key.

Here are thirty additional practice questions, and here is the answer key.

There were no discussion sections this week.

Week 6: February 27 to March 2

Here are Prof Rick's lecture slides. They cover the ninth chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses economic growth, the financial system and business cycles. The economic indicators for this week are new home sales and housing starts. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Week 7: March 5 to March 9

There are two sets of lecture slides this week. Here is the first set of lecture slides. They cover the tenth chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses economic growth, the financial system and business cycles. Here is the second set of lecture slides. They cover the eleventh chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses aggregate expenditure and output in the short run. The economic indicators for this week are labor productivity and the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) manufacturing index. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Week 8: March 12 to March 16

Here are Prof. Rick's lecture slides. They cover the twelfth chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses aggregate supply and aggregate demand analysis. The economic indicators for this week are business baramoter index (BBI) and the factory orders. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Week 9: March 19 to March 23

Here are Prof. Rick's lecture slides. They cover the thirteenth chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses money banks and the Federal Reserve. The economic indicators for this week are consumer credit outstanding and treasury yield curves. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Week 10: March 26 to March 30

Exam this week! The exam will be held on Thursday, March 29th during class. Practice materials for the exam are as follows:

Here is Prof. Rick's Spring 2011 exam, and here is the answer key.

Here is Prof. Rick's Fall 2011 exam, and here is the answer key.

Here are thirty additional practice questions, and here is the answer key.

There were no discussion sections this week.

Week 11: April 9 to April 13

Here are Prof. Rick's lecture slides. They cover the fourteenth chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses monetary policy. The economic indicators for this week are industrial production and the Empire state manufacturing survey. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Week 12: April 16 to April 20

Here are Prof. Rick's lecture slides. They cover the fifteenth chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses fiscal policy. The economic indicators for this week are federal government debt and the employment cost index. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Week 13: April 23 to April 27

Here are Prof. Rick's lecture slides. They cover the sixteenth chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses inflation, unemployment and Federal Reserve policy. The economic indicators for this week are CPI inflation and the consumer confidence and sentiment index. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Week 14: April 30 to May 4

Here are Prof. Rick's lecture slides. They cover the seventeenth chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses open economy macroeconomics. The economic indicator for this week is international trade in goods and services. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Week 15: May 7 to May 11

Here are Prof. Rick's lecture slides. They cover the eighteenth chapter of Hubbard and O'Brien, which discusses the international financial system. The economic indicators for this week are the index of leading indicators and import and export price indexes. Here is the discussion section handout, and here are the solutions for the exercises in the handout.

Final Exam! May 15 from 7:25 to 9:25 at 272 Bascom Hall. Practice materials for the exam are as follows:

Here is Prof. Rick's Spring 2011 exam, and here is the answer key.

Here is Prof. Rick's Fall 2011 exam, and here is the answer key.

Here is a copy of the Final exam, and here is the answer key.