COURSES
Dr. Robert Singleton
Economics 110
Department of Economics
Microeconomic Theory
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Objective:
In this course we will study the behavior of individual economic agents,
including consumers, firms, and local government agencies as they interact
with one another, as in markets, to determine the prices at which goods
and services are sold and the quantities that are sold. We will study
the laws of supply and demand, elasticity, production and cost, under competition,
monopoly and other market forms. Finally, we will analyze various
government policies that attempt to influence this behavior.
Required Texts:
McConnell and Brue, Microeconomics, 17th edition (New York, McGraw-Hill,
Inc. 2005)
Class Schedule:
Introduction and Overview: Economics and Critical Thinking
What are economic issues and how are they analyzed?
Topic 1
Understanding the Economic Approach*
Chs. 1, 2
What is the economist’s definition of economics?
The Economizing Problem
Topic 2
Microeconomic Theory*
Chs. 3 to 6
Understanding Individual Markets
Pure Capitalism and the Market System
The U.S. Mixed Economy and the Global Economy
Review Discussion and Midterm No. 1 (Chapters 1-6)
Topic 3
Microeconomics of Product Markets*
Chs. 7, 9
Elasticity of Demand and Supply
The Costs of Production
Topic 4
Price and Output Determination*
Chs. 10 - 13
Pure Competition vs Pure Monopoly
Monopolistic Competition vs Oligoply
Topic 5
Microeconomics of Resource Markets*
Chs. 14 - 16
Production and Demand for Resources
Pricing and Employment of Labor Resources
Pricing and Employment of Nonlabor resources: Rent, Interest and Profits
Review Discussion and Second Midterm (Chs. 7, 9 - 16)
Topic 6
Policy Analysis: Market Failure and Public Choice
Chs. 17, 18
Market Failure
Public Choice
Topic 7
Labor Market Issues
Chs. 21, 22
Inequality and Poverty
Unionism, Discrimination and Immigration
Term Paper Presentations and Review Discussion
Final Examination (Comprehensive)
Policy Statements
Grading Policy:
Before the introduction of topics 1 through 5, there will be a brief pre-test,
and afterwards, a post-test. Together these will count for ten percent
of the Final grade. Midterms will count for twenty percent of the
Final Grade (each). Classroom “active” participation will count 10
percent. The final examination will count for 40 percent. There will
be no makeups: missed pre- and post-tests are forever bygones, and
(only) one missed midterm may be counted twice on the final.
Ethics Policy:
Anyone caught cheating will receive an F for that material.
Office; Office Hours; Office Phone No.; Fax No. And E-mail address
University Hall 4212
Tuesday and Thursday, (and by appointment);
phone: (310) 338-7373
fax: (310) 338-1950 (FAX);
email: rsinglet@.lmu.edu
Disclaimer
All dates, times, lecture topics and examinations are approximations, and
are subject to change during the semester if the professor deems that it
will contribute to a better learning experience.
Dr. Robert Singleton
Economics 120
Economics Department
Macroeconomic Principles
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Objectives:
This course will explore the main principles of economic theory at the
level of the aggregate economy, i.e. the determination of the level of national
income and output (given information on their components), and the role
of macroeconomic policy in that determination, as well as the importance
of the price level, interest rates and long-term growth. Also covered
are the concepts of full employment and inflation, budgets, deficits, the
public debt, money supply and money creation.
Required Texts:
McConnell and Brue, Macroeconomics, 15th edition (New York, McGraw-Hill,
Inc., 2003)
Wall Street Journal
Class Schedule:
Topic 1 Orientation,
Semester Overview and the Economist’s Toolkit
Chs 1, 2
What is the economic problem?
What is economic analysis?
Topic 2 A
First Look at Macroeconomics
Chs 7, 8
What are Macroeconomic Issues?
What do economists do to analyze macroeconomic issues?
Topic 3 The
Aggregate Expenditure Model
Chs 9, 10
What is macroeconomic stability?
What are the tabular, graphical and algebraic analyses of the path to stabilization?
Topic 4 First
Quiz (Chs. 1,2 7-10); Aggregate Demand and Supply
Chs 11
What is the classical view of the Aggregate Model?
How are classical and keynesian equilibria similar?
Topic 5 Fiscal
Policy
Chs 12
What is fiscal policy?
What are the major fiscal policy issues?
Topic 6 Money and
Banking and Money Creation
Chs 13, 14
What determines the supply and demand for money?
How is money created to satisfy the demand for money?
Topic 7 Midterm
- ca. 10/11/’05 (Chs. 1,2,7-14)
Topic 8 Monetary
Policy
Chs 15
Topic 9 Semester
Break - ca. 10/25/’05
Topic 10 Problems and
Controversies in Macroeconomics
Chs 16 - 19
Topic 11 Quiz No. 2 (Chs.
14-19) – ca. 11/15/’05
Topic 12 Thanksgiving
Break – ca. 11/25/’05
Topic 13-15 Issues Seminars and Review
Topic 16 Final Examination
Week (Comprehensive)
Policy Statements
Grading and Makeup Policy
Before the introduction of topics 1 through 5, there will be a brief pre-test
and, afterwards, a post-test. Together these will count for ten percent
of the Final grade. Two quizzes will be worth 10% of the final grade
each, a midterm (20%) and a final examination (30%), classroom “active”
participation (10%), and a Wall Street Journal article term paper (10%).
There will be no makeups--missed exams will count twice on the final.
Attendance is essential and will be checked in all class periods except
the test dates and classroom experiments.
Ethics Policy
Anyone caught cheating will receive a grade of F for that material.
Office; Office Hours; Office Phone NO.; And E-mail address
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1 PM – 4 PM and by appointment.
Office and Phone No.
UNH 4212, 87373
e-mail address rsinglet@lmu.edu
Disclaimer statement:
The
professor reserves the right to announce any changes in the above syllabus
that he deems useful toward attaining the stated objectives of the course.
Dr. Robert Singleton
Economics 398.01
Economics Department
Urban Economic Geography
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course borrows extensively from the authors of the assigned text
to teach Economic Geography, which is the study of the internal structure
of urban areas and cities and urban systems based on principles of economics,
geography and geographical information systems (GIS). The course covers the
design and functioning of geographic information systems, applications to
business, the environment, and management of GIS. The class includes
hands‑on experience with a GIS CD Rom that accompanies the textbook.
Required Text:
Greene, Richard P. and James B. Pick, Exploring the Urban Community: A GIS
Approach (Prentice Hall, 2006)
OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:
1.
To learn to apply the tools of GIS in the study of Economic Geography.
2.
To obtain skills in spatial analysis.
3.
To become knowledgeable of the ArcView and ArcGIS software applications.
4.
To appreciate how decision‑makers in the public and private sectors can better
assess and make decisions through the use of GIS.
5.
To understand how a GIS department in an organization designs and develops
a GIS.
6.
To recognize the task of gathering information that is relevant and important
for GIS applications.
7.
To understand the availability of different types of information to GIS.
POLICY ON ATTENDANCE:
Students are expected to attend all classes and workshops, unless excused
by the faculty member teaching the course. Students are required to
sign their own name on the attendance sheet for each class session.
BACKGROUND:
According to the authors of the textbook, use of a Geographic Information
System (GIS) is becoming standard among governmental and non‑governmental
agencies with a resource management or planning mission. The U.S. Office
of Management and Budget found that federal expenditures on digital GIS was
around $4 billion in 1993. Currently the total value of the digital
GIS industry in the U.S. exceeds $14 billion (Longley et al., 1999).
There are also large and increasing numbers of users. In the mid 90s,
worldwide estimates were at least 100,000 heavily technical users, one half
million desktop users, and one million casual users (Longley et al., 1999).
Today the total number of GIS users is estimated at eight million (Longley
et al., 1999). GISs are fast becoming the state of the art in corporations
as well ‑‑ for example there is heavy GIS use in the utilities, natural resource,
distribution, transportation, and food industries. GIS familiarity is
a skill many students will need to acquire in the next several years as GIS
diffuses more rapidly, including into their job situations. In fact,
some U. Redlands students and graduates are working actively in commercial
GIS.
Grading Policy
Before the introduction of topics 1through 5, there will be a brief pre-test,
and afterwards a post-test. Together, these will count for ten percent
of the Final grade. Laboratory work will count for forty percent, classroom
active participation will count 10 percent, and the Final examination for
forty percent. There will be no makeups. . . one missed Lab result will
be counted twice on the cumulative Final Examination
How Critical Thinking and Writing Requirements Will Be Met
Students will be expected to read the textbook critically. Critical
thinking should be evidenced in the presentation on Workshop VI. In
the class project, the student is expected to think critically and also to
write well. In particular, the project asks the student to critically
evaluate the geographical information needs for a business problem.
Office; Office Hours; Office Phone Number and e-mail address
University Hall 4212
Tuesday and Thursday, (and by appointment);
(310) 338-7373; (Off.); (310) 338-1950 (FAX);
rsinglet@lmu.edu
Disclaimer
All dates, times lecture topics and examinations are approximations,
and are subject to chage during the semester if the professor deems that it
will contribute to a better learning experience.
PERSONAL INFORMATION SHEET (to be turned in to
instructor at first class meeting)
Name _______________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________________
Company Name _______________________________________________________________
Company Address______________________________________________________________
Home Phone __________________________________________________________________
Bus. Phone ___________________________________________________________________
FAX ________________________________________________________________________
Personal Web Page _____________________________________________________________
E Mail _______________________________________________________________________
Your Business Job Title ______________________________________________________________
If you are involved with computers or information systems at work, please
describe briefly how you are involved
Do you own a personal computer? Yes _________ No __________
If yes, what type (manufacturer and model)? ____________________________
Have you every used mapping, GIS, or spatial analysis before? If so,
how?
What systems and major software applications are you utilizing, managing,
or interacting with at work (explain)?
What cutting edge computing technologies are you interested in? What
interests you?
What topics in the course are you particularly interested in? Why?
What do you expect to get out of this GIS course?
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