Advisement Info

Spring Semester 2001

Instructor: Dr. Ken Smith
Office: 202A McComsey
Tel.: 872-3582
E-mail: kenneth.smith@millersville.edu
Office Hours: M 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, TTR 9:00 - 10:30 AM, or by appointment)

Course Overview: This course surveys issues of relevance to the global economy as a whole. Issues to be covered are: A) Economic Systems and Economic Transformation. B) Trade and Economic Integration (European integration will be used as an example). C) Topics in Globalization (how many and which topics to be determined by class interest and time). While this course will not be theoretical in nature, throughout we will apply basic principles of both Micro and Macroeconomics to these issues.

Prerequisites: Econ. 101 or Econ. 102

Required Text: A New View of Comparative Economic Systems, David Kennett

Core Reading (supplemental readings will be assigned when appropriate) - Chapter numbers refer to the Kennett text unless otherwise noted.

I. Economic Systems & Economic Transformation
a) Ch. 1 Types of Economic Systems
b) Ch. 2 The Roots of Economic Systems
c) Ch. 7 Sweden and Social Democracy
d) Ch. 10 The Japanese Economy
e) Ch. 15 The Command Economy
f) Ch. 21 Economic Transition from Command to Market
g) Ch. 12 The Transformation of the Chinese Economy

II. Trade and Economic Integration
a) Basic Principles of International Trade and Finance - Portions of Ch. 9 and Ch. 29 from Mankiw's Principles of Economics
b) Ch. 9 The Economic Consequences of the European Union
c) The Case Against Free Trade - Reading TBA

III. Globalization
Topics and readings TBA

Grading System: Grades will be determined by cumulative point totals based on the following:

Midterm Exam 1 25% (Thurs. Feb. 22)
Midterm Exam 2 25% (Thurs. Apr. 5)
Problem Sets 15% (Handed out periodically)
Final Exam 35% (Mon. May. 7, 10:15 - 12:15)

The midterm exams will be given in class and last 75 minutes. The final exam will be a 2 hour cumulative exam. Make-up exams will not be given without an excellent reason supported by documentation (i.e., a note from a doctor in case of illness). Cheating on an exam will result in a zero score on that exam. Cooperation on problem sets is encouraged though everyone must hand in each problem set.

The following is a reference representing the Maximum cumulative point total necessary to fall in each grade category. I may curve downward depending on overall class performance.

A 90-100%
B 80-89%
C 70-79%
D 60-69%

Send e mail to beth.colvin@millersville.edu with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2001 Millersville University Economics Department
Last modified: January 06, 2003

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