Economics (ECON) 248

Overview

ECON 248 (Macroeconomics), in conjunction with ECON 247 (Microeconomics), provides a basic introduction to the entire discipline of economics. The study of macroeconomics, microeconomics, or both can help all students understand our society better. While microeconomics deals with individual decision makers such as households, firms, and governments, macroeconomics deals with aggregates. ECON 248 looks at economy-wide variables, such as inflation, unemployment, balance of international payments, and how government policies affect these variables.

ECON 248 deals with both economic theory and policy. For the future economist, theory is absolutely essential because senior economics courses will assume that you have already mastered certain analytical tools routinely used by economists. However, you should not take the parts of this course that deal with current economic issues or policies lightly. Rather, you should see those sections as opportunities to test your new analytical skills. Although you may find the discussion of current economic problems and policies more interesting than abstract theory, you should remember that even simple theoretical tools can help develop your understanding of the solutions to real-world problems.

In order to develop this understanding of economic issues and theories, you will need to learn the following:

• economic concepts—for example, how economists use macroeconomic terms, such as investment, economic growth, money, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, unemployment, budget deficits, and multipliers
• economic facts—for example, what the powers and responsibilities of the Bank of Canada are, how the Canadian economy performed in the recent past, and the internationalization of the Canadian economy
• analytical tools—for example, how economists determine the relationship between output and unemployment, inflation and unemployment, and inflation and interest rates

Finally, economics is a quantitative discipline. By its very nature, it deals with numbers and requires some understanding of mathematics. There are no prerequisites for ECON 248.

Outline

• Unit 1: Introduction to Economics
• Unit 2: The Data of Macroeconomics
• Unit 3: The Real Economy in the Long Run
• Unit 4: Money and Prices in the Long Run
• Unit 5: The Macroeconomics of Open Economies
• Unit 6: Macroeconomic Fluctuations and Policy

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course, you should be able to do the following: 

• Know economic definitions — for example, macroeconomic terms, such as investment, economic growth, money, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, unemployment, budget deficits, and multiplier.
• Know economic facts — for example, for example, what the powers and responsibilities of the Bank of Canada are, how the Canadian economy performed in the recent past, and the internationalization of the Canadian economy.
• Develop analytical tools — for example, how economists determine the relationship between output and unemployment, inflation and unemployment, and inflation and interest rates.
• Have some understanding of mathematics.

Evaluation

To receive credit for ECON 248, you must receive a grade of 50 percent or higher on the final examination and achieve an overall grade of at least D (50 percent) for the entire course. Your final grade is determined by a weighted average of the grades you receive on the activities listed below. These activities are weighted as follows:

The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.

Materials

Digital course materials

Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:

Mankiw, N. G., Kneebone, R. D., & McKenzie, K. J. (2024). Principles of macroeconomics (9th Cdn. ed.). Nelson Education. (eText)

Other Resources

All other learning resources will be available online.

A print version of the eText may be purchased from the publisher. Some publishers offer direct-to-student options for Athabasca University students: see the eText Information site for more details.

When purchasing a print copy, ensure that the title, author, edition number, and publisher match those provided on the Learning Materials page in your course. There may be minor discrepancies between the page numbers in the eText and those found in a printed version of the text.  

Challenge for credit

Overview

The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.

Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

Evaluation

To receive credit for the ECON 248 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.

Important links

• Academic advising
• Program planning
• Request assistance
• Support services at AU
• CPA Requirements