4/25/2024 12:25:10 PM	ECON 20 Course Outline as of Fall 2004	Inactive Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  ECON 20	Title:  AMERICAN ECONOMY
Full Title:  The American Economy
Last Reviewed:4/5/2004

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		17.5 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

A non-theoretical, non-technical survey of basic economic concepts and institutions.  Emphasis is given to the American economy in the areas of business organization and finance; labor unionism; public finance; money and banking; national income; unemployment and inflation; economic growth; income distribution; poverty; agriculture and foreign trade as they pertain to the citizen and the businessman.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100A or ENGL 100. Not open to students who have completed Econ 1A or Econ 1B.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

Non-theoretical, non-technical survey of basic economic concepts, institutions & current events.

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for ENGL 100A or ENGL 100. Not open to students who have completed Econ 1A or Econ 1B.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:		Inactive:
Area:
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	D	Social Science		Fall 1981	Fall 2004
	D3	Ethnic Studies
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	4	Social and Behavioral Science		Fall 1981	Fall 2004
	4B	Economics
CSU Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
UC Transfer:		Effective:		Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Not Certificate/Major Applicable

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

The students will:

1.  Define the economic problem of scarcity.

2.  Recognize the trade-offs inherent in economic policy decisions.

3.  Apply the concept of a trade-off to personal experiences.

4.  Identify the factors of production, and analyze the different

   methods with which to apply these factors.

5.  Distinguish between positive and normative economic statements.

6.  Predict the effects of external economic events on the American

   economy.

7.  Evaluate the performance of the U.S. economy relative to that of

   other nations.

8.  Employ THE WALL STREET JOURNAL when planning and appraising stock

   market decisions.

9.  Experiment with various investment vehicles, i.e. stocks, bonds,

   commodities, so as to maximize a fictional investment portfolio.

10. Identify the characteristics of a market oriented economy.

11. Diagram basic economic models.

12. Debate government policies and their effect on the economy.

13. Interpret various economic statistics such as GNP, unemployment,

   and inflation.

14. List and define the sources of government expenditures and revenues.

15. Demonstrate an understanding of economic methodology by examining

   and applying economic tools to various social and economic

   problems. Communication is, both verbally and on written examinations,

   essential.

Topics and Scope

1.  Foundation of economics.

     A. The economic problem: scarcity.

     B. Production possibilities curves.

     C. U.S. vs. Japan.

2.  The role of the entrepreneur.

     A. Ideas and risks.

     B. Raising financial capital.

     C. Stocks.

     D. Bonds.

     E. Commodities.

     F. Foreign exchange.

3.  Supply and demand: How prices are determined.

     A. Elements of a market.

     B. Market demand.

     C. Market supply.

     D. The function of prices.

     E. Why prices change.

4.  Financial markets: Market theory in the "real" world.

     A. Reading financial journals.

     B. Stock ticker tapes.

     C. Purchase or sale of financial assets in the secondary market.

     D. Efficient markets.

5.  Government and the market.

     A. Price floors and ceilings.

     B. Externalities.

     C. Public goods.

6.  Money, banking and the federal reserve system.

     A. Functions and definitions of money.

     B. Money and GNP.

     C. Structure and history of the federal reserve.

     D. Interest rates and the economy.

7.  The national debt.

     A. Understanding debt.

     B. Government bonds vs corporate bonds.

     C. Size of debt.

     D. Different philosophies of debt.

8.  Measuring economic activity.

     A. GNP.

     B. Inflation.

     C. Unemployment.

     D. Business cycles.

     E. Keynesian economics.

Assignments:

1.  Read and study appropriate chapters in text, and THE WALL STREET

   JOURNAL.

2.  Prepare analysis of stock market trades along with Profit/Loss

   statement.

3.  Numerous homework assignments that require in-class presentation.

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 40 - 60%
Written homework, Essay exams, STOCK MARKET PROJECT
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 4 - 50%
Homework problems, Quizzes, Exams
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 4 - 45%
Multiple choice
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 0%
None

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

THE ECONOMY TODAY: THE MACRO VIEW, Harper & Row.

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