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on a specific reading. All readings are web files.
SECTION I:
Basic Concepts: Markets and Efficiency
A. Scarcity and choice
1. Costs and benefits
The Joy of Economics
What to Produce
2. Comparative advantage and trade
How to Produce
International Trade
B. How do we choose?
1. Demand and supply
Demand and Supply
Demand and Supply Applied: Sample Problems
Demand and Supply Applied: Exchange Rates
Demand and Supply Applied: Buy Low and Sell High
2. Elasticity
Elasticity of Demand and Supply
C.
Efficiency and competition
1.
Marginal Cost and Supply
2.
Market Efficiency
3.
External Effects
4.
Public Goods
5.
Rational Ignorance
6.
What's Fair is Fair
SECTION II: Microeconomic Issues
A. Love and marriage
1. Costs and benefits of marriage
The Untied Knot: Marriage on the Skids
Monogamy: A Cure for the Modern Arms Race
2. Love, sex, and affection
Older Men; Younger Women
Exploitive Relationships
3. Children and families
Empty Cradles
Moral Decay
B. Sickness and death
1. Economics of life and death
Priceless Life?
Saving Lives Can be Dangerous
2. Health care issues
Health Care
Not Enough Hearts
Where There's Smoke, There's Controversy
The Economics of Eating
C. Crime and dishonesty
1. Crime and punishment
Costs and Benefits
How Tough is Too Tough?
Safety in Numbers
2. Cheating and lying
The Economics of Cheating
3. Breaking the law
Does Speed Kill?
Supply-Side Drug Policy: Will it Ever Work?
Discrimination: It isn't Easy Being Green
D. Higher education
1. Prices, quantities, and qualities
Funding Options
Attendance Policies
Why Don't They Learn?
Educational Lemons
2. Issues in teaching and learning
Never Again; Again
Grades: Too High or Too Low?
Consumption Skills
E.
Religion
1. That Old-Time Religion
2. Risk and Religion
3. Sacrifice and Stigma
F. Shopping
1. Bah, Humbug
2.
The Winner's Curse
3. In Search of the Perfect Christmas Tree
4. Automobiles: Different People, Different Prices
5. Good Intentions Gone Awry
G. Happiness
1.
It's All Relative
2.
Lots of Stuff versus More Stuff
3. Too Much to Do
4.
Starving Artists
SECTION III: Macroeconomic Issues
A. GDP: Equilibrium and growth
Equilibrium GDP and economic growth
B. Unemployment and inflation
1. Causes and effects
Unemployment and Inflation
2. Fiscal policy
Government Finance: Just the Facts
Spending and Tax Policy
3. Money and monetary policy
What is Money?
Role of Money
A Dear Abby Quiz
C. Government budget deficits and debt
1.
Debtiphobia
2.
Surpluses and Saliva
3. Social Security: Apocalypse Soon?
