AP Macro/Micro Economics

Room 325

Instructor: Susan Lidholm

Email: slidholm@cpsk12.org

Personal Finance Requirement:

Students may meet the graduation requirement for Personal Finance by earning a minimum
70% each semester and passing the state on-line assessment with a 60% or better. The state
test is offered twice a year and students will be given study material. Test out date will be
December 9th during class.

Course Description:
AP Macroeconomics is a semester-long course with the purpose of preparing students for the
Advanced Placement Macroeconomics exam. It is designed to be as challenging as a college
introductory Macroeconomics class. My students on the average earned a 4.1 and 4.3. National
average 2.7. Students did much better on Micro because we learn that 2 nd semester. I have
changed the schedule to allow for more review time to increase these scores.

Students will be introduced to economic principles as applied to the economy as a whole. This
course provides students with an understanding of economic principles that apply to global
economic systems. It begins with a discussion of basic economic concepts, including scarcity,
production possibilities, comparative/absolute advantage, market equilibrium, the business
cycle, and inflation and unemployment. From here, the content covered will include
measurement of economic performance, national income and price determination (aggregate
supply and demand), the financial sector, stabilization policies, economic growth and
prosperity, and international trade and finance. The mastery of this course will require
independent preparation and a sophisticated level of analysis, application and skill
development. It is expected that the pace of this course will be brisk and students will be
invested in completing all assigned work in an effort to be prepared for the AP exam. (Course
content description adapted from the AP guide)

Course Objectives:
Students will master a broad body of knowledge of Macroeconomic concepts, facts, and
theories that pertain to aggregate economic activity. Throughout the course, students will
come to understand and explain the critical evaluation of determinants of economic progress
and economic decisions made by fiscal policy makers. As Macroeconomics focuses on policy on
a broader basis than its counterpart in Microeconomics, students will be able to explain the
utilization of resources within and across countries on the global level. Students will utilize
mathematical skills to create graphs that analyze and evaluate cause and effect. Finally, the
ultimate goal is to prepare for and successfully pass the Advanced Placement Macroeconomics
Exam.
Textbook/Reading:
Each student received their own copy to have at their home. This class is reading intensive.

Anderson, David, Paul Krugman, Margaret Ray & Robin Wells.Krugmans Economics for AP*. New York:
Worth Publishers, 2011.

Recommended Supplies:
Three Ring binder (2)/loose-leaf paper
Tab dividers (You will need at least 16)
Index cards

Grading:
Please remember that grades are earned, not given, and reflect the fulfillment of course
requirements and objectives.
This course can be broken down into five general areas:
1. Daily Reading Quizzes
2. Problem Sets
3. Unit Exams
4. Final Exam