Description

Almost every aspect of our lives has economic implications – which means the study of economics should be both relevant and fun! Have you ever wondered how the dollar got its name? Or why seashells can’t be used like “real money”? Why were your grandparents able to buy their first house for $10,000, while that same house could cost you $250,000 or more to buy today? Why does an iphone X cost nearly $1000 while that old flip phone is about $20? Want to know how banks – and companies – make money?  What if money actually became worthless? What would you do and how would you provide for yourself and your family? What are taxes and why do they matter? And what’s the big deal with how the government spends money?

This Introduction to Economics class will present the foundational concepts, major ideologies and practical topics of the field of micro and macro economics through a combination of traditional textbook, fictional examples, independent research topics and current events. Class lectures are fun, interactive discussions, and homework, while rigorous, includes assorted clips (cleaned up if necessary!) of movie and TV programs that demonstrate economic concepts in a way that make topics come alive. (Star Wars, Indiana Jones, Mary Poppins, Hudsucker Proxy, Austin Powers, Trading Places, The West Wing….)