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Thompson Rivers University
Thompson Rivers University

ECON 1221: Introduction to Basic Economics

Students develop a basic understanding of economic principles, which allows for and encourages informed discussion of media-covered issues. Topics include contrasting macroeconomics and microeconomics; gross domestic product; economic growth and business cycles; unemployment and inflation; aggregate supply and demand; scarcity, opportunity costs, and trade; law of supply and demand; accounting versus economic profits; money and exchange rates; government choices, markets, efficiency, and equity; monopoly and competition; externalities, public goods, and free riders; and globalization and trade policy.

Learning outcomes

  • Explain the differences between macroeconomics and microeconomics.
  • Apply the concepts of scarcity, choice and opportunity costs for making smart choices.
  • Describe how buyers and sellers compete and cooperate in markets in determining prices.
  • Explain the relationship between supply, demand, and prices in an economy.
  • Compare and contrast economic and accounting profits.
  • Describe the important measures of aggregate performance of an economy.
  • Distinguish between nominal and real economic measures.
  • Discuss the economic costs of unemployment and inflation.
  • Discuss the challenges in meeting macroeconomic performance targets.
  • Explain the roles of money and exchange rates in influencing economic outcomes.
  • Compare and contrast monopoly, perfect competition and other market structures.
  • Apply the concept of marginal in economic decision-making.
  • Apply the concept of externalities to real world issues.
  • Explain the process of globalization and its implications for trade policy.
  • Apply basic economic concepts to current events in the media.

Course topics

  • Module 1: Basic concepts in economics
  • Module 2: Demand, supply and markets
  • Module 3: Accounting profits, economic profits and economic decision-making
  • Module 4: Macroeconomic concepts: gross domestic product, economic growth and business cycles
  • Module 5: Macroeconomic challenges: unemployment, inflation and macroeconomic performance
  • Module 6: Money and exchange rates
  • Module 7: Market structures: compare and contrast
  • Module 8: Externalities and the role of public policy
  • Module 9: Globalization and trade policy

Required text and materials

Students require the following e-textbook. An access card/code for this e-text can be purchased directly from the TRU bookstore site at https://thebookstore.tru.ca/site_digital.asp. Instructions on how to use the access code are provided in the course after registration.

Cohen, A.J. (2020) Macroeconomics and Microeconomics for Life: Smart Choices for All? Plus MyLab with Pearson eText (2nd ed) Toronto, ON: Pearson Canada Inc.
Type: Access Code. ISBN: 9780136812210

Assessments

Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.

In order to successfully complete this course, students must complete the mandatory coursework and achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course, and 50% or higher on the final exam.

Assignment 1: Module 1 and 2 8%
Quiz 1: Modules 1, 2 and 3 9%
Assignment 2: Modules 3 and 4 8%
Assignment 3: Module 5 8%
Quiz 2: Modules 4, 5 and 6 9%
Assignment 4: Modules 7, 8, and 9 8%
Final Exam (mandatory) 50%
Total 100%

Open Learning Faculty Member Information

An Open Learning Faculty Member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.

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