COURSE: ECON 1010 Economics of Social Issues Spring 2009
INSTRUCTOR: Neil Walter email: walter@dixie.edu
OFFICE: Hazy #339 Office: 652-7567
Cell: 229-1205
CREDIT: 3 Semester Hours, CIN 20851
CLASS SCHEDULE: Tuesday, Thursday @ 7:30 AM Room 219
TEXT: Issues in Economics Today, Fourth Edition by Robert C. Guell
CORRESPONDANCE: Expect to receive correspondence via blackboard. In the event there is a syllabus
change or an announcement that needs to be sent to the class, it will be set posted to blackboard. I will also
be posting assignments, answer keys, and course updates periodically to Blackboard as well. If you have
questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call or send me an e-mail. I usually check my e-mail each day,
but sometimes when I am not on campus for a couple of days, I may be slow to get to all of my email. The
office number is for my office here on campus. To contact me via phone, try my cell or work number. I am
fine with text messages—just make sure you tell me who you are.
PLEASE NOTE: The syllabus includes objectives and a schedule for the course. Any changes to the
syllabus will be announced in class. The Syllabus is subject to change, and it is extremely likely that it will
during the course of the semester. As a student, you may request a revised copy of the syllabus at any time
by sending me an e-mail.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course helps frame social issues with the context of economic analysis. Many issues locally, nationally,
and internationally relate to economic principles. This course will cover basic terms and concepts and
provide an opportunity to discuss economic policies.
OBJECTIVES:
When the student successfully completes this course he/she will be able to:
1. Define an opportunity cost and provide an example of an opportunity cost.
2. Diagram and apply the basic supply and demand model.
3. Explain supply elasticity and demand elasticity and provide an example of each.
4. Describe how firms maximize profits and explain the law of diminishing returns.
5. Define perfect competition and monopoly and distinguish between economic and normal profits.
6. Define inflation, GDP, and unemployment and describe how each are measured.
7. Show how a dollar today is worth more than a dollar earned a year from now.
8. Define Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply
9. Discuss these concepts as they relate to issues such as: federal deficits and surpluses, international
trade, the environment, crime, the minimum wage, energy prices, and professional sports teams.
ATTENDANCE:
Regular Attendance in required for this course. If you must be absent, it is your responsibility to contact a
fellow student or me to find out what you missed. Attendance will be taken in class. Even if you know you
will be absent for institutional absences, you still must let me know in advance and make arrangements for
