Philadelphia University
Faculty of Administrative and Financial Sciences
Department of Business Administration
First semester, 2010/2011
Course Syllabus
Course Title: Principles of
Macroeconomics
Course code: 0340101
Course prerequisite (s) and/or co
Course Level: 1
requisite (s):--
Lecture Time:
Credit hours: 3 credit hours
Academic Staff Specifics
Name
Rank
Office
Office Number and Location
Hours
E-mail Address
Course module description:
Economists deal with sophisticated issues using advanced economic theory but in a
manner that is accessible to someone taking a single course in macroeconomics. They
discuss real world economic issues and first describe why these issues matter before
discussing economic theory. In explaining why certain economic events occur the
authors utilize logical economic thinking and modeling but they only introduce models
after the real world problem of interest has first been discussed. A distinguishing feature
of this course is the focus on the data and detail of the world economy and the use of
this material as an entry point into the world of theory.
Course module objectives:

Introduce the student to the nature and scope of economics
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Explain how the economic problem is resolved through supply and
demand and the determination of price
Introduce the student to the problem of economic fluctuations
Explain the various economic measures at the national level
Understand the classical theory of employment
Show how income is determined according to the Keynesian framework
Identify the role of the government in the Keynesian framework and how
fiscal policy works
Understand the role of banks and the central bank in the economy and how
monetary policy works
Determine causes of poverty among nations and theories of development
Course/ module components
 Books (title , author (s), publisher, year of publication)
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Khaled Al Wazani, Macroeconomics, Wa’el Publishing House (Arabic),
2002
Support material (s) (vcs, acs, etc).
Study guide (s) (if applicable)
Homework and laboratory guide (s) if (applicable).
Teaching methods:
Lectures, discussion groups, tutorials, problem solving, debates, etc.
Learning outcomes:
 Knowledge and understanding
Learning Outcomes
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Explain the nature of the economic problem: the scarcity problem
Show how to use the production possibilities curve to explain the scarcity
problem and the concept of the opportunity cost
 Cognitive skills (thinking and analysis).
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Determine supply and demand schedules and how price is determined in the
market
List the determinants of supply and demand and explain the role of price in
the economy
Explain the circular flow of income
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 Communication skills (personal and academic).
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Explain the meaning of GDP and how it is measured
Analyze classical and Keynesian macroeconomics
Define the nature and function of money and banking
 Practical and subject specific skills (Transferable Skills).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Assessment instruments
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Short reports and/ or presentations, and/ or Short research projects
Quizzes.
Home works
Final examination: 50 marks
Allocation of Marks
Assessment Instruments
Mark
First examination
20
Second examination
20
Final examination: 50 marks
50
Reports, research projects, Quizzes,
10
Home works, Projects
Total
100
Documentation and academic honesty
 Documentation style (with illustrative examples)
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------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Protection by copyright
 Avoiding plagiarism.
Course/module academic calendar
week
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
First
examination
(7)
Basic and support material to be
covered
 Introduction
 Scope and method of economics
 The economic problem
 Scarcity of resources
 Unlimited needs
 The production possibilities
curve
 The economic problem
 Scarcity of resources
 Unlimited needs
 The production possibilities curve
 The market system
 Supply and demand
 Determination of price in the
market
 The market system
 Supply and demand
 Determination of price in the
market
 The circular flow of income
and
national
income
accounts:
 Real flow
 Money flow
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 Various income measures:
Homework/reports
and their due dates
(8)
(9)
(10)
(11)
Second
examination
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
Specimen
examination
(Optional)
(16)
Final
Examination
GNP, NNP, NI, PI, DI

Nominal GNP and real GNP and
the general price level
 Classical and Keynesian
macroeconomic analysis
 Aggregate supply and demand
 Classical theory of employment
 The Keynesian theory of
employment
 Consumption and saving
 Investment
 The simple Keynesian theory of
income determination
 Adding government expenditures
and taxes to the model
 Fiscal policy
 Money and banking
 Nature and functions of money
 Commercial banks and how
they create money
 The central bank The
demand for money
 Monetary policy
 How prices of resources are
determined
 How much should a firm
employ
 Inflation and
unemployment
 Economic development
Expected workload:
On average students need to spend 2 hours of study and preparation for each 50minute lecture/tutorial.
Attendance policy:
Absence from lectures and/or tutorials shall not exceed 15%. Students who
exceed the 15% limit without a medical or emergency excuse acceptable to and
approved by the Dean of the relevant college/faculty shall not be allowed to take
the final examination and shall receive a mark of zero for the course. If the
excuse is approved by the Dean, the student shall be considered to have
withdrawn from the course.
Module references
Books
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Saleh Khasawneh, Macroeconomics, 4th ed., (Arabic), 2001
Waud, Roger N., Macroeconomics, 4th ed., Harper and Row Publishers, New York,
N.Y 2000
Mankiw, N. Gregory, Principles of Macroeconomics, the Dryden Press, Fortworth,
TX., 2002
James F. Reagan, Jr., and L layed B. Thomas, Jr., Principles of Macroeconomics, San
Diego, Ca., 2001
Central Bank Monthly Statistical Bulletin or Annual Report (Arabic)
Journals
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