Contents
This course consists of writing a weekly blog that I will post on my blogsite http://maartengoos.blogspot.be/ (this blog is widely read by journalists, policy makers, colleagues, former students of mine,…). Our blogs will be applying what you learned about economics to real world problems. Although writing these blogs might seem an easy task, you will soon realize that it is not and that it is testing you to your limits.
Learning objectives
At the end of the course the student is able to:
- Better understand basic concepts in economics such as gains from specialization, comparative advantage, equilibrium, externalities, Keynesian multipliers, stabilization policies, policy trilemmas,…
- Better understand real world phenomena using basic concepts in economics
- Explain in popular terms how economics can explain real world phenomena
Format
Weekly topics are listed below and links to background readings are provided. Each meeting consists of three parts. The first part is a discussion of feedback you collected from family, friends,…about the blog we posted in the previous week (this part becomes relevant from week 48 onwards). The second part is a discussion of the blog that will be posted that week. For this, a blog draft will be prepared and presented by a small group of students (this part becomes relevant from week 47 onwards). The third part is an introduction to the blog that will be posted in the following week, introducing the reading materials listed below (and that all students have to read) and assigning a group to prepare a blog draft that they will present the week after.
Assessment method
The grade students receive for this course is a binary pass or non-pass.
Effort requirements
To pass students should attend at least all but one of our meetings and should be part of a group presenting a blog draft at least once. For this reason, an attendance list will be circulated each week.
Course materials: Course outline with summary of topics and links to background materials will be made available to students.
Language of instruction: English
Place of the course within the curriculum: Honours Programme, 3-year in Bachelor
Approximate study costs: 0 euro
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