AP® Macroeconomics
Course details
Duration
18 weeks or less
Lectures
33
Video
None
Level
Advanced
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AP Macroeconomics students learn why and how the world economy can change from month to month, how to identify trends in our economy, and how to use those trends to develop performance measures and predictors of economic growth or decline. They’ll also examine how individuals, institutions, and influences affect people, and how those factors can impact everyone’s life through employment rates, government spending, inflation, taxes, and production. The equivalent of a 100-level college-level class, this course prepares students for the AP exam and for further study in business, political science and history.
This course has been authorized by the College Board® to use the AP designation.
*Advanced Placement® and AP® are registered trademarks and/or owned by the College Board, which was not involved in the production of, and does not endorse this product.
Length: One semester
Course Materials Optional
Unit 1: What is Economics?
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1
Lesson 1: What is Economics?- Practice - Introducing Macroeconomics: Go over the format and goals of the course. See how to succeed in the course and what to expect on the AP exam.
- Discuss - Why Study Economics? Before exploring the details of macroeconomics, introduce yourself and discuss your definition of economics and reasons for studying it, with your classmates.
- Study - Introduction to Economics: Explore the basics of economics, including goods, services, markets, and a fundamental concept of economics: scarcity.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Graphing: Review the basics about tables, graphs, equations, slopes, and intercepts.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Economics as a Science: Explore the scientific method and look at mistakes common to all scientists. Examine some special difficulties faced by economists using the scientific method.
- Study - Economic Systems: Examine the major questions each economic society faces and explore the different ways traditional, command, and mixed economies answer these questions.
- Discuss - The U.S. Economic System: Discuss traditional and command market aspects of the U.S. economy.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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2
Lesson 2: Wrap-Up
- Review - What Is Economics? Review your studies of economics and economic systems.
- Practice - What Is Economics? Using common economic terms, complete a crossword puzzle.
- Discuss - Cram Session Discuss economic terms and other areas about which you are unclear.
- Test (CS) - What Is Economics?
- Test (TS) - What Is Economics?
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3
Lesson 3: Diagnostic
- Diagnostic - What Is Economics? Test your understanding of the key concepts covered.
Unit 2: Basic Economic Concepts
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4
Lesson 1: Costs and Benefits
- Study - Costs and BenefitsL: Explore benefits and costs and see how people compare them to determine their highest net benefit. Also look at the related concepts of self-interest, opportunity cost, and sunk cost.
- Discuss - Weighing Costs and Benefits: Discuss the costs and benefits of taking an AP class.
- Study - Production Possibilities Frontier: Examine the production possibilities frontier (PPF) and how it's created. Investigate the relationship of opportunity cost and production, and look at the role of efficiency in the graph of the production possibilities frontier.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate the PPF: Investigate the production possibilities frontier (PPF) and the associated concepts of efficiency, inefficiency, and unattainable production.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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5
Lesson 2: Production and Trade
- Study - Individual Production and Trade: Learn about the concepts of absolute advantage and comparative advantage, as well as how and why people agree to trade with each other.
- Brainbuilder: Investigate the Absolute and Comparative Advantage: Investigate the concepts of absolute advantage and comparative advantage.
- Discuss - Comparative Advantage: Discuss comparative advantage in the context of a given scenario.
- Study - National Production and Trade: Explore how specialization increases wealth and look at a PPF for an entire economy. Explore the things that increase the possible production in an economy, and examine the role of trade in determining the PPF.
- Practice - Apply Concepts of Production and Trade: Bring together concepts about trade between individuals and between nations, and show how they work together.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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6
Lesson 3: Demand and Supply
- Study - Demand: Examine the concept of demand, demand curves, changes in demand, and the measure of price elasticity of demand.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Demand: Use graphs and other methods of analysis to answer questions on demand, a change in quantity demanded, and a change in demand.
- Discuss - Demand Curves: Discuss what the government can do to raise or lower demand.
- Study - Supply: Examine the concept of supply, supply curves, changes in supply, and the measure of price elasticity of supply.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Supply: Use graphs and other methods of analysis to answer questions on supply, a change in quantity supplied, and a change in supply.
- Study - Equilibrium: Explore the concept of equilibrium and see how to determine changes in equilibrium. Examine government intervention—price supports and price floors—and the corresponding surpluses and shortages created by intervention.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Equilibrium: Investigate the concepts of equilibrium and disequilibrium. Explore the influence of changes in demand or supply (or both) on market equilibrium and examine the results of government intervention in a market.
- Practice - Apply Tools of Market Analysis: Bring together concepts about supply, demand, and market equilibrium, and show how they work together.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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7
Lesson 4: Wrap-Up
- Review - Basic Economic Concepts: Review your studies of production, costs, trade, demand, and supply.
- Practice - Basic Economic Concepts: Using common economic terms, complete a crossword puzzle.
- Discuss - Cram Session: Discuss economic terms and other areas about which you are unclear.
- Test (CS) - Basic Economic Concepts
- Test (TS) - Basic Economic Concepts
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8
Lesson 5: Diagnostic
- Diagnostic - Basic Economic Concepts: Test your understanding of the key concepts covered.
Unit 3: Macroeconomic Variables
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9
Lesson 1: Gross Domestic Product
- Study - Circular Flow: Investigate the components of the circular flow model, and see the components put together to make a picture of an economy.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Circular Flow: Investigate the circular flow of economic activity for a complex economy and the interrelationships that contribute to circular flow.
- Discuss - The Four Economic Sectors: Discuss the four sectors of the economy and how you'd rank them in determining the health of the macroeconomy.
- Study - National Income: Examine GDP and compare it to some other economic measures. Explore the relationship between income and expenditures in an economy.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate National Income: Use your knowledge of GNP, GDP, and other national income accounts to get a clear picture of how national income is used in economic analyses and policymaking.
- Practice - Apply Concepts of National Income: Apply the terms and concepts of national income to real world situations.
- Study - Long-Term Growth: Examine the flaws of using only RGDP to measure growth. Look at the sources of long-term growth and the trade-off between spending today and future growth.
- Discuss - Conflict of Short- and Long-Term Growth: Defend your opinion about the benefits of long-term and short-term growth.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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10
Lesson 2: Business Cycles and Unemployment
- Study - The Business Cycle: Examine the business cycle and how it's evaluated.
- Discuss - Future of the U.S. Economy: Defend your predictions about the future of the U.S. economy.
- Study - Unemployment: Examine the categories of unemployment and the criteria for each: seasonal, frictional, cyclical, and structural unemployment.
- Practice - Apply Knowledge of Unemployment: Use economic factors to analyze various unemployment scenarios.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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11
Lesson 3: Inflation
- Study - CPI: Examine the CPI. See how it's calculated and learn how it's used to measure inflation.
- Discuss - List Your Own Market Basket: Describe a typical market basket for a college student.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Inflation: Investigate many of the issues involving inflation and the inflation rate. Focus on issues related to the CPI (a price index), market baskets, and calculating the inflation rate.
- Study - Interest Rates: Explore interest rates and their effect on investment and the purchases of financial instruments.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Interest Rates: Investigate the relationships between interest rates and other economic factors such as inflation and the CPI.
- Discuss - Inflation and the Economy: If moderate inflation is good for the economy, discuss whether cost-push or demand-pull inflation is better.
- Study - Inflation and Real Variables: Examine the concepts of demand-pull inflation and cost-push inflation.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Real Variables: Practice using nominal variables and real variables in several contexts.
- Practice - Apply Knowledge of Inflation: Apply concepts about inflation and interest to real world situations.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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12
Lesson 4: Wrap-Up
- Review - Macroeconomic Variables: Review your studies of gross domestic product, business cycles and unemployment, inflation, and the GDP.
- Practice - Macroeconomic Variables: Using common economic terms (referring to macroeconomic variables) complete a crossword puzzle.
- Discuss - Cram Session: Discuss macroeconomic variables and other areas about which you are unclear.
- Test (CS) - Macroeconomic Variables
- Test (TS) - Macroeconomic Variables
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13
Lesson 5: Diagnostic
- Diagnostic - Macroeconomic Variables: Test your understanding of the key concepts covered.
Unit 4: The Ad/As Model
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14
Lesson 1: Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply
- Study - Aggregate Demand: Examine aggregate demand (AD), and explore the role the price level plays in determining the shape of the AD curve.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Aggregate Demand: Practice computing and graphing aggregate demand.
- Study - Aggregate Supply: Examine aggregate supply (AS), and explore the role the production capacity of an economy plays in determining the shape of the AS curve.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Aggregate Supply: Practice computing and graphing aggregate supply.
- Discuss - Gasoline Prices: Defend your opinion about whether gasoline prices are a function of AD, AS, or both.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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15
Lesson 2: Short-Run Ad/As Equilibrium
- Study - Short-Run AD/AS Equilibrium: See how short-run economic equilibrium is determined by aggregate demand and short-run aggregate supply. Look at how changes in AD or AS, called shocks, change equilibrium.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Short-Run AD/AS Equilibrium: Investigate equilibrium in the AD/AS model in the short run, with an emphasis on computation and graphing.
- Practice - Apply Concepts of Short-Run Equilibrium: Apply the concept of short-run AD/AS equilibrium to real life concepts.
- Discuss - The Short-Run Economy: Discuss whether the short-run economy is driven more by aggregate supply or aggregate demand factors.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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16
Lesson 3: Long-Run Ad/As Equilibrium
- Study - Long-Run AD/AS Equilibrium: Examine the concept of full employment. Explore reasons the full-employment level of output changes. Look at changes in long run equilibrium caused by changes in aggregate demand or aggregate supply.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Long-Run AD/AS Equilibrium: Use computation and graphs to investigate long-run AD/AS, including changes in aggregate supply.
- Discuss - Foreign Cars: If foreign cars are cheaper than domestic cars, defend your opinion about whether it helps or hinders our economy to buy them.
- Practice - Apply Concepts of AD/AS: Use the concepts of AD/AS to analyze a nation's price level and level of RGDP.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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17
Lesson 4: Wrap-Up
- Review - The AD/AS Model: Review your studies of aggregate demand, aggregate supply and AD/AS equilibrium.
- Practice - The AD/AS Model: Using common economic terms (referring to the AD/AS model) to complete a crossword puzzle.
- Discuss - Cram Session: Discuss AD/ASand other areas about which you are unclear.
- Test (CS) - The AD/AS Model
- Test (TS) - The AD/AS Model
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18
Lesson 5: Diagnostic
- Diagnostic - The AD/AS Model: Test your understanding of the key concepts covered.
Unit 5: Keynesian Economics and Fiscal Policy
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19
Lesson 1: The Keynesian Model
- Study - The Keynesian Model, Part 1: Explore consumption and investment functions as Keynes saw them.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate the Keynesian Model, Part 1: Apply the Keynesian model to graphs of consumption and investment.
- Discuss - Keynes and The Great Depression: Discuss the social and economic effects of the Great Depression.
- Study - The Keynesian Model, Part 2: Explore the different components of the Keynesian model and the definition of equilibrium. Look at the sources and results of changes in equilibrium.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate the Keynesian Model, Part 2: Investigate aggregate expenditure and changes in equilibrium by graphing those elements and applying them in the Keynesian model.
- Practice - Apply Concepts of the Keynesian Model: Synthesize the different concepts of the Keynesian model to build a comprehensive perspective.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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20
Lesson 2: Keynes in Ad/As
- Study - Keynes in AD/AS: Examine the differences and similarities between the Keynesian and AD/AS models. Look at examples demonstrating the predictive power of each model.
- Discuss - Creating Supply or Demand: Defend your opinion on whether supply creates demand or demand creates supply.
- Practice - Apply the Keynesian Model to AD/AS: Practice graphing with the Keynes model in the AD/AS framework. Synthesize what you know and see how the two models relate to each other.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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21
Lesson 3: Fiscal Policy
- Study - Fiscal Policy: See analyses of fiscal policy in the Keynesian and AD/AS models, explore the difficulties with fiscal policy, and examine why it's rarely used today.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Fiscal Policy: Investigate the effects of fiscal policy, practice graphing the effects of fiscal policy, and apply and calculate the multiplier effect.
- Discuss - The National Debt: Defend your opinion on whether fiscal policy responsible for the National Debt.
- Study - Government Spending and Taxation: Explore government spending and taxation in the U.S. economy, and examine the budget deficit and the national debt.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Government Spending and Taxation: Using the AD/AS model, answer questions about the "crowding out" effect, and investigate its implications in terms of government taxation and spending.
- Practice - Apply Concepts of Fiscal Policy: Answer questions that will help you draw connections between different fiscal policy concepts.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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22
Lesson 4: Wrap-Up
- Review - Keynesian Economics and Fiscal Policy: Review your studies of Keynesian economics and fiscal policy.
- Practice - The Keynesian Model: Using common terms (referring to the Keynesian model) complete a crossword puzzle.
- Discuss - Cram Session: Discuss the Keynesian model, fiscal policy, and any areas about which you are unclear.
- Discuss - You Be the Teacher! Make suggestions for completing a correctly answered but incomplete AP-style question about macroeconomics.
- Test (CS) - Keynesian Economics and Fiscal Policy
- Test (TS) - Keynesian Economics and Fiscal Policy
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23
Lesson 5: Diagnostic
- Diagnostic - Keynesian Economics and Fiscal Policy: Test your understanding of the key concepts covered.
Unit 6: Money
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24
Lesson 1: Money and Banks
- Study - Money Demand: Explore the roles of money (unit of account, medium of exchange, store of value) and reasons people hold money (transactions, asset portfolio, protection against the unexpected). Examine how much money people hold at one time, and why.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Money Demand: Use graphing to investigate money demand, the elements of investment, and the function of money. Practice calculating the quantity of money.
- Study - The Banking System: See an overview of the U.S. banking system, discover how fractional reserve banking works, look at the role of the Fed in the banking system, and investigate the S&L failure of the 1980s.
- Study - Money Creation: Explore the money creation process, the role of required reserves in determining the size of money creation, and the idea of money supply.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Money Creation: Investigate money creation and the money supply, and practice using the money multiplier.
- Practice - Apply Concepts of Banking and Money Creation: Explore the banking system, the process of money creation, and the relationship between money creation and the structure of the banking system.
- Discuss - The Fed: Discuss your opinion about whether the Fed has too much power or not enough power.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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25
Lesson 2: Monetary Policy
- Study - Goals and Tools of Monetary Policy: Explore the three tools the Fed uses to control the quantity of money in the economy: the required reserve ratio, the discount rate, and open market operations.
- Study - Effects of Monetary Policy: Explore the process through which a change in the quantity of money in the economy changes the level of prices or production.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Effects of Monetary Policy: Examine the effects of monetary policy. Focus on the stagflation, monetarism, and the effects of contractionary and expansionary monetary policy at different production levels of the economy.
- Practice - Apply Concepts of Monetary Policy: Bring together concepts related to monetary policy. Apply the concepts to real-life issues faced by economic policy makers at the Fed (or other central banks).
- Discuss - Monetarists: Discuss the monetarists stance that the money supply should grow at a predictable rate.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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Lesson 3: Monetary and Fiscal Policy
- Study - Monetary and Fiscal Policy: Examine the similarities and differences between monetary and fiscal policy.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Monetary and Fiscal Policy: Investigate the effects of fiscal and monetary policy on the economy. Examine how the expectations of a nation's citizens can influence the effectiveness of fiscal or monetary policy.
- Discuss - Another Great Depression? Discuss some of the reasons a Great Depression would not occur today.
- Practice - Apply Concepts of Monetary and Fiscal Policy: Use your knowledge of monetary and fiscal policy to investigate the interaction between these policies and the expectations of the household sector.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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27
Lesson 4: Wrap-Up
- Review - Money: Review your studies of money, banks, monetary policy, and fiscal policy.
- Practice - Money: Using common terms (referring to money, banks, monetary policy, and fiscal policy) complete a crossword puzzle.
- Discuss - Cram Session: Discuss money, banks, monetary policy, fiscal policy, and any areas about which you are unclear.
- Discuss - You Be the Teacher! Make suggestions for completing a correctly answered but incomplete AP-style question about macroeconomics.
- Test (CS) - Money
- Test (TS) - Money
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28
Lesson 5: Diagnostic
- Diagnostic - Money: Test your understanding of the key concepts covered.
Unit 7: International Economics
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Lesson 1: Trade
- Study - Trade and Exchange Rates: Examine the role of trade in an economy, the reasons why nations trade and impose trade restrictions, and exchange rates.
- Brainbuilder - Investigate Exchange Rates: Investigate international trade and practice exchange rate computations.
- Study - Balance of Payments: Explore current and capital accounts, the relationship between a trade deficit in goods and services and a trade surplus in capital, and the twin deficits effect.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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30
Lesson 2: An Open Economy
- Study - Government Policy in an Open Economy: See how global economics can affect domestic fiscal and monetary policies.
- Discuss - Tariffs: Defend your opinion about whether tariffs be used to punish other countries or to protect the United States.
- Practice - Apply Concepts of International Trade: Bring together and apply concepts related to international trade.
- Quiz - Wrap-Up: Answer questions to assess your understanding of the content.
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31
Lesson 3: Wrap-Up
- Review - International Economics: Review your studies of trade and open economies.
- Practice - International Economics: Using common terms (referring to international economies) complete a crossword puzzle.
- Discuss - Cram Session: Discuss trade, open economies, and any areas about which you are unclear.
- Discuss - You Be the Teacher! Make suggestions for completing a correctly answered but incomplete AP-style question about international economies.
- Test (CS) - International Economics
- Test (TS) - International Economics
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32
Lesson 4: Diagnostic
- Diagnostic - International Economics: Test your understanding of the key concepts covered.
When will this course begin?
Processing time is 1-2 business days. Courses begin each week on Mondays, except for holidays.
Will this class give high school credit?
Yes! Our high school courses are accredited.
Is this course recognized by universities?
Yes! The transcript you receive will come from a fully accredited online school.
Will this class end up on my high school transcript?
Yes, it can! You will need to speak with your academic counselor to get an outside approval request. We will work with you and your school to make sure your high school recognizes our accredited course for placement on your high school transcript.
What if my high school doesn’t give outside credit approval but I still want to take courses that my school doesn’t have to stand out?
No problem! You can still self-report to universities that you took this high school credit course and shine like the shining star that you are.
Will I get support from a live teacher?
Yes! This course comes with support from a certified, experienced teacher available for personalized feedback and assistance Monday-Friday via email and Zoom.
How long does it take to have coursework graded and returned?
Teachers return assignments graded with personalized feedback within 3 business days.
How long will I have to complete this course?
A semester course is scheduled for 9 weeks of access in the summer (May – July) and 18 weeks during the school year (August – April). When you purchase semester 1 and semester 2 courses together, the course is scheduled for 18 weeks in the summer term and 36 weeks during the school year. Students are always welcome to work ahead or add additional time to summer courses (up to 18 weeks for a semester or 36 weeks when semester 1 and semester 2 are purchased together).
Can I finish this course early?
You can complete this course at your pace; so if you get through the coursework quickly, then you can finish early.
What if I need more time to complete this course?
All of our courses are available year-round, and the course content is the same for summer school. Our summer school course duration is set to 9 weeks for semester courses and 18 weeks when semester 1 and semester 2 are purchased together; however, this duration can be extended several weeks upon request.
How can I order my transcript?
All transcripts are available through Parchment, the industry leader in education credentials technology. Parchment is used widely by high schools, colleges, and other academic institutions such as the NCAA. It is a secure service for sending credentials. Transcripts take 1 to 2 business days to process, and you can check online to view the progress of the transaction.
You can use Parchment to order transcripts for multiple institutions at once (including the NCAA). You will automatically receive an unofficial copy for your personal records, and you can track your official transcript. Each Parchment electronic (emailed) transcript costs $5.40, and hard copies sent by mail cost $7.90.
You can use Parchment to order transcripts for multiple institutions at once (including the NCAA). You will automatically receive an unofficial copy for your personal records, and you can track your official transcript. Each Parchment electronic (emailed) transcript costs $5.40, and hard copies sent by mail cost $7.90.
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