Economics Interactive

^Ó 2006 EconomicsInteractive

Preface

This edition of Great Ideas for Teaching Economics contains descriptions of more than 600 pedagogic techniques that economists from across the country have developed to drive home a wide variety of concepts to students. Enthusiastic responses to earlier versions of this book have been very gratifying. Space constraints limited the use of lengthy submissions, and many of the papers accepted were pared back to original concepts and essential material.

The initial chapter (00) of Great Ideas offers helpful tips for general classroom operation; numbered chapters (01-41) are organized to parallel chapters in Ralph Byrns' Contemporary Economics (Chapel Hill, NC: EconomicsInteractive.com), parts of which can be downloaded at this web site. Parts of this Contemporary Economics (©EconomicsInteractive.com, 2006) were, in previous editions, coauthored with Gerald W. Stone (Economics, Sixth edition, HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 1995). At least some Great Ideas will fit almost any teaching style. Even if you use some other text, many of these ideas should be helpful in both principles courses and some of your upper division offerings.

Submissions for Future Editions

Submissions for possible inclusion in the next edition of Great Ideas for Teaching Economics are now being accepted. All submissions must be accompanied by a signed release (accessible below, for printing) wherein you agree that your ideas may be edited (brevity is necessary) and may be included in future editions without compensation. Please send your manuscripts (or any comments) to:

Ralph T. Byrns c/o EconomicsInteractive.com 19216 Stone Brook Chapel Hill, NC 27517 rbyrns@unc.edu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RELEASE

Acknowledgments

Great Ideas would have been impossible without the support of friends and fellow economists who submitted their teaching techniques and expressed enthusiasm for previous editions. In addition to contributing a number of stellar ideas, Gary Galles of Pepperdine University suggested editorial changes that have greatly improved this work, and Candy Payne and James S. Whitlock III have been great editorial assistants.

	Preface		INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS		MICROECONOMICS
	Printable File		MACROECONOMICS		INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS

Chapter		TABLE OF CONTENTS Introductory Material
		Preface
	0	General Classroom Techniques
	1	Economics: Scarcity and Choice
	2	Scarcity in a Changing World
	3	Demand and Supply
	4	Markets and Equilibrium
		Microeconomics
	5	Elasticity
	6	Consumer Choice
	7	Theory of the Firm
	8	Production and Costs
	9	The Competitive Ideal
	10	Market Power and Monopoly
	11	Imperfect Competition and Game Theory
	12	Competitive Labor Markets
	13	Imperfect Competition in Labor Markets
	14	Rent, Interest, Profits and Capitalization
	15	Income Distribution and Poverty
	16	Market Failure and Public Finance
	17	Public Choice
	18	Government Regulation
	19	Antitrust Policy
	20	Environmental Economics
		MACROECONOMICS
	21	Foundations of Macroeconomics
	22	Employment and Unemployment
	23	Inflation and Deflation
	24	Measuring Economic Growth and Performance
	25	Classical Macroeconomics and Keynesian Aggregate Expenditures
	26	Macroeconomic Equilibrium
	27	Fiscal Policy
	28	Money and Banking
	29	The Federal Reserve System
	30	Monetary Theory and Policy
	31	Budget Deficits and Public Debt
	32	Microfoundations of Macroeconomic Policy
	33	Active vs. Passive Policy Making
	34	Limits to Stabilization Policy
		INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
	35	Economic Growth and Development
	36	International Trade
	37	International Finance
		ADDITIONAL TOPICS
	38	Economics of Information
	39	Behavioral Economics
	40	The Economics of Health Care
	41	The Economics of Agriculture
	42	The Economics of Energy
	43	Preference Functions: Indifference Analysis
	44	Production Functions: Isoquants and Isocosts
	45	Alternatives to Capitalism
	46	Comparative Economic Systems