Learning Basic Macroeconomics

Introduction

The goal of this book is to make learning the dismal science¹ less dismal. Many people who study economics would probably agree with economics’ lasting moniker, especially the 2008 presidential candidate who said: “Economics is something that I’ve really never understood.” Learning economics is dismal to so many for many reasons. It is too mathematical, for some. Traditional textbooks fail to connect the principles, topics, and the many models in a concise, cohesive, and meaningful way. The computer simulations that are used to teach economic principles tend to “stifle students’ imagination, contribute to a dependent learning style, and fail to stimulate interest in the subject matter” (Wetzstein 1988). Finally, the economic policies ...