AP Macroeconomics
Advanced Placement Macroeconomics is a full-year course that provides students with the opportunity to gain a fundamental understanding of the economy, one that will prove valuable to the college-bound student pursuing most any career path. Students will examine the fundamentals of supply and demand, markets and prices, Gross Domestic Product accounting, inflation, unemployment, government spending, money and banking, monetary policy, fiscal policy, supply-side policies, international trade, and international currency and exchange markets. Students are strongly encouraged to take the AP exam offered in May. Strong performance on this exam may earn them college credits. AP Exams require a fee to be paid by the family. Families who meet financial eligibility guidelines will receive financial support. Any family concerned about paying for AP exam fees should consult with their student's counselor.
Unit 1: Basic Economic Concepts
Unit 2: Economic Indicators and the Business Cycle
Unit 3: National Income and Price Determination
Unit 4: Financial Sector
Unit 5: Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies
Unit 6: Open Economy—International Trade and Finance
BIG IDEA 1: ECONOMIC MEASUREMENTS (MEA) Economists construct measurements to monitor the state of an economy and evaluate its performance over time. Governments, firms, and citizens often use these measurements to help inform policy, business, and personal decisions.
BIG IDEA 2: MARKETS (MKT) Competitive markets bring together buyers and sellers to exchange goods and services for mutual gain. The simple model of supply–demand can be applied in different market contexts.
BIG IDEA 3: MACROECONOMIC MODELS (MOD) Macroeconomic models are simplified representations that depict basic economic relationships and can be used to predict and explain how those relationships are affected by economic shocks.
BIG IDEA 4: MACROECONOMIC POLICIES (POL) Government taxation and spending policies and central bank monetary policy can affect an economy’s output, price level, and level of employment, both in the short run and in the long run.