This comprehensive one-semester course introduces students to essential economic principles and their real-world applications in both the U.S. and international markets. Through engaging lessons and interactive simulations, students step into the roles of producers, consumers, investors, and taxpayers—developing critical thinking and decision-making skills that will serve them for life. Topics include supply and demand, economic systems past and present, and the influential ideas of economists like Adam Smith and David Ricardo. Students will explore the functions of money, banks, the Federal Reserve, and investment institutions, while also examining capitalism’s strengths and challenges—from growth and productivity to unemployment, inflation, and national debt. The course expands students’ global perspectives with a survey of key markets in regions such as China, Europe, and the Middle East. While U.S. Government and Politics (HST403 or equivalent) is recommended, it is not required for enrollment.
