Syllabus for Economics 201

SYLLABUS for GC1Y 1000 Freakonomics CRN#: 21198 Professor: Chris Clark Spring 2016

Lectures: Section 12: 11:00am-12:15pm Tuesday and Thursday Atkinson 110

Office: Atkinson Hall 415

Phone: 445-2588 Email: [email protected]

Website: http://cclark.gcsu.edu/

Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 10:00 – 11:00 AM Tuesday and Thursday 2:00 – 3:00 PM Or by appointment

Course Objectives In this course we will read, discuss, debate, and analyze the topics presented in the books Freakonomics and SuperFreakonomics by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. These books present interesting and nontraditional perspectives, from multiple disciplines, focusing on behaviors that are not traditionally associated with Economics. You will be expected to describe and critically evaluate the diverse perspectives relevant to each topic. You will also be given the opportunity to share your opinion of the studies and findings presented in each chapter. Upon successfully completing the course, students will be able to apply economic reasoning, explain the behavior of rational individuals when confronted with the everyday problem of making constrained choices, apply critical thinking analysis to current economic issues, evaluate how incentives influence decision making, and illustrate the unintended consequences associated with everyday decision making.

Required Text and Materials Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. (ISBN: 978-0060731335, Publisher: Harper Perennial)

SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes, and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. (ISBN: 978-0060889579, Publisher: William Morrow)

Articles from newspapers, magazines, and academic journals may be assigned and discussed throughout the semester. You will find that the outside articles we read will help you immensely in understanding the real-world applications of the economic analysis that we learn in class. I strongly suggest you send in articles you feel are relevant to the discussion and would like other students to read and discuss.

1 Course Outline and Readings Freakonomics

Chapter 1: Discovering cheating as applied to teachers and sumo wrestlers.

Chapter 2: Information control as applied to the Ku Klux Klan and real-estate agents.

Chapter 3: The economics of drug dealing, including the surprisingly low earnings and abject working conditions of crack cocaine dealers.

Chapter 4: The controversial role legalized abortion may have played in reducing crime.

Chapter 5: The negligible effects of good parenting on education.

Chapter 6: The socioeconomic patterns of naming children.

SuperFreakonomics

Chapter 1: How is a street prostitute like a department-store Santa?

Chapter 2: Why should suicide bombers buy life insurance?

Chapter 3: Unbelievable stories about apathy and altruism.

Chapter 4: The fix is in---and it's cheap and simple.

Chapter 5: What do Al Gore and Mount Pinatubo have in common?

The focus of most (if not all) of these chapters is incentives. Why do people do what they do? As you read each chapter you should critically evaluate each unique perspective presented in the text. Don’t immediately dismiss the behavior of an individual (or group of individuals) as being motivated by greed or stupidity. Don’t immediately dismiss the results of a study because it comes from a discipline you don’t respect or aren’t familiar with. You should try very hard to understand that there may be other incentives affecting their decisions. Evaluate the situation from the subject’s point of view. For example, what are the costs and benefits of helping my students cheat on their standardized tests?

2 Evaluation Criteria Your final grade for the course is based on the distribution below. Your grade is determined on a standard 100 point scale. A: 90% to 100%, B: 80%-89%, C: 70%-79%, D: 60%-69%, F: 59% and below. Grading in the course will be based upon a speech, three memos, quizzes, two midsemester exams and a final exam. Exam questions will reflect information and ideas presented both in lecture and the assigned readings. (Please do not ask me to calculate your grade for you during the semester. You have all the information you need to do that yourself in the following table.) Task % of Course Grade Memos/Speech 10% Quizzes 20% Exam I 20% Exam II 20% Final Exam 30% Exams There will be two midsemester exams and a final exam. The dates for the exams are shown in the schedule on the last page of the syllabus. If you need to reschedule the final exam because of a conflict, you need to submit your request in writing (email is acceptable) to me two weeks in advance. You should be prepared to critically evaluate, in detail, the validity of the various points of view relevant to the topics presented both in class and in the two required texts. If you arrive late on the day of an exam and another student has already turned in their exam you will not be allowed to take the exam and you will receive a grade of zero.

Quizzes During the semester I will give approximately 12 quizzes. Of these 12 total quizzes, only the 10 highest scores will count. Since two assignment grades may be dropped, I DO NOT GIVE “MAKE-UP” QUIZZES. Quizzes will cover material from the preceding week of class lectures and reading assignments. Each in-class quiz will contain at least one essay/short answer question requiring you to describe the various points of view presented in the relevant chapter and critically evaluate the validity of these perspectives.

Memos/Speech At some point during the semester you will need to give a 2 minute speech summarizing your position (using supporting arguments) on one of the controversial issues discussed in a single chapter of your choosing that’s related to a current event article you have selected. You are also required to view “Freakonomics: The Movie” on your own time at some point during the semester. You will then write a memo explaining how economic concepts apply to a topic of your choosing from the film. This memo will count as a quiz grade. You will be required to write a one-page memo at the beginning of the semester (due January 31st) summarizing your views regarding at least one current event related to the topics discussed on the syllabus. Specifically you are expected to describe the event, one specific market it will affect, and how it will affect it. Your second memo (due during the second half of the semester) will require you to find another current event to examine.

Makeup Exams I DO NOT GIVE “MAKE-UP” EXAMS. If you miss an exam due to an excused absence the weight assigned to that exam will be shifted to the final exam. For example if you miss Exam I, you will not be able to take exam I and the final would now be worth 45% of your grade (20% from exam I + original 25% for final). If you miss an exam with an unexcused absence you will receive a zero for the exam. The University defines the following as excused absences: illness of the student or serious illness of a member of the student's immediate family; death of a member of the student's immediate family; University sponsored trips; or major religious holidays. In each foreseen case, written verification will be required at least one week before the scheduled exam and permission to miss an exam must be secured before the scheduled exam time unless the cause of the absence is unforeseen. IF YOU MISS AN EXAM FOR AN UNFORESEEN REASON YOU SHOULD CONTACT ME AS SOON AS YOU ARE PHYSICALLY ABLE TO PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL ME. IF YOU ARRIVE LATE TO TAKE THE EXAM AND ANOTHER STUDENT HAS ALREADY TURNED IN THEIR EXAM AND LEFT THE ROOM YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO TAKE THE EXAM.

Returning Exams and Appeal Procedure

Anyone feeling that a dispute exists after the grading of an exam may submit a written grievance. This grievance should identify the item in dispute and arguments supporting the student's position. The appeal should be stapled to your

3 exam and must be submitted within two class periods following the return of the assignment. I agree to prepare a written response to the student's grievance within two class periods from receipt of the grievance.

Cheating

Cheating is in no way tolerated at Georgia College and State University. Anyone caught cheating will be penalized severely. The minimum penalty is an "F" for the course. I require two stipulations to reduce the potential for cheating. You may not wear a hat with any sort of bill in front during exams and you may not have your cell phone out during the exam. Disciplinary procedures and appeals will follow the process found in the GCSU Undergraduate Catalog.

Course Expectations

 Being Prepared: Students are expected to read assigned material prior to class and participate in class discussion and activities. Do not be afraid to participate because of the size of the class and if you have a question, never let it go unanswered. If you do not get an opportunity to ask your question during class, stop by during my office hours or feel free to contact me via electronic mail. Being prepared also means going through the notes from one class period before coming to the next class period. If you look at the new material at least once within forty-eight hours of first seeing it, you will learn the material more thoroughly and studying for the exam will be easier.

 Being in Class: I will not take roll; however, consistent attendance is essential for acceptable performance in the course. Many students find economic concepts difficult to grasp. Missing class will only make the process of absorbing this material more difficult. I will also present material in class that may not be found in the text. If you find yourself falling behind or you are having problems with the material, I encourage you to come to me for assistance. My posted office hours list the times that you are guaranteed to find me in my office. However, if you have a conflict, you may arrange a meeting time outside of office hours.

 Being Courteous:

1) If you do plan to attend class, be on time and do not leave until class is dismissed. Late arrivals and early departures are very disruptive to your fellow students and to me!! If you have a long walk to get to this class from another, let me know in advance. If nature calls so loudly that you must answer, please leave and return to the classroom as quietly as possible.

2) Please avoid carrying on private conversations during class. This behavior shows disrespect for your classmates who would like to hear the lecture and it can have a negative impact on the learning experience of the entire class.

3) Please turn off all cell phones, etc. If you are unable to turn off these electronic devices, please have them on mute or leave them at home. It is very disruptive to your peers and to me to have a cell phone ring during class.

Religious Observance Policy Students are permitted to miss class in observance of religious holidays and other activities observed by a religious group of which the student is a member without academic penalty. Exercising of one’s rights under this policy is subject to the GC Honor Code. Students who miss class in observance of a religious holiday or event are required to make up the coursework missed as a result from the absence. The nature of the make-up assignments and the deadline for completion of such assignments are at the sole discretion of the instructor. Failure to follow the prescribed procedures voids all student rights under this policy. The full policy and prescribed procedures are found at: http://senate.gcsu.edu/prod/motions/support_docs/499/1295533007_Religous%20Observance%20Policy%20for %20senate.docx

Assistance for Student Needs Related to Disability If you have a disability as described by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, you may be eligible to receive accommodations to assist in programmatic and physical accessibility. Disability Services, a unit of the GCSU Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, can assist you in formulating a reasonable accommodation plan and in providing support in developing appropriate accommodations to ensure equal access to all GCSU programs and facilities. Course requirements will not be waived, but accommodations may assist you in meeting

4 the requirements. For documentation requirements and for additional information, we recommend that you contact Disability Services located in Maxwell Student Union at 478-445-5931 or 478-445-4233.

Student Opinion Surveys statement Given the technological sophistication of Georgia College students, the student opinion survey is being delivered through an online process. Your constructive feedback plays an indispensable role in shaping quality education at Georgia College. All responses are completely confidential and your name is not stored with your responses in any way. In addition, instructors will not see any results of the opinion survey until after final grades are submitted to the University. An invitation to complete the online opinion survey is distributed to students near the end of the semester. Your participation in this very important process is greatly appreciated.

Academic Honesty (I will be using Turnitin software to check your work for plagiarism.) The integrity of students and their written and oral work is a critical component of the academic process. All written work submitted in this course will be individual work unless otherwise instructed. The submission of another’s work as one’s own is plagiarism and will be dealt with using the procedures outlined on pp. 64-67 in the Undergraduate Catalog. Remember that allowing another student to copy one’s own work is considered cheating. Also see the student Honor Code at the website: http://www.gcsu.edu/studentlife/handbook/code.htm

Fire Drills Fire drills will be conducted annually. In the event of a fire alarm, students will exit the building in a quick and orderly manner through the nearest hallway exit. Learn the floor plan and exits of the building. Do not use elevators. If you encounter heavy smoke, crawl on the floor so as to gain fresh air. Assist disabled persons and others if possible without endangering your own life. Assemble for a head count on the front lawn of main campus or other designated assembly area. For more information on other emergencies, please visit http://www.gcsu.edu/emergency/actionplanmain.htm

Everything Else: https://economics.gcsu.edu/general%20syllabus%20statements.htm

5 Semester Schedule

Spring 2016 Tuesday Thursday

January 12 January 14

January 19 January 21

January 26 January 28 Memo 1 Due Sunday the 31st

February 2 February 4

February 16 February 18 Exam 1

March 1 March 3

March 8 March 10

March 15 March 17

March 22 March 24 SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK

March 29 March 31

April 5 April 7 Exam 2

April 12 April 14

April 19 April 21

April 26 April 28

Final Exam: Wednesday, May 4 10:30 AM - 12:45 PM