The course grade will be based on 2 exams, 4 homework assignments (I will specify whether each homework is to be done individually or with your group), in-class assignments, and a group project.  The total points for the class are 100.  The in-class exams are 30 points each, for a total of 60 points. The 4 individual homework assignments are worth 5 points each for a total of 20 points.  The in-class assignments are worth 5 points and the group project is 15 points. 

Grades will be assigned as follows:

90% of the total points and above                       A

80% to less than 90% of the total points             B

70% to less than 80% of the total points             C

60% - to less than 70% of the total points           D

Less than 60% of the total points                         F 

The course grade will be based on 2 exams, 4 homework assignments (I will specify whether each homework is to be done individually or with your group), in-class assignments, and a group project.  The total points for the class are 100.  The in-class exams are 30 points each, for a total of 60 points. The 4 individual homework assignments are worth 5 points each for a total of 20 points.  The in-class assignments are worth 5 points and the group project is 15 points. 

Grades will be assigned as follows:

90% of the total points and above                       A

80% to less than 90% of the total points             B

70% to less than 80% of the total points             C

60% - to less than 70% of the total points           D

Less than 60% of the total points                         F 

\subsection*{Graded components}

\begin{tabular}{l|l}
Assignment     &  Percent of final grade \\ \hline
Exams          & 50 \\
Problem sets   & 30 \\
Presentation   & 20 \\
\end{tabular}

%\vspace{4mm}

\subsection*{Exams}

There will be three exams administered during class on February 16, March 16, and May 4. Exams are not comprehensive. All exams (including exam 3, which is administered during the final exam period) will last 75 minutes. Exams will be comprised of both multiple choice and short answer questions. The two highest exam scores will each make up 45 percent of the student's overall exam score while the lowest exam score will make up 10 percent.  

%The class meeting before exam days will be devoted to questions and review, so no new material will be covered during the week of exams.

\subsection*{Problem sets}

There will be ten problem sets assigned. All problem sets will be turned in on Canvas. Problem sets are due by 11:59pm on the days listed in the schedule below. No late problem sets will be accepted. Problem sets should be turned in as a single .pdf file. Answers can either be written in the word processing software of your choice and saved as a .pdf file or written on paper and then scanned and saved as a single .pdf file.

If at least four-fifths of the class fills out the Course Instructor Opinion Survey (CIOS) by 11:59pm on Sunday, April 26, then each student's lowest problem set score will be dropped so that final grades are computed as
\begin{align*}
   \text{Final grade} & = 0.5\bigg(0.45\big(\text{Average of two highest exam grades}\big) + 0.1\big(\text{Lowest exam grade}\big) \bigg) \\
   & + 0.3 \bigg(\text{Average of nine highest problem set grades}\bigg)  + 0.2\bigg(\text{Presentation grade}\bigg).
   %& = 0.5\bigg(0.45\big(\text{Highest exam grade + Second highest exam grade}\big) + 0.1\big(\text{Lowest exam grade}\big) \bigg) \\
   %& + 0.3 \bigg(\text{Problem set grade}\bigg) + 1.2 + 0.2\bigg(\text{Presentation grade}\bigg).
\end{align*}

\subsection*{Presentation}

The class will be divided into groups of approximately four students each. Each group will give a 15 minute presentation on an assigned topic related to antitrust. A separate document available on Canvas will include group assignments and presentation dates as well as detail the criteria by which presentations will be evaluated. Relevant primary sources will also be made available on Canvas. 

Your final grade will be determined as follows:

Assignment, Points
Problem Set 1, 10 points
Problem Set 2, 10 points
Problem Set 3, 10 points
Midterm, 25 points
Final Policy Brief (written), 20 points
Final In-Class Presentation, 15 points
Active Course Participation (lectures, office hours) and Peer Review, 10 points

Grade points will be assigned to a letter grade according to the following scale:

Grade, Score
A, 80+
B, 70-79
C, 60-69
D, 50-59
F, less than 50

To provide flexibility, please be on the lookout for extra credit such as bonus questions appearing on problem sets or the midterm. These questions could be drawn from lectures/readings and provide additional opportunities to demonstrate that you’ve absorbed the material covered in class.

Assignments 

• Home assignments: 25% of final grade
• Exams: 66% of final grade
• Participation: 9% of final grade

Grading Policy:

A: 90-100

Exceptionally good performance - demonstrating a superior understanding of the subject matter, a foundation of extensive knowledge, and a skillful use of concepts and/or materials.

B: 80-89 

Good performance - demonstrating capacity to use the appropriate concepts, a good understanding of the subject matter, and an ability to skillfully handle the problems and materials encountered in the subject. 

C: 70-79 

Adequate performance - demonstrating an adequate understanding of the subject matter, an ability to handle relatively simple problems.

D: 60-69 

Minimally acceptable performance - demonstrating at least partial familiarity with the subject matter and some capacity to deal with relatively simple problems but also demonstrating serious deficiencies. 

F: 0-59 

Unacceptable performance. Has not demonstrated familiarity with the subject matter, nor the capacity to deal with simple problems in a manner recognizable to the consensus of mainstream academic practitioners within the field.

Each student’s final grade is determined by the weighted sum of eight assignments, totaling 100 points. These assignments include professional preparation activities such as a resume, cover letter, LinkedIn profile, interviews, and reflective components, with the homework order listed as tentative and subject to change.
 

Grading Structure

The course uses specifications grading based on the number of certification tracks completed:

• To get an A, undergraduate students will be required to complete three in-depth data projects. Two and one project completions will be sufficient to attain grades B and C, respectively.
• Similarly, graduate students will be required to complete four in-depth data projects for grade A. Three and two project completions will be sufficient to attain grades B and C, respectively.

Assessment and Weight: Description

20% weekly engagement and comprehension checks: includes continuous 2-3 times/week participation in online activities: games, reflections, online discussions, quizzes and group chats.

30% module-level content mastery and self-testing: includes five (5) homework assignments and practice tests one for each of the five modules.

50% module-level midterm tests: includes five (5) midterm tests and test-wrappers with one test and test-wrapper for each of the five modules

Georgia Institute of Technology

ECON 2101—Spring 2026 

Class Policies and Course Outline  01/02/2026

Spring 2026

Cherry Emerson 302

MW  2-3:15

Instructor:    Prof. Christine P. Ries

Email:            Email to me through Canvas class: GT restrictions to protect our security require that we communicate through Canvas.

Teaching 

Assistant:       Abhisar Singh

Any Questions about the course:  communicate directly with Professor through Canvas INBOX

Office Hours: send email for an appointment; meetings will be in-person or virtually.

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

The course fulfills one of the requirements for the International Plan degree program and was designed for that program. It provides an historical and theoretical understanding of the global economy, including topics such as international trade, finance, investment, and production; regional economic integration (such as the EU); economic development and modernization. 

COURSE SUMMARY AND GOALS:

In this introductory course intended primarily for non-majors, students gain an understanding of the global economy:  historical development, description of the current global economy and the key theoretical relationships that define the global economy.   It builds from an understanding of the building blocks of the global economy: individuals, institutions, transactions, and markets. 

Student and Faculty Expectations:  https://catalog.gatech.edu/rules/22/

It is important to me that each of you leave this course will a very significantly increased capacity to make decisions, perform analyses, and use the tools of economics.

All assignments are due by required date and time.  No late assignments will be accepted.  If a team’s submission is late by one hour or more, no credit will be given for that assignment.  If the assignment is less than 1 hour late, the assignment grade will be reduced 30%.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES:

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

Understand Dynamics in the Global Economy

• Explain how social, political, and economic factors contribute to the determination of prices and value in a global economy.
• Understand and articulate how economic policies in countries contribute to their rates of growth, economic health, and interaction with and contribution to the global economy.
• Understand the basic economic principles required for analysis of the above issues and develop a basic understanding of economic theory, practice and modeling within a global setting rather than within an independent and segregated economy.

Apply Analytical Tools

• Analyze data commonly used in assessing economic costs and benefits.
• Understand contributions of historical classical economists.

• Develop tools for individual decision making as well as national economic policy.  You will learn processes of thought and analysis that will allow you to consider decision problems of individual finance, investment and trading.  All these capabilities will prepare you to be educated participants in democratic processes and to be effectively engaged in your chosen professional community.

   

Communicate and Develop Ideas in a Team

• Effectively communicate insights through discussions, written assignments, and presentations.

• Develop techniques and confidence to contribute effectively to class discussions.

   

  It is important to me that each of you leave this course will a very significantly increased capacity to make decisions, perform analyses, and use the tools of economics.

Required Course Materials 

E-Text:  Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok. Modern Principles of Economics, edition to be announced – access through Perusall Learning platform- on Canvas site.

Perusall Learning Platform

Grading Policy 

All assignments are due by required date and time.  No late assignments will be accepted.  If a team’s submission is late by one hour or more, no credit will be given for that assignment.  If the assignment is less than 1 hour late, the assignment grade will be reduced 30%. 

All teams will submit their plan to ensure that laboratory reports are submitted by the deadline.

Reading, lectures and class discussion, and laboratories

We will work through a series of chapters using a regular pattern of activities. The usual time and pattern are below, and details and due dates are on the schedule shown in Canvas.

Monday mornings 6AM.  Reading of assigned chapter, annotations and comments completed.  Your reading notes and comments are recorded and shared in Perusall (see Canvas).  You must purchase Perusall.  This purchase includes access to the e-textbook.

Monday afternoons (scheduled class times) Discussion on chapter concepts; team meetings in breakout groups for discussion and presenting team discussion to the class.

Wednesday mornings 6 AM Reading of assigned chapter, annotations and comments completed.  Your reading notes and comments are recorded and shared in Perusall (see Canvas). 

Wednesday afternoons (scheduled class times) Discussion on chapter concepts; team meetings in breakout groups for discussion and presenting team discussion to the class.

Sunday Evenings (10 PM) Laboratory write ups for chapters of the week are due.

Grading

Individual points will be assigned for each Perusall reading assignments and each team will earn points for laboratory submissions.  Points will also be assigned for quality of team interaction in class.

At midterm and end of term you will ‘grade’ your teammates and give me information about their contribution to the group.  Teams will all receive the same grade unless someone in the group ‘distinguishes’ themselves in one direction or the other. 

Class participation is active and required.  In class there will be a short lecture outlining basic points, then class discussion on chapter concepts; team meetings in breakout groups for discussion and presenting team discussion to the class.

Attendance will be recorded at each session.  Students missing 4 or more lectures will not receive credit for class participation.

Perusall grades                                                          30%

Class Attendance, contribution to class 

discussion, and team evaluation points                    30%

Laboratory grades                                                     40%

THERE WIL BE NO FINAL EXAM

Final letter grades

Above 90%     A

Above 80%     B

Above 70%     C

Above 60%     D

Academic honesty/integrity Statement

Georgia Tech Honor Code: Please review the GT Honor Code.  I will fully prosecute any violation possible.

Appropriate use of AI tools (search capabilities) is encouraged.  Any use of language or ideas from AI tools must be cited or noted in class.  This is just as if the AI feedback from information from a book, paper or article… CITE.  WRITE.

Students with Disabilities: I fully support the Students with Disabilities program at GT. Please bring the forms and paperwork to me after class and we will discuss requirements for your successful participation in the class.

The CARE Center and the Counseling Center, Stamps Health Services, and the Dean of Students Office will offer both in-person and virtual appointments. Student Center services and operations are available on the Student Center website. For more information on these and other student services, contact the Dean of Students or the Division of Student Life.  

This is a Core IMPACTS course that is part of the Social Sciences area. 

Core IMPACTS refers to the core curriculum, which provides students with essential knowledge in foundational academic areas. This course will help students master course content, and support students’ broad academic and career goals.  

This course should direct students toward a broad Orienting Question: 

• How do I understand human experiences and connections?  

Completion of this course should enable students to meet the following Learning Outcome: 

• Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior, and how historical, economic, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.  

Course content, activities and exercises in this course should help students develop the following Career-Ready Competencies: 

• Intercultural Competence 
• Perspective-Taking 
• Persuasion 

___________________________________________________________________

Course Outline and BIG Questions

1.  From a personal, professional and public policy point of view, how can I make decisions/choices that increase value and prosperity? 

2.  Why is it important to make those decisions with analysis and observation that recognize global context?  (Models and context)

INTRODUCTION TO COURSE 

1. Introduction to Economics – Chapter 1 The Big Ideas

2. Concept of a Global Economic SYSTEM- SWARM

3. The U.S. Constitution and Government and Economic Policy

MODULE 1:  The Invisible Hand; Markets as systems of buyers and sellers’ Global markets as systems for goods – production and consumption: 

1. Why do people trade and how do transactions increase prosperity?
2. What are markets?      What is an economy?  What is globalization?
3. Who participates in the markets and how do markets work?
4. What is the difference and how do you distinguish between a global market and a market that is NOT global?

Chapter 2

The Power of Trade and Comparative Advantage

Chapter 9

International Trade

Chapter 3

Supply and Demand

Chapter 4

Equilibrium

Chapter 5

Elasticity

Chapter 6

Taxes and Subsidies

Chapter 8

Prices Ceilings and Floors

Chapter 10

Externalities: When the Price is not Right

* * * * *

MODULE 2:  Markets for Goods and Services: Economics of Companies and Industries

1. How do we organize ‘local’ resources (people, natural resources, equipment, and technology) to create prosperity?
2. How does an effective private enterprise manager make decisions in the context of local, national and global markets?
3. How do local organizations operate in a global environment?

Chapter 11

Costs and Factor markets

Chapter 13

Monopoly

Chapter 17

Monopolistic Competition and Advertising

                                                            * * * * *

MODULE 3: Global Markets for Money and Securities

1. Why is money a vehicle for creating prosperity?
2. How do we determine the value of money in a global context?
3. How does the value of money determine the value of securities? (interest rates)

Chapter 38

International Finance

Chapter 29

Saving, Investment, and the Financial System

Graded assignments and tests serve three purposes (among others): 

1. To serve as a mechanism to incentivize and facilitate student effort and learning.
2. To provide feedback to the instructor about instructor effectiveness and to provide feedback to the student about current performance in the course.
3. To certify student achievement to the Institute and to future employers. 

Thus, I will assign problems that are graded as a pass/fail for completion (LearningCurve homework assignments) to incentivize you to read the course materials, graded Homework Quiz and TLE Podcast Quiz assignments to engage you in learning and to provide feedback before exams, and exams to evaluate your overall performance in the course.  In addition, Extra Credit is available for taking the weekly Economics Podcast Quizzes and for attending (and participating in!) our weekly in-person class meetings. Attendance Extra Credit can also include Econ Club meetings, econ-related lectures (e.g., a speaker discussing the effectiveness of economic sanctions against rogue nations), etc.

Graded Material

Weight

Thinking Like an Economist Podcast & Questions for Each Chapter

5%

LearningCurve Homework Assignments for Each Chapter 

10%

Weekly Homework Quiz Assignments for Each Chapter

10%

Midterm Exams (2 planned)

50%

Final Exam

25%

Total:

100%

Extra Credit

Weekly Podcast Quiz - Extra Credit

0.5%

Class Attendance & Special Econ-Related Events / Activities (e.g., Econ Club Meetings, special speakers, econ seminars, submissions to the Undergraduate Econ Journal, etc.) – Extra Credit

0.8%

CIOS End-of-Semester Student Evaluation Class Participation Goal 
Extra Credit Points depend on the entire class’s response rate
(see CIOS Course Survey Extra Credit section below for details)

0.5%

Your final grades transfer to the Georgia Tech grading system as follows: 

A 

4.0 

Excellent 

90.00% - 100.00% 

B 

3.0 

Good 

80.00% - 89.99% 

C 

2.0 

Satisfactory 

70.00% - 79.99% 

D 

1.0 

Passing 

60.00% - 69.99% 

F 

0.0 

Failure 

< 60.00% 

Note that grades are not rounded up (e.g., 89.99% is still a B). At the end of the semester your final grade cannot be changed with additional extra credit or makeup opportunities; this is for fairness to all students. Any requests for grade revisions to weekly Homework Quiz / LearningCurve / TLE Podcast and Midterm must be submitted before the Final Exam.

Pass/Fail Policy 

If you are taking the class pass/fail, you must achieve a C grade to earn a pass in the class.  Please reach out to me at the beginning of the semester if you are taking the class pass/fail. 

Class Attendance 

There are two live class sessions per week. There will be an Attendance Survey conducted during each class (so you'll need a phone, tablet, or laptop); this survey will be used to track attendance Extra Credit. Note, answering the Attendance Surveys are covered by the GA Tech Honor Code and certifies that you attended class in-person. 

You can also attend via a live Zoom session, but Zoom attendance does NOT result in attendance credit (unless you have made provision with me or the TA which requires advance notice and coming off of mute and participating in that day’s class discussion).

Homework Policy 

LearningCurve, TLE Podcast Quizzes, and Homework Quiz assignments are completed via the online homework system Achieve associated with the textbook. 

LearningCurve assignments are graded on a pass/fail basis. Each question you answer correctly earns points toward a target score.  When your score meets or exceeds the target score, you will get full credit for the assignment.  If you want more practice, you can continue answering LearningCurve questions after you have achieved the target score. There is one LearningCurve assignment per chapter of the textbook. In some weeks we will cover two chapters; therefore, there will be two LearningCurve assignments and two Homework Quizzes and TLE Podcast Quizzes in those weeks. 

Homework Quiz assignments are assessed by the accuracy of your answers. You can attend Office Hours (with either the TAs or myself) before you submit a Homework Quiz to get clarification on any difficult questions – This strategy will allow you to get full credit on Homework Quizzes.

All homework assignments are due by 11:59 pm ET on their due date.  I will accept a late graded homework assignment but there will be a daily Late Penalty (e.g., 3% points per day) – If there is a change in the Late Penalty policy during the semester, I will announce it via Canvas. Note, there are NO dropped assignments – You are responsible for doing all weekly chapter LearningCurve, TLE Podcast Quiz, and Homework Quiz assignments. 

Extra Credit Podcasts 

There are Extra Credit podcasts that are available on a weekly basis:

• I have chosen interesting podcasts on topics in Economics – one podcast in each weekly Module (except test review weeks).
  • Answer the associated questions to earn the Extra Credit points for that week’s Module (on Canvas).

Podcasts are one of the most enjoyable ways to learn about economics.  To incentivize you to explore economics podcasts without making them stressful or a time burden, I am offering extra credit for listening to these economics podcasts every week related to interesting topics in the field. 

The podcasts are assigned weekly with the rest of the course materials and are due by 11:59 pm ET on their due date.  Late podcast quizzes do not count and there are no makeup opportunities. 

Weekly Feedback 

I value your feedback – it helps to improve this course. At the end of each week’s Module in Canvas, the last item is a short feedback question: What did you like about this week’s material and what could be improved? I appreciate your feedback, and I act on your suggestions whenever possible. Note, answering the Weekly Feedback unlocks the next week’s Module in Canvas.

CIOS Course Survey Extra Credit 

At the end of the semester, GA Tech issues a CIOS Course Survey. To encourage you to fill out this anonymous survey and keep response rates high, I will give extra credit to the whole class based on the CIOS response rate for the entire class. Note, since the CIOS survey is anonymous, I can only give Extra Credit based on the entire class’s response rate; I have no visibility to individual submissions. The following Extra Credit will be added to each person’s course grade:

Extra Credit Added to Everyone’s Course Grade

Class CIOS Response Rate

+0.5%

100%

+0.4%

90.00% - 99.99%

+0.3%

80.00% - 89.99%

+0.2%

75% - 79.99%

+0.1%

70% - 74.99%

0%

< 70%

I will set the CIOS completion deadline for this Extra Credit offer on the day after the Final Exam at 11:59 pm. 

Testing Policy 

Tests will be taken in class using the Lockdown Browser – Be sure to bring your laptop and charger to class (with a fully charged battery!) and check that its Internet connection is working! Also bring three sheets of scratch paper, a pen, and a standalone calculator (not a calculator application on a phone, tablet, or laptop). I will provide a LockDown Browser EquipmentCheck practice test in advance so you can check that everything is working properly in the Lockdown Browser environment before the test.

Exams must be taken on the assigned date. If there is a verifiable emergency or approved athletic absence, we can work out an appropriate alternative.  For illness, injury, or other emergency, provide appropriate documentation to the Office of the Dean of Students (https://studentlife.gatech.edu/content/class-attendance).  False doctor’s notes fall under the Academic Honor Code. 

Collaboration 

In this course, group work and discussion are allowed on homework assignments.  When turning in homework assignments, each student must turn in an individual submission via Achieve.  The midterm and final exams are not to be discussed between students and must be completed individually.  The table below summarizes these policies. 

Type 

Group or Individual Work 

Turn in 

Homework assignments 

Group discussion and collaboration allowed 

Each student makes his or her own online submission. 

Podcast quizzes 

Group discussion and collaboration allowed 

Each student makes his or her own online submission. 

Exams 

Individual work only.   No discussion and no collaboration allowed. 

Exams will be in-class using the Lockdown Browser. 

Each student makes his or her own online submission. 

I trust you to complete exams individually. Cheating on exams is very serious and results in a zero grade and a report to the Office of Student Integrity and Dean of Students. See the section on Academic Integrity.