Terrence McDonough
School of Business and Economics, NUI Galway
Course Syllabi
On this page is the syllabus of the third of four courses that most recently constituted Terry's teaching schedule at NUI Galway.
How to Argue with an Economist
NUI Galway's Master's Degree in Public Advocacy and Activism
First Section
Each of the topics is the subject of a two hour class session. In the first section of the session, the readings assigned the previous week were discussed. The second section of the session introduced the material to be discussed in the first hour of the succeeding week.
A reading pack was issued. Readings marked * were in the reading pack. The rest were on reserve.
Week 1
Presentation
Arguing and Economists
Readings
Reintroducing Macroeconomics Steven Cohn Ch. 1, pp. 3-14*
How to Argue with an Economist Lindy Edwards Ch. 7*-9, pp. 52-85
Week 2
Presentation
GDP and Growth: Measuring Progress
Readings
Principles of Economics Gerard Turley Chap. 10, pp. 299-330*
Macroeconomics in Context Goodwin, Nelson and Harris Chap. 6*
Week 3
Presentation
Who Gets What
Readings
History of Economic Thought E.K.Hunt pp. 302-310*
Mind Your Own Business Jacobson, McDonough and Warnock pp. 13-20*
Week 4
Presentation
Unemployment and the Reserve Army of Labour
Readings
Macroeconomics in Context Goodwin, Nelson and Harris, Chap. 7
Economics E.K Hunt and Howard Sherman Ch. 30 pp. 449-458 and Ch. 27 pp. 413-424
Understanding Capitalism 1st Edition Bowles and Edwards Ch. 12 pp. 269-296*
Week 5
Presentation
It All Comes Down to Supply and Demand
Readings
Economics E.K Hunt and Howard Sherman Ch. 15*, 16 pp. 219-253
Week 6
Presentation
The Price of Everything and the Value of Nothing
Readings
The Root of All Evil (mimeo)*
Economics E.K Hunt and Howard Sherman Ch. 18, pp. 266-272
Week 7
Presentation
Crisis, Finance, Money, Inflation
Readings
View article online: 'The state of economics' >
Kotz and McDonough*
Heterodox Macroeconomics and the Current Financial Crisis, Jonathan Goldstein*
View article online: 'Global Financial Crisis' >
Reintroducing Macroeconomics Steven Cohn pp. 144-51
Principles of Economics Fred Gottheil pp. 560-65*
Understanding Capitalism, 3rd Edition Bowles, Edwards and Roosevelt pp. 486-7*
Week 8
Presentation
Economics of Race and Gender
Readings
Download ebook: 'Economics explains discrimination in the labour market' >
and associated free online course >
Gabrielle Meagher and Julie A. Nelson "Feminism in the Dismal Science", Journal of Political Philosophy, vol. 12, no. 1
Week 9
Presentation
Free Trade, Fair Trade
Readings
Principles of Economics Gerard Turley pp. 555-568
Reintroducing Macroeconomics Steven Cohn Ch. 14, pp. 203-229
Week 10
Presentation
Pulling Up the Ladder (Development Economics)
Readings for week 10
Economics and Development Barbara Ingham Ch. 5 pp.135-163*
A Guide to What's Wrong with Economics Edward Fullbrook Ch. 25 pp. 279-288*
Economic Theories of Development Diana Hunt Ch.6 pp. 162-97*
Week 11
Presentation
The Economics of Environment and Climate Change
Readings for week 11
Environmental and Resource Economics Jonathan Harris Ch. 3*, pp. 39-62; Ch. 6, pp. 106-134
A Guide to What's Wrong with Economics Edward Fullbrook Ch 22, pp. 237-46