Course title
8M205100
Introduction of economy

yasuoka takashi
Class name
Introduction of economy
Keywords
  • Economic indicators
  • Economic cycle
  • Prices
  • Market economy
  • Population
Course description
This course introduces the basic economic concepts required as background knowledge to study courses in the MOT curriculum. The aim of this course is to help students acquire an understanding of economics in society.
The first half of every class is a lecture, and the second half is used for discussion or exercises related to the theme of the lecture.
Note: This course is designed for students in the Innovation Management course.
Purpose of class
Acquire a practical perspective on the economy.
Goals and objectives
  1. Understand the meaning of economic indicators, such as GDP.
  2. Explain the economic impact of public enterprises.
  3. Understand the economic significance of prices and employment.
  4. Explain the relation between capital investment and the economic cycle.
Language
Japanese
Class schedule

Class schedule HW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.) Amount of Time Required
1. Guidance; Differences between management, economy and economics; Three basic economic units; Macro economy; Discussion: Difference between social science and engineering. Text Book: Chapter 1 150minutes
2. Public enterprises; Micro economy; Stocks and flows,
Discussion: Economic impact of public enterprises.
Text Book: Chapter 1 180minutes
3. GDP; Economic growth; Discrepancy between business confidence and economic policy; Discussion: Expanding employment opportunities. Text Book: Chapter 1 150minutes
4. Economic indicators: Business index, tankan, Text Book: Chapter 2 180minutes
5. Capital expenditure and the economic cycle; Primary factors in export changes, inventory investment and economic fluctuations;
Case study: Inventory investment and business in foreign countries.
Text Book: Chapter 2 180minutes
6. Capital expenditure and the economic cycle;
Case study and presentation: Inventory investment and business in foreign countries.
Text Book: Chapter 3 180minutes
7. Population, decreasing birthrate and aging population; Case study of population policy: Effect of national and local government population policies. Text Book: Chapter 3 180minutes
8. Population, case study of population policy: Effect of national and local government population policies; Presentation. Text Book: Chapter 3 180minutes
9. Price indexes: Consumer Price Index (CPI), Corporate Goods Price Index; Price fluctuations; Case study: CPI and GDP in foreign countries. Text Book: Chapter 4 180minutes
10. CPI; Price fluctuations; Case study: CPI and GDP in foreign countries, Presentation. Text Book: Chapter 4 180minutes
11. Inflation/deflation; Globalization and price variance between domestic and overseas markets; Case study: Deflation and anti-deflation policies in foreign countries. Text Book: Chapter 4 180minutes
12. Market economies and planned economies; Case study: Market failure in Japan, and its factors and countermeasures. Text Book: Chapter 5 180minutes
13. Economic role of government, government bonds, and further issuance of government bonds; Case study: Consumption tax increase and reduction of corporate tax rates. Text Book: Chapter 6 180minutes
14. The role of central banks; Money supply; Policy rates;
Discussion: Negative interest rates; Presentation of final paper.
Text Book: Chapter 7 180minutes
15. Presentation of final paper, the theme of which shall be announced at 11-12th class. Preparation for final paper 240minutes
Total. - - 2700minutes
Relationship between 'Goals and Objectives' and 'Course Outcomes'

Exercize 1 Exercize 2 Exercize 3 Exercize 4 Final paper Total.
1. 15% 5% 20%
2. 15% 5% 20%
3. 15% 5% 5% 25%
4. 15% 20% 35%
5. 0%
Total. 15% 20% 20% 20% 25% -
Evaluation method and criteria
Discussion in class: 20%,
Discussion and presentation of case studies: 30%,  
Final presentation and report: 50%
Textbooks and reference materials
K. Yoshino: Fundamental and Common sense for Economy, Forest.Ex
Prerequisites
General familiarity with economic topics (for example, from watching news about the economy).
Course objectives
Grasp the fundamental aspect of economy to learn other MOT classes.
Office hours and How to contact professors for questions
  • A half hours before the class
Relation to the environment
Environment-related course ( 5%)
Regionally-oriented
Non-regionally-oriented course
Development of social and professional independence
  • Course that cultivates an ability for utilizing knowledge
Active-learning course
About half of the classes are interactive
Last modified : Sat Jul 22 04:07:36 JST 2017