ECON 101, Introduction to Economics
College of Charleston | Dr. Walker

course outline & schedule

* Everything is subject to change.  Last updated 11/10/25 *

Lectures  (Walker book chapters) Crash Course
Economics
Problem Sets
(PS)
Quizzes
(Date)
Other Readings
1. Overview of economic analysis
    (pp. 1-29)
#1 PS 1solutions
Q-1
Tu, 9/9
Williams, Economic lunacy
2. Economics and the big picture
    (pp. 31-44)
#3 Higgs, Hate corporations and love governments...

Stapleton, You're afraid of power, not Trump
3. Specialization, productivity, and trade
    (pp. 45-64)
#2 Landsburg, An outsourcing fable

Sullum, Trump: Trump: "If we didn't have trade we'd save a lot of money"
4. Supply, marginal cost, and the firm
    (pp. 65-74)
#24 PS 2 | solutions Q-2&3
Th, 9/18

5. Demand, marginal benefit, and the consumer
    (pp. 75-79)

PS 3 | solutions
6. Market equilibrium and price adjustments
    (pp. 81-84)
#4
#18
(0:00-8:30 only)
PS 4 | solutions
Exam 1 - Thurs., Sept. 25, 9:25-10:40, Bell 403
* covers all material so far *
7. Economic efficiency in markets
    (pp. 87-100)
#19
PS 5 | solutions
8. Price controls and resource allocation
    (pp. 101-109)
#20
Husock, Mamdani and NYC rent controls
Stossel, In praise of price gouging
9. Application:  U.S. drug control policy
    (pp. 111-112)
#18
(8:30-11:00)
11. Protectionist trade policies
      (pp. 113-120)
#15 PS 6 | solutions
Q-6
Tu, 11/4
Bastiat, A petition
Krugman, In praise of cheap labor
12. Market failure: externalities and public goods
     (pp. 121-127)


Stossel, Thanksgiving
Stossel, Enough crony capitalism!
The Economist, State and Market
Exam 2 - Thurs., Nov. 6, 9:25-10:40, Bell 403
* covers all material since Exam 1 *
14. Overview of the U.S. macroeconomy
      (p. 137)



15. Macroeconomic measurement and growth
     (pp. 139-143)
16. Financial, credit, & money markets; interest & exchange rates
     (pp. 145-151)
17. Monetary and fiscal policy
     (pp. 153-157)
Final Exam - Thurs., Dec. 4, 10:30 - noon
* comprehensive *