High AP Macroeconomics

Module 1: Basic Economic Skills and Concepts

• Scarcity
• Opportunity cost and the production possibilities curve (PPC)
• Comparative advantage and gains from trade
• Demand
• Supply
• Market equilibrium, disequilibrium, and equilibrium changes

Module 2: Economic Indicators and the Business Cycle

• Circular flow and gross domestic product (GDP)
• Limitations of GDP
• Unemployment and its measures
• Inflation and price indices
• The costs of inflation
• Real v. nominal GDP
• Business cycles

Module 3: National Income and Price Determination

• Aggregate demand (AD)
• Multipliers
• Short-run aggregate supply, long-run aggregate supply, and equilibrium in the AD–AS model
• Short-run changes in the AD–AS model
• Long-run self-adjustment
• Fiscal policy
• Automatic stabilizers

Module 4: Financial Sector

• Financial assets
• Nominal v. real interest rates
• Money: its definition, measurement, and functions
• Banking and the money supply
• The money market
• Monetary policy
• The loanable funds market

Module 5: Long-Run Consequences of Stabilization Policies

• Short-run consequences of fiscal and monetary policy actions
• The Phillips curve
• Money growth and inflation
• Government deficits and national debt
• Crowding out
• Economic growth
• Public policy and economic growth

Module 6: Open Economy—International Trade and Finance

• Balance of payments accounts
• Exchange rates
• The foreign exchange (FOREX) market
• Effect of changes in policies and economic conditions on the FOREX market
• Changes in the FOREX market and net exports
• Real interest rates and international capital flows

Besides engaging students in challenging curriculum, the course guides students to reflect on their learning and evaluate their progress through a variety of assessments. Assessments can be in the form of practice lessons, multiple choice questions, writing assignments, projects, research papers, oral assessments, and discussions. This course will use the state-approved grading scale. Each course contains a mandatory final exam or culminating project that will be weighted at 20% of the student’s overall grade.***

***Proctored exams can be requested by FLVS at any time and for any reason in an effort to ensure academic integrity. When taking the exam to assess a student’s integrity, the exam must be passed with at least a 59.5% in order to earn credit for the course.  

Advanced Placement Policy

Students entering high school grades 9-12 have access to Advanced Placement courses that may result in earning college credit for high school coursework. These courses are used to calculate overall Grade Point Average (GPA) and typically count extra in the calculation. These courses are also available at no charge to Florida public school students, whereas they may have a tuition cost if taken in college. (S. 1003.02, F.S.)

A passing grade in the course will be accepted for high school credit.  Postsecondary institutions determine college credit awarded, based on the AP Exam score earned.  FLVS strongly encourages students who take AP courses to sit for the course AP Exam in May. Florida students shall be exempt from payment of any fees associated with AP Exam participation, with the exception of late test registration fees incurred by the student. 

To achieve success, students are expected to submit work in each course weekly. Students can learn at their own pace; however, “any pace” still means that students must make progress in the course every week. To measure learning, students complete self-checks, practice lessons, multiple choice questions, projects, discussion-based assessments, and discussions. Students are expected to maintain regular contact with teachers; the minimum requirement is monthly. When teachers, students, and parents work together, students are successful.