Online Class: Economics 101

no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
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11Lessons
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27Exams &
Assignments -
3,042Students
have taken this course -
17Hours
average time -
1.7CEUs
Course Description
Unlocking the Mysteries of Economics: From Basics to Practical Application
In the modern era, soundbites and snippets from media often influence public perception about economics. Yet, with economic principles influencing everything from global policy to daily household decisions, a deeper, more nuanced understanding becomes crucial.
Economics is not just the study of wealth or financial dynamics; it's an examination of how societies manage resources, make choices, and address scarcity. Every day, consciously or not, individuals make economic decisions that ripple out into wider societal and global systems.
Course Vision
Our comprehensive course is designed to bridge the knowledge gap, providing a clear and engaging roadmap to the world of economics. We aim to offer learners a foundational grasp of economic concepts and their relevance, breaking down complex ideas into digestible modules. This course covers a wide spectrum of topics, from the historical roots of economics to its various schools of thought, and from the micro-level decisions of households to the macro-level dynamics that shape national economies.
Curriculum Breakdown
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Lesson 1: Definition, History, and Various Forms of Economics - Understand the evolution of economic thought and explore different economic systems throughout history. For example, how did ancient trade systems differ from today's globalized economy?
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Lesson 2: Schools of Thought - Dive into the diverse perspectives within economics, from classical and Keynesian theories to more modern approaches. How do different economic theories interpret the 2008 financial crisis?
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Lesson 3: Ten Major Principles of Economics - Learn the foundational concepts that underpin all economic discussions, such as scarcity, opportunity cost, and market efficiency.
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Lesson 4: World Economic Systems and Comparative Economics - Delve into the various economic systems around the world, comparing their strengths and weaknesses. What can we learn from the Scandinavian model versus the U.S. capitalist approach?
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Lesson 5: Components in Societal Economy - Examine the building blocks of any economy, including labor, capital, and entrepreneurship. How do these components interplay in a thriving economy?
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Lesson 6: Basic Tenets of the U.S. Economic System - Uncover the principles guiding one of the world's most influential economies. How does the U.S. handle issues like monopoly, competition, and public goods?
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Lesson 7: Global Economies: Ranking National Economies - Assess the world's major economies, understanding the metrics and indicators that determine their standing. For instance, why has China seen such rapid economic growth in recent decades?
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Lesson 8: Micro and Macro: Styles of Economics - Understand the distinction between individual, business, and national economic decisions. How do choices made at a local coffee shop impact the broader economy?
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Lesson 9: Federal Reserve System: aka "The Fed" - Dive into the pivotal role central banks play in stabilizing and guiding economies, with a particular focus on the U.S. Federal Reserve. What tools does the Fed use to combat economic downturns?
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Lesson 10: Managerial Economics - Learn how economic principles can guide business decisions, from pricing to production. How can understanding elasticity improve a company's bottom line?
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Lesson 11: Gross National Product (GNP) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - Decode these crucial indicators of economic health. How did global GDP figures shift during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Why This Course?
Whether you aspire to better manage your personal finances, launch a business venture, or simply become a more informed global citizen, this course lays the groundwork. We've designed it to be accessible without sacrificing depth, ensuring that learners come away with both the big-picture perspective and attention to detail required to navigate the economic landscapes of today and tomorrow. Join us and unravel the complexities of economics, empowering yourself in a world where these principles play an ever-growing role.
- Completely Online
- Self-Paced
- Printable Lessons
- Full HD Video
- 6 Months to Complete
- 24/7 Availability
- Start Anytime
- PC & Mac Compatible
- Android & iOS Friendly
- Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons
Lesson 1. Economics Explained: Needs, Wants, and Scarcity
The scope of economics, including macroeconomics, microeconomics, globalization, political economy, and urban economics, demonstrates its breadth in addressing societal conditions and policy impacts. This lesson explores these subfields, offering frameworks for understanding economic interactions from city dynamics to international relations.Lesson 2. Economics: Evolving Schools of Thought
Aristotle's pioneering economic theories viewed resource management as crucial to household well-being, emphasizing the ethical dimensions of wealth and condemning usury as unnatural. His ideas laid an early foundation for modern debates about fair wages, corporate responsibility, and the ethics of economic practices.Lesson 3. Economics Simplified: Mankiw’s Major Principles
At the heart of Mankiw's economics lies the notion of tradeoffs, where every choice requires sacrificing another, portraying opportunity cost as a pivotal element in decision-making. This framework extends to cover market interactions and the entire economy, painting trade as a mutual benefit and government intervention as necessary when market inefficiencies arise.Lesson 4. Economies Unveiled: Core Concepts and Variations
Traditional economies rely on customs and communal ties to sustain their way of life, focusing on survival rather than profit. In contrast, market economies, driven by private ownership and consumer preferences, emphasize innovation and economic growth but risk fostering inequality.Lesson 5. Gross National Income: The Key Economic Metric
Economics structures societies’ management and distribution of resources, with GNI per capita as a primary metric. However, understanding diverse economic contexts requires evaluating societal factors beyond GNI.Lesson 6. U.S. Economy 101
Blessed with abundant natural resources and a diverse labor force, the U.S. economy thrives on innovation and entrepreneurship, driving growth across multiple sectors. With top-down and evolving management strategies, companies enhance productivity and adaptability, underscoring the nation’s forward-thinking business environment.Lesson 7. The United States in a Multipolar Economic World
Rapid economic shifts have challenged the U.S.'s historic economic dominance, requiring adaptation to new global trends. Measures such as GDP and GNI offer insights into a nation’s economic status and potential.Lesson 8. Understanding Economics: Micro vs. Macro
While microeconomics delves into the decisions among households and firms regarding supply and demand, macroeconomics looks at aggregate phenomena like national productivity and fiscal policies. Both fields use unique methodologies to address different scopes of economic challenges and solutions.Lesson 9. The Federal Reserve System: Cornerstone of U.S. Economic Stability
Tasked with the dual mandate of full employment and price stability, the Fed evaluates economic indicators like inflation and employment to guide interest rates and financial regulations. Its influence extends beyond national borders as it responds to economic fluctuations, adapting policies based on lessons from past crises.Lesson 10. Efficient Resource Allocation through Managerial Economics
Through the application of managerial economics, companies can better manage factors like costs, competition, and consumer demand, enabling informed decision-making. The discipline aids in forecasting future trends, analyzing production efficiency, and understanding market structures to optimize business performance.Lesson 11. A Deep Dive into GNP and GDP for Informed Economic Decisions
Understanding the difference between GNP and GDP—where GNP captures all revenue by nationals, and GDP centers on domestic activity regardless of ownership—supports decision-makers in evaluating economic scenarios. These metrics underscore the pivotal role of geographic and ownership factors in economic assessments.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze real-world scenarios to identify trade-offs and opportunity costs associated with scarcity.
- Define the concepts of needs, wants, and scarcity and explain their significance in economic decision-making.
- Analyze the impact of mercantilist policies on national wealth during the 16th and 17th centuries, using historical examples like the British Navigation Acts.
- Define the key principles of Aristotle's economic thought, including his views on resource management and ethical considerations in wealth acquisition.
- Analyze how changes in incentives affect consumer behavior and market outcomes.
- Define the concept of opportunity cost and apply it to everyday decision-making scenarios.
- Compare and contrast the core types of economic systems (traditional, market, and command) based on their approach to resource allocation and production decisions.
- Identify the three fundamental economic questions every system must address: what to produce, how to produce it, and for whom to produce it.
- Describe how Gross National Income (GNI) per capita and related metrics help in comparing economic performance across different nations and assessing overall economic health.
- Identify key factors influencing the classification of developing nations based on economic metrics such as GNI per capita and industrialization level.
- Define the concept of a mixed economy and explain how it applies to the U.S. economic system, citing specific examples from the text.
- Identify and describe at least two major strengths of the U.S. economy such as natural resources and a skilled labor force, as discussed in the lesson material.
- Define the key indicators used to assess global economic power, such as GDP, GNI, and NNP, and explain their significance.
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Additional Course Information

- Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
- Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
- Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
- View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
- Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Student Testimonials
- "Loved it, the course taught me quite a lot" -- Emeriza G.
- "I enjoyed the course and the ability to go at my own pace. I particularly liked the recommended links and the reference to the self teaching guide. I thought these were very helpful and an added benefit." -- Pamela R.
- "Everything was helpful. Instructor was great! Thanks!" -- Marcus M.
- "Concise and efficient! Cordial and excellent arrangement of subject matter to build learning from simple to complex ideas. Enjoyed taking his courses. Would have like to be a student of his in a real life class. The videos were excellent focus material!" -- Yolanda R.
- "A very good course indeed. The instructor is an expert who is kind enough to make the course easier to learn. Thank you.. For me, all parts are equally helpful. I consider each topic as integral part to the whole course." -- Geraldito G.
- "Great overview of economics. I learned a lot. What an amazing instructor. His classes are well written and teach a lot and he grades fast." -- Sarah K.
- "All of the lessons were extremely helpful...I have enjoyed the whole ides of being able to take these courses from my home." -- Manuel H G.
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