Modern Economics Learning Path
Economics is an important topic to understand as economic decisions taken in one country can dramatically affect the economies of other countries around the world. It should be in the interest of everyone to learn how modern economic systems work. The Alison Learning Path in Modern Economics offers you a comprehensive coverage of all topics associated with economics to give you have a thorough understanding of how economics work. You will be able to explain the laws of supply and demand and how the price of a good or service is influenced by supply and demand. You will learn about gross domestic product, monopolies, breakeven point, and various other key words associated with the world of economics. You will also be able to distinguish between fixed cost, variable cost, and marginal cost. This Alison Learning Path will benefit to finance and business professionals who would like to gain a deeper understanding of modern economic concepts and principles, and to anyone who would like to learn more about how the economies of the world are interrelated. The Modern Economics Learning Path will also be of interest to learners who are studying business or economics who would like to boost their knowledge on the topic.
Courses in this Learning Path
Fundamentals of Economics
This Fundamentals of Economics course offers a comprehensive, no-nonsense guide to economics. Topics include the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services as well as economic growth and activity, employment, the market economy, inflation, wealth, and income distribution.
This course is suitable for people studying business and economics or anybody with an interest in economics and current affairs.2-3 Hours50 Points
Following the recent global financial crisis there has been a huge increase in people seeking to learn about how economies and modern economic systems work. People now realise that economic decisions taken in one country can dramatically affect the economies of other countries around the world. This course examines in detail economic concepts and principles such as Capacity Utilization Rate, Return on Assets, Gross profits, Cost of Goods Sold, Earnings Before Interest and Taxes, Breakeven point, Aggregate Capacity, Aggregate Demand, and Aggregate Utilization. The course also looks at the rise of the Chinese economy and how it affects the economy of a country like America, for example, in terms of China buying US government bonds and in relation to the Chinese-US balance of payments. The course will be of great interest to finance and business professionals who would like to gain a deeper understanding of modern economic concepts and principles, and to anyone who would like to learn more about how the economies of the world are interrelated.1-2 Hour50 Points
Laws of Supply and Demand
Supply and demand in a market economy is one the most fundamental concepts in economics. Demand refers to the quantity of a product or service that is demanded by consumers. Supply refers to how much of the product or service the market can offer. The price of a good or service is greatly influenced by supply and demand and will usually settle at a point where the quantity demanded by consumers will equal the quantity supplied by producers. This economics course will review in detail the laws of supply and demand, how they operate in a market economy and how they determine the price of goods and services. The course outlines factors that affect both supply and demand, and how there is an in-built price elasticity within supply and demand for goods or services. This economics course will be of great interest to all professionals in the areas of economics, finance, business and politics who would like to learn more about how the price of goods and services is determined, and to all learners who would like a greater understanding of the fundamental laws of supply and demand.1-2 Hour50 Points
Aggregate Supply and Demand
Aggregate supply and demand are key concepts in macroeconomics as they help economists interpret events in the past to help predict the future. The aggregate supply curve model demonstrates the relationship between the overall price level of a country and the quantity of goods and services produced by the suppliers of that country, whereas the aggregate demand curve model demonstrates the quantity of goods and services produced domestically that consumers, businesses, the government and foreigners are willing to purchase during a particular period of time. This economics course first introduces the learner to the business cycle to show that the local economy is constantly expanding and contracting in response to changes in the global economy, technology and national and international politics. The course then introduces the concept of aggregate demand, how it shifts and how it is modelled. You will also learn about aggregate supply, and how changes in supply can be slower than changes in demand. This economics course will be of great interest to professionals in the areas of economics, finance, and business who would like to learn more about modelling aggregate supply and demand. It will also appeal to all learners interested in business, economics or political studies who would like to understand why the health of the economy is cyclical and why one event can have a significant effect on an economy.1-2 Hour50 Points
Introduction to Financial Instruments in Economics
A financial instrument is a tradable asset of any kind and they are a key component of the modern financial market system as they allow for efficient flow of capital through the global financial marketplace. In this course you will learn how financial institutions package and trade mortgage backed securities in financial markets and how collateralized debt obligations function. You will also learn about credit default swaps and interest rate swaps and their role in financial trading. This course will be of great interest to professionals in the areas of finance, investments and economics and who like to learn more about the function and use of financial instruments, and to all learners who are interested in how financial instruments help the global financial marketplace function.1-2 Hour50 Points
Inflation in Modern Economies
The rate of inflation and whether it has gone up or gone down is reported on a daily basis across the media. Many people don't realise the significance of or the role inflation plays in shaping modern economies, and the effects or impact it can have on our daily lives. With an ever increasing interest in economics, knowing the exact meaning and role of inflation, deflation and even hyperinflation have become discussion points for the average lay person.
In this free online course, you will learn about inflation and its role in shaping modern economies, how inflation comes about from prices rising to a fall in the supply and demand on common goods and services, and how inflation is calculated on a yearly basis. You will also learn about the opposite of inflation, namely deflation and how this affects economies also.
This course will be of great interest to professionals in business, economics and finance who would like to learn more about inflation and to all learners who have an interest in important economic concepts and who would like to gain a clear understanding of them.1-2 Hour50 Points
Understanding Fixed, Variable and Marginal Costs in Economics
Fixed cost, variable cost and marginal cost are very important concepts to understand in economics. Fixed costs are business expenses and are often time-related such as salaries and rents which are paid on a monthly basis. Variable costs are expenses related to business activity and change in proportion to an increase or decrease in this activity. Marginal cost is the change in total cost that arises when the quantity of goods produced increases by one unit. It is a measure of the cost of producing one additional unit. This free online economics course explains in a simple and clear manner the concepts behind fixed, variable and marginal costs using worked examples. The relationship between marginal cost, average total cost and marginal revenue is also outlined. By studying this course the learner will appreciate the importance of these costs in economics, and why and how they are calculated. This economics course will be of great interest to all professionals in economics, finance and business who would like a greater knowledge and understanding of fixed, variable and marginal costs, and to all learners who would like a greater insight into the factors that determine these key costs in economics.1-2 Hour50 Points
Understanding Monopolies in a Market Economy
A monopoly exists when one particular business is the only supplier of a commodity or service within any particular sector of the economy. This is a very important concept to understand as to monopolize a market means that a business has significant market power and can charge higher prices.
In this economics course you will learn about the characteristics of a monopoly, when monopolies might occur, and the economic and financial implications of a business having a monopoly in a particular commodity or service sector. You will learn how monopolies optimize prices.
Concepts such as total revenue, marginal revenue, and dead weight loss are clearly explained. Monopolies are also contrasted with oligopolies where a market or industry is dominated by a small number of businesses and where the decisions of one business influence the decisions made by the other businesses.
This economics course will be of great interest to all professionals in areas such as economics, finance, business and politics who would like to learn more about the economic and financial implications of monopolies existing within any business sector, and to all learners who would like learn more about how monopolies operate within a market.1-2 Hour50 Points
Introduction to Gross Domestic Product
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a very important topic to understand in economics. It measures the monetary value of final goods and services of a country within a given time period and is a key metric which can be used to gauge a country's standard of living. In this economics course you will start by learning about the circular flow of money in an economy. The components of Gross Domestic Product are then identified and explained in terms of how different expenditure is categorised. A single Gross Domestic Product figure gives very little information so you will learn how to look at it in relation to past history by using Price Indexing to work out what is real growth and what inflation is when compared with a base year. This economics course will be of great interest to economics, finance and business professionals who would like a better understanding of Gross Domestic Product and its role as an indicator of the economic health of a country, and to any learner who wants to have a better understanding of financial news and how the economies of countries work.1-2 Hour50 Points
Government Economic Policy
Using an interactive, multimedia design, this course introduces the learner to government policy from an economic perspective. Learners are given a rigorous introduction to budgetary policy via topics such as resource allocation and distribution of wealth. Microeconomic policy is then examined in the context of strengths and weaknesses and finally, the course delves into the topic of government market intervention and investigates a variety of markets types, the reasons for intervention and how intervention occurs. This course is a useful introduction to those who wish to learn and understand the role government policies play in shaping economic outcomes.2-3 Hours50 Points
Fiscal and Monetary Policies
Fiscal and monetary policies are two strategies used to direct a country's economic goals. Fiscal policy involves the government and how it uses revenue and expenditure to influence a country's economy. Monetary policy is implemented by the central bank of a country and is used to influence that country's money supply. Fiscal and monetary policies are very important concepts to understand in economics as they can have profound effects on the lives and livelihoods of a country's entire population. In this free online economics course you will gain a thorough knowledge and understanding of the economic concepts behind both fiscal and monetary policies and how they are implemented to influence a country's economic goals. You will also learn about supply and demand for money and how this impacts interest rates. This economics course will be of great interest to all economics and finance professionals who would like to learn more about the role fiscal and monetary policies play in shaping a country's economy, and to all learners who would like to learn more about economic policies that can have a direct effect on their lives.1-2 Hour50 Points