The global economy produced $70.1 trillion in goods and services during 2009.
Macroeconomics, or the study of the larger economy, has become a hot topic. High unemployment, a series of rapid economic boom-and-bust cycles, and declining real household incomes have led to an increase in interest about what's been known as "the dismal science". There's no bigger subject: The global economy produced about $70.2 trillion in goods and services during 2009, according to the U.S. government. The basic principles of macroeconomics aren't difficult to understand, but even professional economics will tell you there's a lot to learn, and they don't know it all.
Instructions
1. Look for unbiased, academic-based sources of information about macroeconomics. Political arguments are very good for raising important issues, but not so great for helping you understand why there are differences of opinion.
2. Start slow. Examine the required fields of study for the College Board's College-Level Examination Program macroeconomics test and its Advanced Placement Economics syllabus. Buy a textbook, browse the online resources, and take the test.
3. Supplement your study with free online resources. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers a free course on the principles of macroeconomics. The course, which includes lecture notes, assignments and tests, can be downloaded for free. Other schools may have similar resources.
4. Use an MP3 player, Apple iPhone or iPad to increase your understanding of macroeconomics by searching Apple's iTunes U website for lectures and classes. The iTunes U website has lectures and class materials available from more than 800 schools.
5. Read about economic news, particularly from credible sources that have experience covering the issues, such as Bloomberg, the Financial Times, Wall Street Journal or New York Times. Subscriptions to these publications range from expensive to prohibitive, but you can get some free information from their websites.
Tags: during 2009, economy produced, global economy, global economy produced, goods services