Class dates: Mondays, November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (5 weeks)

Class time: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm

Location: Assumption, Kennedy 119

The purpose of this course is to examine major issues in the news, using basic economic analysis to shed light on their causes and effects. Each class will begin with a brief informal description of a key economic concept with illustrations of how it can be applied to a prominent current issue. Most of the class time will be devoted to discussion of questions raised by participants either ahead of time by email, or during class. Scheduled class content may be preempted for discussion of compelling events. This course was previously offered in Fall 2025, but this year all examples and discussion issues will be drawn from 2026 news stories. The course is intended to be of interest to everyone, whether returnees or first-time students of economics.

Suggested readings: Principles of Economics 3e (free online textbook at OpenStax.org) OR any other standard Principles of Economics text or your preferred daily news source.

Instructor: Tom Gottschang is Professor Emeritus of Economics at the College of the Holy Cross, where he taught economics for over 40 years. He earned his Ph.D. in economics and history at the University of Michigan.