Why is macroeconomics so hard to teach? (2024)

FAQs

Why is macroeconomics so hard to teach? ›

Macroeconomics is difficult to teach partly because its theorists (classical, Keynesian, monetarist, New Classical and New Keynesian, among others) disagree about so much. It is difficult also because the textbooks disagree about so little.

AP Macroeconomics ranks as an easier than average AP subject. The hardest part of AP Macro is that the material is not something you typically have learned before.

How Difficult Is AP Macro – As Rated By Class Alumnae. AP Macroeconomics is considered quite easy, with class alumnae rating it 4.6/10 for overall difficulty, making it the 19th-most-difficult out of the 28 large AP classes surveyed.

What are the main macroeconomic issues? Macroeconomic issues include the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), unemployment, and inflation. Nominal GDP is the dollar value of all goods and services an economy produces in a given year, based on the prices when those goods and services were produced.

No way around it – study, study, study

Simply put, there's a lot of concepts that you'll need to know to do well on your AP® Macro exam, and the only way to get there is to study!

However, macroeconomics is considered harder than microeconomics because the latter deals with individual economic units, while the former deals with aggregate economic analysis. Individual economic units include individual consumers or households. The aggregate economy refers to the whole of the economy.

A college-level economics class can be challenging because you need to grasp new concepts like supply and demand, scarcity, diminishing returns, and opportunity costs. It requires you learn new vocabulary and to use critical thinking skills. But those theories, concepts, and terms build upon one another.

Generally, macroeconomics will have more calculus-based mathematics, as quantitative economics tends to be very modeling heavy. Microeconomics (especially now that behavioral economics is in) still has mathematics, but the focus is a bit more statistical in nature, especially in terms of study design and analysis.

Macroeconomics is the branch of economics that deals with the structure, performance, behavior, and decision-making of the whole, or aggregate, economy. The two main areas of macroeconomic research are long-term economic growth and shorter-term business cycles.

What are the weaknesses of macroeconomics? ›

Limitations of Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics deals with aggregates, which refer to individual totals. However, overall results may differ from individual behaviour. It does not study the different effects of the aggregate on different sectors of the economy. It ignores the contribution of Individual units.

Inflation. GDP (Gross Domestic Product) National Income. Unemployment levels.

Compared to other exams, AP® Macro is in the middle of the road – it is neither difficult nor easy. This could lead us to speculate that macroeconomics depends on studied skills rather than previous knowledge.

Overall verdict? AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics seem to be generally of equal difficulty for students, and which one you personally find easier will likely depend on your own interests.

We suggest taking at least 2 weeks to learn the content of each unit. Take another week for AP style practice, solidifying the material, and reviewing topics that confused you.

Overall verdict? AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics seem to be generally of equal difficulty for students, and which one you personally find easier will likely depend on your own interests.

If you're reading this, you are most likely either self-studying the course, are homeschooled, or in a situation where you might not have a formal teacher. Lucky for you, AP Macro is one of the easier AP subjects to self-study. While teaching yourself an entire AP class won't be easy, it is entirely doable.

Studying the theory of Macroeconomics is a lot easier than actually implementing those theories in practice. These theories are easy to understand, and have actual benefits in the long run. You should consider taking the AP® Macro exam not only for college credit, but also the added benefit of personal knowledge.