Foundations of Economics

Do you want to make sense of economic news, understand how markets work, or grasp the forces shaping our world? A solid understanding of economics is essential for informed decision-making in personal finance, business, and civic life. This course provides a clear, accessible entry point into the core concepts and theories that govern economic systems. By the end of this course, you will possess a foundational knowledge of both microeconomic and macroeconomic principles, enabling you to analyze economic situations and understand policy debates with greater clarity. What you'll learn: * Understand core economic concepts like scarcity, opportunity cost, and resource allocation. * Grasp the principles of supply, demand, and how markets achieve equilibrium. * Explore microeconomic theories covering consumer behavior and firm production decisions. * Analyze key macroeconomic indicators such as GDP, inflation, and unemployment. * Learn about government fiscal and monetary policies and their economic impacts. * Discover fundamental insights from behavioral economics on decision-making. * Practice interpreting economic data and current events to make informed observations. This course begins by defining essential economic terminology and basic concepts, then systematically builds your understanding through microeconomic principles, followed by macroeconomic theories, and concludes with practical applications. You will progress from foundational definitions to analyzing complex economic scenarios. This course is designed for absolute beginners with no prior knowledge of economics required. If you are curious about how the economy works or need a strong economic foundation for further study, this course is for you. Start your journey to understanding the world through an economic lens today.