Jiuhe(Vivian) Zhang

Jiuhe(Vivian) Zhang

Contact Information

Teaching

All Courses

  • BEPP1000 - Introductory Economics

    Microeconomics is the study of the behavior of households and firms, whose collective decisions determine how resources are allocated in a free market economy. We will study when markets are likely to produce "efficient" outcomes, and when government intervention may improve on or harm the competitive market outcome. We will use economic theory to analyze issues like a gas tax to change reliance on oil, minimum wages to increase salaries of the working poor, and government subsidies to increase education. Macroeconomics is the study of the economy as a whole. We will understand how the size of the US economy is determined, how unemployment is measured, how inflation affects life. We will look at policy options that the government and the Federal Reserve Bank face, and discuss pros and cons of their actions. Economic arguments are often used in debates about government policies, discussion of business strategies, and many of life's other arenas. The goal of the course is to teach you to "think like an economist," which I hope will help you to understand the world around you, make better economic decisions in your own life, and be a more informed citizen and voter.

Knowledge at Wharton

What the Reconciliation Bill Means for U.S. Households

Faculty director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model breaks down the projected effects of the reconciliation bill on national debt, GDP, and low-income households.Read More

Knowledge @ Wharton - 7/11/2025
Automatic Enrollment, Tax Fears, and the 401(k) Surge

Professor and director of the Pension Research Council at the Wharton School breaks down new data on rising 401(k) contributions, the influence of automatic enrollment, and the savings behaviors of younger generations.Read More

Knowledge @ Wharton - 7/9/2025
How Minimum Wages and Taxes Can Combat Income Inequality

The ideal way to reduce income inequality is to use minimum wages and income taxes in a complementary way instead of one substituting the other, according to new Wharton research.Read More

Knowledge @ Wharton - 7/8/2025