Bruce Preston

Bruce's teaching style is very laidback, which makes for a pretty stress-free seminar, especially one with only 10 students. He was also flexible on the paper deadline, letting us hand it in anytime before the end of the semester. We could write the final paper on any topic of our choice, as long as it related in some way to the seminar topic - central banking and inflation targeting. My only critique would be that the seminar was light on discussion, although this improved during the second half of the semester when we were giving our presentations to the class. He had to cancel or reschedule several classes because of travel conflicts, but he was great about working around our class schedules.

Bruce Preston is a solid guy and his intro to macroeconomics is a solid class. The lectures are based primarily on the textbook, which is comprehensive, although Preston also adds some more advanced theory and case studies for interest. You will need to be familiar with some fairly complicated multi-variable calculus (NOT in Calc I!) to understand some of the maths which Preston will walk through whilst expecting the class to follow. SPEAK UP IN CLASS. When Preston asks questions they are not rhetorical, he will wait until you answer. If no one answers he does get disheartened, but if you attempt to answer (even if wrong) he is happy. Also, he learns the names of the people who show up to class and speak regularly so that is always going to be a help grading-wise. Homework is tough and again very maths based. Both midterm and final will replicate some questions from the homework so give yourself an advantage and memorise the long answers (at least one will appear practically word-for-word on each exam). Also, read the additional readings he sets as the exams are meant to catch people out who havent done this, and his questions in class are also meant to give those who went the extra yard an opportunity to show this. Final grade is generously curved.

This guy is probably really smart but he stumbles around like Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, and describes the substitution effect by saying that if wage increases, his one hour of leisure at the bar drinking beer becomes more expensive, so instead he might work an extra hour.

Prof Preston is organized and he has done a good job of conveying the concepts thoughtfully considering it is the first time he is teaching it. He makes himself available for office hours quite readily. And for those who take the trouble to attend class, his subtle sense of humour - like a fine Australian wine - can grow on you...

1) Imagine Ben Stein's character from "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". 2) Add Australian accent. 3) Subtract 20 years. 4) Add euro-style clothing and haircare. (lots of black turtlenecks). He seems nice enough, and shows all signs of knowing the material quite well. Unfortunately, his lectures are completely unengaging, unspirited, and other than an unnecessary detour into the mathematics of consumption smoothing, follow the book to a tee. He seems to be as put off by the 9:10 start time as the students. On the upside, you'll never find yourself unable to find a seat, and the dim lighting accompanied by the lecturer's muted delivery offers ample opportunity to rest up for your next class.

1 problem set, 2 page outline due in October, 45-minute presentation, and 7000 word paper on a topic of your choice Grading was 50% paper, 25% presentation, and 25% participation

I really don't know enough profanity to describe this guy's teaching style. I know he knows his stuff, like pretty much everyone here, but he obviously does not want to be in class. Most of his examples are as follows: "Say I'm at a pub, imagining that I don't have to lecture to morons all day, and I have to choose between beer and wine..." He complains that no one shows up; he should check out Elmes' class, which is packed full every lecture. You will learn if you apply yourself, but god in heaven is it boring.

Bruce Preston may not be the most interesting lecturer, but he is definitely competent. He is very organized-- his lectures are on powerpoint, and cover all the topics succinctly. The only problem is, they also parrot the textbook, which does not toot my whistle. If you are the type of student that learns in lectures, this is an excellent course. If you prefer to learn from the book regardless of what lecture is like, take this course, you won't miss anything. If you like your lectures to cover supplementary or slightly different material from the textbook, prepare to be disappointed. It must be noted that Bruce is a newly-minted professor straight out of Princeton, so his teaching style has not matured yet. He even seemed rather hurt when class attendance dropped precipitously a few weeks into the course. He does make the effort to try hard, though, and does a pretty good job. The only complaint is that he's a bit dry, but I suppose the Australian accent does help a little.

No one should take this class with Preston - he is the most boring guy in the world and everyone falls asleep during his lectures. He is not well organized, follows the book so precisely that it doesn't even pay to go to class. I am telling you - Columbia needs professors in economics who can really make the material interesting. Preston killed my will to major in economics....don't ever take a class with him.

DO NOT TAKE MACRO WITH PRESTON, under any circumstances. Wait two years to take it with someone else if you must. I'm sure he knows his stuff but he is just a terrible teacher. He obviously does not want to be in the classroom ,he's probably just here to do research. You can go to his office hours and he's pretty nice but he might make you feel a little stupid. I felt that he just made the class alot harder than it had to be. I'm no longer an Econ major after taking his class.