ECON 3020

I don’t personally agree with a lot of the review on here about Popov. I thought that he was an overall good lecturer. Although he was at times a little disorganized in lecture and could work on his time management, I thought his lectures were pretty clear. I didn’t really have to read the book in this class; I just took notes in lecture and completed his problem sets which were enough to prepare for his exams. He allows cheat sheets for the exams which you can easily prepare for using the problem set questions and previous midterms. My TA was very helpful and I’d recommend Popov for this course. As far as content goes, you will cover 7 or 8 (depending on how you count) models that you will need to know the mechanics of quite well. This class is not terribly math intensive but it helps to be good at algebraic manipulation to derive formulas for yourself. As far as Econ Classes go it will be just like 3010 and by no means the hardest one.

Popov is a sub-par professor. He often is disorganized with lectures, can be a little hard to follow, and ultimately provides insufficient study material. With that said though his class is do-able in that the subjects are interesting and not overly complex. I general enjoyed the macroeconomic models we learned and felt that I learned a good deal from this class. To those who say the course materiel is poor I would strongly disagree, and I felt it properly gave an introduction into higher level economic analysis. I hope that Popov continues to improve his lecturing style and methods of teaching, but for the time being I would recommend a different Professor for this class if possible.

It is hard to recommend this class for anyone who is not required to take it for the Econ major. While the class had more depth than 202, it unnecessarily sacrificed breadth by committing about 3 weeks to reviewing 202 and 301, both of which students should have been expected to know. The macroeconomic models learned are somewhat interesting and somewhat insightful, though from what I have heard, they have very little application to other Econ classes. By the very high teaching standard I have come to expect from the Econ Department, Popov is sub-par. This being said, I do not think there is a better professor that is specifically recommended for this class. Grading consists of a two midterms, a final, problem sets, and quizzes. Cheat sheets are allowed for the midterms and final, which are very helpful, but the exams are still difficult. Problem sets are not bad, especially if you have a group to work with. The exams and assignments are almost entirely focused on applications, and the theory covered in the textbook is largely review of 202. Ultimately, much of the content tested on exams is taught in discussion, and Jorge was an excellent TA (a rarity for an Econ class). All said, this course is fairly challenging, mildly interesting, hardly applicable, and not worth taking if not required.

I took this class just for the sake of keeping up with my Economics major, disregarding the reviews that say "Don't take this class". Professor Popov may know enough, but he's not really able to show that in his lectures. The class is disorganized as a whole; the professor and TAs teach as everyone reads the textbook ahead but nobody does. Despite my attempts to listen to lectures, I always got overwhelmed with all the new abbreviations and formulas because without teaching the concepts, he jumps into solving of the models with tons of abbreviations. You can bring cheat sheets to the exams. You can spend weeks to read the dull textbook to understand the concepts and get a comparatively high grade, while people just write last year's exam solutions onto cheat sheets and get really high grades without knowing anything. Take this class if you'd just like to pass it, but if you want to learn the material, wait for another professor if possible.

A lot of the negative reviews for Popov are more the result of students who don't understand what macroeconomics is, or have unreasonable expectations for the course.

Principles of macro is supposed to cover a lot of definitions, and broad concepts. Intermediate macroeconomics works on developing the skills to do real economic analysis.

In response to the comments similar to: "we didn't even cover foreign exchange", we could not cover every macroeconomic concept in detail in one semester. Professor Popov teaches common models in macroeconomics, and uses them to explain some core functions of how the economy works.

Topics covered include a basic closed-economy model, a labor model, a few growth models, one model of cyclicality, and one of banks. This alone is a lot to cover in once course.

Popov is very clear, generally relates each model to the real world, and is frequently funny (in an economist sort of way).

This is a course that teaches some modern models that are fundamental to macroeconomics. If that is your expectation for the course, I fail to see how anyone could be disappointed.

At beginning of semester, Popov told us he'd like to go for depth, not breadth. We've covered very little so far, which gives one the deception that this class is easy, but the tests are pretty hard. He wants to make sure you understand the models very thoroughly. I would take this class with another professor if you can.

Take this class with a different professor, even if it means holding it off for a semester. Popov focused a lot on micro stuff in the beginning which made no sense at all for an intermediate macro course. In more advanced macro classes I'm expected to have learned concepts that Popov never even touched on.

You should not take this class. Popov barely covers any material, and what he does cover, he does not teach well. I am at a loss for how a Macroeconomics course could be taught without going over topics like Monetary Policy, International Trade, and Foreign Exchange, to name a few. My friends in the Introductory Macro class covered far more material than we did. I am an Econ major and I feel completely unprepared for the next level. I'm sure you're thinking, "wow, this class must be an easy A," but it isn't. Tests are composed of large short answer questions that are poorly worded and are weird examples of what few topics were covered in class. Take it with another professor, a TA, or teach it to yourself (like I will be doing this summer) because you will waste a semester in this class.

Popov is not a good professor and his lectures are boring. I suggest taking this class with another professor. Also, I would say that this is the worst class I've taken so far in UVA. Nevertheless, when it comes to grading he is really generous.

Professor Popov can be dry with his lectures, but he's genuinely a good guy. He's a bit quirky and he often says things that are not intentionally funny but ends up cracking me up at least. The subject builds on the themes of 202 with more rigorous models and applications. The math is algebra, the concepts are straight forward, and his lectures are coherent. There is almost no homework (5 easy problem sets). Just make sure to supplement his lectures with his book, but it is not a very intensive class. He can be a little slow when he builds the framework for the models, but if you are interest in economics at all then this should be an easy going and enjoyable class.

Given the nature of the course, Popov is the best professor in my opinion. Although it is easy to get lost, as long as you attend the discussions and lectures, you'll do fine in the class. The tests are usually three questions and the final was five. You can predict which subjects he will test you on, but like any economics course here, be prepared for the test material to be much harder and more abstract than what is taught in class.

Horrendous professor for an even more horrendous class. Zero material organization, no transparency between book readings and lectures, and complete unfairness of test questions. Professor speaks cracked English in lectures, has difficulty organizing his thoughts and lecture materials, has illegible handwriting, and is unsociable overall. TA's for this class are even worse, speaking little English and providing little help relative to the class lectures and questions on tests. Bottom line: lectures, readings, and homeworks provide no intuition of test questions, resulting in horrible grade averages of students, and an overall distaste for economics. If you are an ECON major and have to take 3020, take it in a small class section from a professor known to be at least slightly effective in teaching. A course in which a student must teach him or herself all material (such as Popov's 3020) is one not worth paying for. The existence of other professors and TA's that are effective in teaching the materials of intermediate macroeconomics to an acceptable level only widens the educational opportunity gap between students, which is blatantly unfair.

Popov is an awful professor. His lectures are nearly impossible to follow. Tests are difficult, but everyone does so poorly that the class has a huge curve. I got a B with around a 70%. Only ECON majors should take this class, and they should avoid Popov if possible.

Popov can be dull and hard to follow at times and mostly teaches from the book. Attending lecture is not really necessary. The tests were inconsistent in difficulty and ranged from nearly impossible with a class average below 50% to incredibly easy and straightforward.

Two midterms, with formula sheets. Final exam is considerably harder than the midterms but three formula sheets are allowed.

Extremely hard class... Popov is hard to follow in lecture and rarely covers material in depth. Read the book and study the problem sets for the tests. He allows people to bring a single sheet of paper to the tests, which he calls "formula sheets" but people fill them with material. This is a good strategy for his finals in which he allows people to bring 3 sheets written back and front.

On reading earlier reviews I expected Popov to be very disorganized/borderline incompetent. However he seems to be improving his teaching of the course. Although he isn't the most engaging lecturer and still gets flustered sometimes, Popov covered the material in a coherent manner. Test questions are pulled directly from the homework or discussion section. There is also a generous curve at the end of the class. None of the professors that teach this course are that great, so Popov isn't that bad of a choice.

You take this class because you have to for the ECON major - not just for fun. Popov is hard to follow in lecture and half the time I don't know what he's talking about.

The TA's are the worst. I had Xiuchang Yang and not only were discussions miserable, but he was a harsh grader. I took my exam grade to the professor and got over 10 points back.

To be fair this is a harder, weed-out economics class, but I'd recommend finding someone else to take it with.

NEVER. TAKE. THIS. CLASS. Literally, this class is ridiculous. First of all, Popov is a nice guy but his choice of test questions is hideous. The tests are like nothing you have ever seen and you are always rushed for time. Second, His TA's suck. They either can not speak a word of english or are psycho-graders. Do not expect partial credit on anything, if the final answer is wrong you are screwed. Third, the problem sets a) are hard as hell and b) are harder than the simplistic lectures popov does but reflect nothing that will be on the test. Like I said, Popov is a really nice guy and will sit down with you but grading wise the entire class is ruthless. To reiterate, never take this class. ever.

Great class. Fair Professor. Take a look at the practice tests - one or two of his exams look almost like it.

This course shouldn't have been as hard as it was. Popov is a good lecturer, but not good at explaining things in office hours. I was always more confused after meeting with him one on one. Also, the midterms are graded unbelievably harshly with most students in the class failing and still doing poorly after ridiculous curves. I would take this with anyone but Popov if I could take it over again.

Average on tests is about 35-40. Class material seems okay, then the test catches you totally off guard with things you've never seen before, or 10x harder than anything gone over in class.

Popov is interesting. Go to class and discussions. Tests and finals are hard but have faith in a curve. Pop quizzes. Problem sets are near impossible without office hours. Make some effort in the course and you will be fine

Accessible and friendly, but tests are very different than the material presented in class (which is essentially just reading out of the book)

Popov tries really hard, gets flustered during lectures occasionally but I liked him a lot. Very helpful when you go to office hours

Never take a class from Popov! I am ashamed that UVA would hire someone this awful at teaching. Don't bother going to class, because everything he teaches is word for word out of the book. Don't bother studying for the midterms or final either- most of the exam material was stuff that we had never seen before.

Professor Popov is new to the University. He would pretty much read from the textbook and do the examples that they already showed. The problem sets were mediocre; some were hard, while some were easy. However, the exams were much more difficult than the problem sets. In the end, there was a fairly large curve to make up for the low exam averages. Grades were: problem sets (15%), 2 midterms (25% each) and a final (35&)

Don't take this unless you're a major. And try to take it with someone else.

This teacher is new. There were mixed feelings from students, but the majority of the students said that this guy was really bad. He's a nice guy but a horrible teacher. He teaches straight out of the book and his tests are much harder then anything we learn in lecture. This class was just a huge pain and i wish i took it with another professor. He might shape up the next couple semesters, but my recommendation is do not take him.