Azariadis is not actually that hard of a teacher. Though his lectures tend to stray, that should not be a problem. All you have to do is study the practice final and chapter problems. The lectures can be used as a guide as to how and what to study. I dont see how people can say that the course is hard as three of the questions came straight from the practice final and the rest were from the book. We didnt even need to do all the problems, just choose 3. I actually think the topics covered were interesting and if you get bored, thats what sudoku is for.

Well, be prepared to do work on your own. His lectures are OK (at least they're interesting) but all of the questions on tests are derived/copied from homework questions, so be sure to do as many of those as possible. Also, in my class (Winter Q 2005) the Head TA just happened to go over the questions that ended up on the midterm at his review session, so I'd advise that even though it may have been a fluke.

He's a nice guy, but weird. It's not like the class is hard, but it's the mere fact that you're working in the dark that is going to make his class difficult. My TA's comment on the professor was that "he's worked with the professor for many years, and the only comment he has was that the professor is completely unpredictable." My TA was like, do practice everything. Read everything. And practicing wouldn't be that hard if the professor actually provided solutions to questions, but we didn't really get any, until a week or two after practice problems were assigned. My TA was also a week or two behind the assigned problems. And expect to cover about 1-2 chapters a day. The professor lectures directly from the book, his lecture is pretty much subsections of a chapter, but some how reciting things from the book makes him feel like he has taught the class the material...

I actually really enjoyed Professor Azariadis' lectures, although I was one out of 20 people that actually went to class. Although he does not specifically lecture on "exam materials", he does broaden student's scope in macroeconomics by discussing actual economic issues in the world today. The TA (shop around for a good one, you will need it. I personally agree with previous comments on the choices of TAs) will basically prep you for the exam, and they usually do a good job. For my class he did not use the study guide as the basis for the exam, but rather actual practice problems in the book. In my opinion, he is worth taking and an A in the class should not be hard.

hmmmmmmmmmm
just a few words to say...
BUY THE STUDYGUIDE AND DO EVERY SINGLE QUESTIONS ON THERE> ESPECIALLY MC's. EVEN ESSAY PROBLEMS. he's so lazy that he barely makes questions for Midterm and final (well actually he did for a final but i was still able to get A. ) Also, if u gonna fall asleep, dont go to lecture. He even says it "if u wanna come to my lecture and sleep, dont come to the lecture!"

Azariadis is a really nice guy. I liked him. However, his teaching is something else. He didn't teach anything well, and went on about unrelated things all the time. It's too bad, because I think that he thinks he was doing a good job and was engaging. But the lectures either unrelated or above and beyond mathematically what you need to know for the tests. Read the book and do the study guide especially. In 2002, the test problems were straight out of the homework problems or study guide, but this year they were totally new. That being said, they are still doable, and there is certainly not much material you have to master to do well on these tests.

The best advice I can give about this class is to do the study guide really well..the prof was so lazy, he simply put questions straight out of the guide. Otherwise, his lectures are pretty boring, thought TA's like Ratika Narag make it worthwhile...

Ok, do not go to lecture. Just read the book, the notes, and the book again. Memorize everything in there. His tests are kind of weird so be prepared. If you want a B in his clas it doesn't take much. I would not recommend him if you actually want to learn something.

This class was a joke. I only attended twice, the mid-term and the final. I got an A. His lectures are pointless. Do not attend them unless you prefer sleeping in class than your bed. Just read the book and buy the study guide (most of his test questions come from here). Anyone who thinks this professor is hard does not belong at UCLA.

horrible professor. incoherent and puts slides online that you can barely read if you sit anywhere other than the front row. he NEEDS to put the lecture notes up online BEFOREHAND for anyone to possibly learn anything in lecture. he does not teach anything related to what is on the exams. GET A GOOD TA to learn the material (i recommend Andrea). however, very little work is required for the course. midterm and final, read the book a week beforehand and attend the review sessions. the final was unexpectedly hard but i have a feeling the class must have been curved in the end. somewhat stressful (especially during the final when you are told to find things you have never heard of) but it is possible to pull through. i was satisfied with my grade for how little effort i put into the class. this has been true of almost every econ professor i have had at this school.