I love this man, he is so funny! He sponsered my major.

Great old school style teacher. Discussions are very stimulating and intense.

Kaun has difficulty with large classes; I agree with the earlier comment that he would be better for the upper division. In any case, he is very willing to engage students in office hours, and go into greater depth.

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Easy, interesting, fun teacher if you go to class and read the boook you will do fine. His exams are a little weird, but very short and easy if you know what your doing.

I didn't really understand him. It was all good thought because I read the book, got an A, and didn't have to take the final. This of course was from studying and reading that boring damn book...yep gotta admit he is not the best.

Has Kaun changed? Or have students changed? Had him years ago (Intermed. Micro). He was the reason I majored in econ & later got my PhD. He was passionate about teaching, made classes interesting, & was very helpful IF you showed some effort.

Very funny and sarcastic man that won't put up with most of the idiots that seem to think they can take advantage of his sincerity. Read the book and take the all to simple tests. Please, if you can't pass his class, then you have no use in the UC system.

I didn't think I would be able to deal with his sarcasm, but Kaun is basically a nice guy and dedicated as hell. You don't have to conceal your political bias to be a good teacher— Welcome to college, kids. The tests are completely possible. Just do the problem sets and stop whining.

I understand the frustrations of my peers, but come on. Make it work. We're big kids now. This class is completely passable. I think his lectures are interesting even if they don't have a lot to do with the tests...read the book, pass the tests. Attend lectures, learn something.

This was the easiest class I've taken since coming to college and I love Kaun's laid bake attitude about coming to class. C'mon, you only need to get an 80% to get an A and he drops your lowest test score. However, I would warn that the class was so easy that is preventing me from learning much.

I really love Kaun. I got an A despite having mono and missing class for a MONTH. He is good about helping you learn concepts. Definitely important if you're majoring in econ.

Knows what he's talking about, but not always terribly clear. I didn't show up alot and still got an "A", but I knew the material pretty well before I took the class, so don't necessarily expect the same thing. He's definitely got a sense of humor, so if he seems seriously angry there is definitely a good chance that he isn't upset at all.

Class is so easy; I dont understand how people can think his class is difficult. He likes to go off on tangents, but his notes are pretty much whats gonna be on the tests. Make sure to read the journal articles in his reader and do the media item responses. Just make sure not to talk to your neighbor so much; he hates that.

This guy is so funny. Well... not really but at least he's not boring. Hes really easy to understand.

Stay on his good side, don't piss him off and he'll reward you.

100B & Capital Economics, tests are tricky, feel free to ask plenty of questions, definetly a challenging college level course

his test are the worst....soooo understanding the test is harder than the test itself.

Kaun is an extremely interesting and unique professor. Everyone complains about his tests because he doesnt just want you to learn Mathematical equations, rather, he wants you to be able to apply the concepts to the real world. Anyone with common sense can do just fine. He breaks the boring mold and broadens your education. Plus, he is a hoot.

Kaun is a great guy. Fun, enthusiastic, extremely easy, and best of all unbiased. His tests are easy if you can figure out what he's asking. To solve this just do the practice tests and you'll get a feel for his style. The class was interesting, educational, and freakishly easy. Take it to get rid of an IS or understand the world better.

David is a personality that brings a very different light to economics. he is another side of a very important coin. if you get hung up on people with personality or a rough style - you wont learn. But if you go in with an open mind and get past the rough exterior - you will find a very thoughtful man with good ideas to teach.

I thought he was a good teacher. Lectures were in engaging (which is impressive, given the subject matter), and he brought in outside materials, like videos. Tests were incredibly easy. If you go to section, your grade gets boosed. Only A+ I've gotten here so far. I look forward to taking more classes with ihm in the future.

The class was very easy. But his quizzes were kind of vague so know your material logically. When you get stuck use an logical approach to eliminate possibilies or discusses with him. He is very up beat. You dont have to attend section or lecture (except on test days). If you have problems seriously attend the sections for help. Easy Class!!

Clear, told you exactly what he wanted you to know. Gave all lecture notes as a reader and tests were straight forward. Taught econ very clearly.

Kaun is the man! Very easy class, very interesting lectures that really fit into the labor world. Go to class, don't get on his bad side, and you'll have an easy A for sure. Tends to go off tangent which gets boring, but for the most part you feel like its all connected.

He's a really nice teacher, has a genuine passion for the subject, but he has no tolerance for disrespect or childishness in class and will kick you out if you talk during class. He has great teaching skills, but his tests are very hard.

He has high expectations. So expect to learn, not an easy A. I heard complaints that he talks about himself. His stories help you remember and relate to key concepts. I.e., the story about his nephew who listened to the same CD over and over deals w/ diminishing marginal returns. And his dog not allowed on campus story is about a social trap.

After four years of college, it was wholly refreshing to have an instructor who didn't take crap from his students. He was very entertaining and totally made the class worth taking, especially since I didn't really want to. Tests were simple if you can tell an obvious joke from a serious answer. But don't think you can just slack off--try to learn.

Intriguing class structure. attendance is absolutely mandatory. You can literally just take the 4 odd tests to pass this class, however David puts a whole lot of effort into his lectures, and uses interesting examples to drive the points. I never read the book or went to section, but was able to understand the material straight from him.

Kaun's class was unlike any other class I've ever taken. His exams require you to KNOW the material and apply it, versus just spitting out a response. While sometimes he goes off topic, his lectures are entertaining and he shares amusing stories. Definitely recommend his class, if only for the experience. Econ is cool too.

Great professor, he is old and disorganized, but never boring. He knows his stuff when it comes to economics, and does not like people to disagree. If you can get past the details of character and not get hung up-he is an awesome teacher...the only econ professor at UCSC with a heart for anything outside of 'economic factors'!! I'd take again!

people who said that tests in this class were hard are ridiculous. if you memorize the bold definitions next to key terms in the text book, maybe. understand things conceptually and their easy. he stresses that attendance is not mandatory and tells you not to come if you don't want to be there- and definitely regulates on that...pretty awesome guy.

All of these bad ratings come from whiny children who have never had to conceptualize material. Kaun is highly knowledgeable, and has a fresh (non-Chicago style) approach to economics that is surprisingly rare at UCSC.If you are a terrible student, he will hate you; and, if you are a good student, he will love you.

Kaun is my favorite professor so far at UCSC.Take a class from him if your actually interested in the material,and are there to learn.He is funny,and at times seems a bit scatter-brained.Just ask him to clarify, and dont be put off by his blunt responses,which are not personal attacks.He expects common courtesy,otherwise you'll be asked to leave.

He's a great professor, very refreshing. I guess a lot of people dont appreciate his sense of humor because they just dont get it, but thats their loss. Unless you've got a huge stick up your butt, he's hilarious. He really cares about his students and wants them to do well.

Kaun is straight forward and blunt. He will kick you out of class for being disruptive and he will call you out for dumb questions but he has a great sense of humor. LOVES the arts which really enhanced the class. Tests are easy if you read, and there isn't that much reading. Drops lowest midterm grade of 3. Highly recommend this class.

While he's a little stuck in his ways, David Kaun is incredibly knowledgable and well versed in Economics. He goes on tangents but will put those tangents on tests, he's not above trying to trick those students who don't attend class! All you have to do is show up and don't get offended. I really enjoyed him and the class!

Kaun is terribly misunderstood. I highly recommend this class to Economics students that are looking for an enjoyable class to take. The workload is regular but not difficult by any means. This class will be one of the few I can say I truly appreciated.

I can understand why a lot of people don't like him, but I personally love him. He's the only passionately liberal Econ prof, for one thing, which puts him head and shoulders above the rest of the department. Kaun is the least boring prof I've ever had. He has so much intelligence and enthusiasm that it spills over onto you. Exams are NOT HARD.

Professor Kaun is the reason why I majored in Economics. He is a great professor, is funny, and will point out stupid questions and kick rude people out. The class is extremely easy, I got an A+ and skipped quite a few lectures. Exams have obvious wrong answers (sometimes funny) that you can eliminate right away.

Kaun is great. He's not easy so don't expect his class to be -you need to attend lecture. His questions are odd but they're designed to make you think. If you love ECON, you'll love Kaun.

Its been a decade since I took it, but it was one of my favs at UCSC. The Price of Greatness is something I'll never forget. He had us watch Idiocracy as a cautionary tale after his Econ 1 students were cheating, oh what foresight he had. It all came true. Thank you for an unforgettable and powerful class.