good prof!

I love this man. He is incredible. he knows his stuff,and he explains everything very clearly and succintly. you can tell that he is devoted to the economics. he's open to convo, which is not common for profs who teach such large classes. allaroundgoodguy

Thinks marijuana should be legallized for economic purposes.

He's a great guy, very approachable, but the class he has to teach is so huge it's difficult to stay focused. Since it's usually a required class though, I'd say go for Willoughby, he's very good.

Very smart man and he doesn't brag about it. Also very down to earth and his presenations are pretty clear. It's a huge class so there isn't really any discussion, but the TA sessions are a big help. He's also really helpful during his office hours.

He really knows his stuff and gives clear presentaions

I really liked him. I took him for a summer class, so the matterial was a bit rushed at times. I did however really enjoy his lectures and projects. His homework and reading did coincide well with the lectures and helped greatly in my general understanding. We had two essays (maybe 5 pgs.) and 2 exams (5 essays questions, one blue book pg. each

He is not a bad teacher it is just hard to learn when there are so many other students. I could never find a TA.

he's smart and livens up macro with his obvious liberal bias. going to TA sessions and turning in homework, even if it's wrong, only helps your grade (Angel's a great TA for macro). def important to take good notes. don't have to go to class but do the readings for the exams and go to sessions. 2 papers, not too hard. really enjoyed him

his class is an easy A if u go to class and take notes you are bound to do well..you need to attend class cause all the material covered there is what the tests are on. You dont need to read the book. he is really opinionnated but extremely easy you should definately take this class with him!!

Great professor. Knows his stuff very well. has good explainatory power and a very good command over teaching. go to class regularly, take notes and solve the problmes from the homework and you can't miss an "A". I am not econ major, never had any interest but after this class I find econ interesting. that's the power of a good teacher!!!

Not super easy, but pretty fair. Somewhat easy A. Class is really boring and feels very long, but Willoughby is likable and obviously qualified.

A very nice man, brilliant, but his lectures really aren't that helpful. They're full of info, but not the info that's on the exams. Just read the 2 books, and you will learn all that you need. TA sessions are sometimes helpful if you find a good TA. So, 2 midterms, 1 final, 2 papers, and a bunch of HW's--all not too difficult!

Homework is an easy A...just make sure you do it...it's graded on completion not whether you did it right. The professor was obviously knowledgeable. Essays and exams aren't toughly graded. Exam questions are based off of homework.

Although I was not particularly interested in the subject mater, I felt that Professor Willoughby explained the material clearly and thoroughly. Professor Willoughby is extremely personable and easy to talk to during office hours. The tests were completely reasonable if you studied.

Excellent teacher!! Take this class!

The cool thing about Willoughby is that is background is in history. So when he introduced a concept, he would give us the context of the idea first and then explain the idea so that we'd understand it. As long as you attend class, there's no reason to buy the book, because his lectures are sufficient for papers/tests.

I really enjoyed this class - he was able to very clearly explain and articulate concepts. He was also able to relate everything we were doing in class to the current financial crisis, which was both informative and interesting. I highly recommend him - not very difficult, and you'll learn a lot.

willoughby is actually a cool guy... he has a lot of back background historical knowledge but all in all the class is pretty boring. attendance is not mandatory and all notes are on blackboard so missing a class of two really doesnt hurt. willoughby means well and if you go to his office hours and ask him about something, he likely to help you...

Great teacher! because of him I love economics. He has a very humanistic approach. He is a very cool guy! His class is easy but you learn a lot!

I hardly go to this class, but when i do, i am always entertained. Hes a really funny guy. He has mentioned in class that he is a socialist, that he stil smokes pot a lot, and that birth control is one of the best inventions becauase now we can have fun without consequences. Gotta love him. The material is boring but he hardly ever talks about it.

I LOVE WILLOUGHBY! I admit class could be a bit dull at times because he lectured with a powerpoint to a huge class. But he has interesting stories and points of view, and is a very kind person. If you know the material he tells you to learn for test reviews, you'll be fine.

I had this class first semester and so it was a lecture. I rarely went and only looked at my book when using the site myeconlab (practice with what you read in the book aka introduced&taught me, I really liked it). Easy enough, I messed up the 2nd midterm hence a B. I found his powerpoints useless but what he said in class REALLY helpful. Take it!

Pro. Willoubhby is very easygoing and sympathetic. He will give you a chance to balance your too-much-pressure academic life. Moreover, ECON 620 is a great opportunity to earn new ideas and bridge the gap between your dream and reality. Nevertheless, you have to learn how to create your own pressure so that to benefit the most from his class.

I enjoyed having him as a professor. Not the easiest class but not difficult either. Would take him again. Tests aren't too bad

Very nice guy. Make the effort to go to office hours and make sure he knows you. Excellent teacher- flexible, interesting and so kind! One of my favorite professors at AU.

He's a great teacher and very flexible with the due dates of all the class assignments. Truly recommend to anyone who has to take an economics class.

Not very charismatic but the class is easy and the material is interesting. The paper on growth is an easy A if you aren't brain dead, lots of homework, and attendance is a huge part of the grade which is a big free giveaway (16%, and he gives everyone 4% anyway, so 20% o the grade is free). Overall, he's a good prof and this is an easy class.

Willoughby's class is not too difficult if you attend class. He is a pretty easy grader and always extends assignments if asked

I truly appreciate received wealth of knowledge in such important subject as economics. Sequences and content of video lectures+reading were exceptional, allowing students gradually acquire complex knowledge of economics. Thank you, Prof, for your efforts in making us, your students more capable in making tangible contributions to the global growth

I really liked Professor WIlloughby as a person. He's easily amusable and a really nice but also impressive guy. The class is pretty well rounded between tests, homeworks, participation and a paper, and exams are easy to get good grades on as they are pretty subjective. Homeworks are a bit of a nightmare once the semester gets going though.

I genuinely liked this professor. In case you didn't understand the readings, he would go a step further and break it down in his own words. He really wanted his students to be engaged in this class and you can tell he really enjoys being a professor. I found this class to be really fun and would definitely take another course of his .

Professor Willoughby is one of the best Econ professors at AU. His lectures are really straightforward and if you read the required materials you will not have a problem doing papers and exams.

Professor Willoughby is absolutely wonderful. Really interesting reading material that allows for good class discussions. Very fair grader and gives good feedback on exams.

His lectures were interesting and he made sure to help the students prepare for tests, all together we had 2 papers and 2 exams( short essay questions) very easy if you pay attention in class. we didn't have to read the book at all in class, He uses current topics to help us understand how economics plays a role in our society

This class with Professor Willoughby was actually my favorite class I've ever taken at AU and I'm not even an Econ major. I leave his class every day with new ideas about the economy and social structures. He is also a really nice person. Amazing course that rivaled classes I've taken at LSE.

Breaks down economic thinkers to a digestible level, while challenging students to think. Grades on essays but they are easy if you pay attention in class and show some thought.

Course was graded on four 5 page essays. The professor is accommodating, and posts his lecture notes after classes. Some students skip class because he doesn't take attendance, but what he says in class will make essays far easier. Show up, take some notes, do the work, and he will reward you with a good grade. Don't take advantage of his kindness.

I loved every minute of this course. I am an Econ minor and he really made Econ come alive to me, he is a great teacher that will humanize every difficult topic for you and change the way you think about not just econ, but social structures. Wonderful experience and I really enjoyed our assignments. Very thought-provoking essay questions.

Willoughby is a good professor but he goes on tangents and talks about economic history a lot which can be boring. Your grade is made up of three tests, one essay, and attendance. Only hw is optional readings. Overall pretty easy but didnt learn a ton

Professor WIlloughby is an amazing professor. He has a deep knowledge of the subject field, and wants to help communicate it to his students. At times he is soft spoken and hard to hear, so be sure to sit close to the front. He is always happy to give advice and mentor students. Make sure to speak with him! He's had an amazing life.

The lectures can be somewhat dry, but he is very understanding to students' circumstances outside class. He was always willing to answer my very elementary questions in office hours without being condescending. It can be a lot of reading, but you don't have to read everything he assigns as long as you pay attention in class. He's a great prof!

Super nice professor, I recommend going to office hours as he is great at breaking down class content. Taking thorough notes in class is key to getting good grades on the papers if you don't fully understand the dense readings.

One of the kindest, most understanding professors at AU. Get ready to read a lot, but he is passionate about the subject and will help you in understanding the material. Not a tough grader, but not the easiest. He's had an interesting life and is incredibly knowledgeable- would highly recommend taking him while at AU.

Truly one of the kindest, sweetest, & most understanding professors! His classes are great, especially if you're into econ history or SIS global Econ concentration. He has great life stories and amazing global experiences. Only a few assignments: two take home exams & a final paper. He said he's retiring after Spring "26 so take him while you can!

Professor Willoughby is awesome. He is well traveled and brilliant. His passion for this course's material is apparent in his teaching and he genuinely wants students to learn. I've mentioned Professor Willoughby's name to other professors and have only heard great things. Take a class with him before he retires if you can!

He is such a sweet man. He truly cares about his students and will help in any way he can. His class consists of a midterm, two essays, and a final. They are all take-home and open-note. He is retiring in the spring, so take his class if you can! He is amazing. Could not recommend someone more. He also is avalible for help every single day.

Excellent professor and class. If you can stomach the readings, and there are a lot, you will make sense of his great lectures and fly through the papers. Willoughby is caring, funny, and responds to emails quickly. He has an interactive student debate component of the class as well, which is a plus. Overall, I recommend!

Professor Willoughby is one of the best professors I've had at AU. You can tell he's very enthusiastic about the history of economic ideas. The papers are mostly graded by the TA, who grades pretty easily. Not difficult to get an A. Great Professor and also really sweet.