MACROECONOMICS

Maurizio Iacopetta

Instructional goals

This course aims to provide the methodological and theoretical tools to understand how the economies work and to explain the past and current economic developments. We will focus on the stylized facts of business cycle fluctuations and economic growth, the determinants of unemployment and inflation. We will also discuss whether and to what extent policy can improve macroeconomic performance.

Prerequisites

Microeconomic Principles

Intended learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding This course aims to provide the methodological and theoretical tools to understand how the economies work and to explain the past and current economic developments. We will focus on the stylized facts of business cycle fluctuations and economic growth, the determinants of unemployment and inflation. We will also discuss whether and to what extent policy can improve macroeconomic performance. Applying knowledge and understanding The students will be able to Apply a wide range of economic models to analyze contemporary and historical macroeconomic events, and propose appropriate macroeconomic policies Making judgements We expect students to be able to critically examine macroeconomic policies and use the appropriate economic models to critically demonstrate the scope and challenges of macroeconomic policies. Communication This course will give the students the possibility to acquire and understand major macroeconomic language and terminology in order to communicate their ideas, proposals, analysis and critical reasoning in the most effective and appropriate way with specialists and non-specialists. Lifelong learning skills This course will train the students to apply abstract thinking applied to complex economic system. This course will give students the tools to formulate and evaluate macroeconomic policy.

Course Contents

Part I: Introduction to Macroeconomics; The Big Questions; The story of macroeconomics Part II: Good Markets Financial markets: I IS-LM model Financial Markets: II Openness in Goods and Financial Market Budget Deficits Part III: Facts of Growth Saving, Capital Accumulation, and Output Technological Progress Technological Progress II

Reference Books

Blanchard, Amighini, and Giavazzi. Macroeconomics, A European Perspective. Pearson. Third Edition (2017).

Teaching Methods

Lectures and written exercises based on the problem set which will be made available few days before the class. The solutions of the problem set will be made available on the Luiss learn platform

Assessment Method

Written exam & problem sets handed in during the course. The exam is based on the topics covered during the lectures and classes, the chapters of the textbook and on selected supplementary readings assigned during the course.

Thesis assignment criteria

Interview with the lecturer, interest in the subject

Week 1 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Introduction to Macroeconomics; The big questions; The story of Macroeconomics Ch. 1 and Ch. 2, and 24

Week 2 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

The goods market Ch. 3 PS 1 Quiz 1

Week 3 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Financial markets: I Ch. 4 Quiz 2

Week 4 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

IS-LM Model Ch. 5 PS 2 Quiz 3

Week 5 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Financial markets: II Ch. 6 PS 3 Quiz 4

Week 6 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Openness in Goods and Financial Markets Ch. 17 Quiz 5

Week 7 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Budget Deficits Ch. 22 PS 4 Quiz 6

Week 8 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Facts of Growth Ch. 10

Week 9 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Mock Exam (from home) The students will be asked to solve a mid - term test (mid -term mock exam). The mid - term mock exam will be solved at home. As the problem sets, the mock exam will be graded out of 2 points. The score will be used to determine the overall final grade of students who attend the course regularly and take the exam in the Spring session (May-June).

Week 10 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Saving, Capital Accumulation, and Output Ch. 11 PS 5 Quiz 7

Week 11 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Technological Progress: I Ch. 12 PS 6 Quiz 8

Week 12 Contenuto sessioni on line e on campus

Technological Progress: II Ch. 13 PS 7 Quiz 9