Welcome to Modern Macroeconomics!
This is the website of an intermediate macroeconomics course taught in several Programs at ISCTE-IUL. We believe that basic computational skills should be now at the core of any economist toolbox. Therefore, we introduced a little flavor of computation by extensively using Pluto notebooks and the Julia programming language. Currently, it is offered to students taking a major in Economics, Management, and Finance and Accounting.
Syllabus
The course is structured in twelve weeks of classes covering the following topics:
| Week | Topic |
|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Julia & Pluto |
| 2 | Introduction to Macroeconomics |
| 3 | Measuring Macroeconomic Data |
| 4 | The IS Curve |
| 5 | Monetary Policy and Aggregate Demand |
| 6 | The Central Bank Balance Sheet & Monetary Policy Tools |
| 7 | Aggregate Supply and the Phillips Curve |
| 8 | The Aggregate Demand & Supply Model |
| 9 | Macroeconomic Policy: Aggregate Demand & Supply Analysis |
| 10 | The Zero Lower Bound & Macroeconomic Policy |
| 11 | Fiscal Policy & the Government Budget |
| 12 | Rounding up topics & controversies |
Textbooks
- Frederic Mishkin (2014). Macroeconomics: Policy and Practice, 2nd Edition, Pearson, Addison-Wesley.
- Stephen G. Cecchetti and Kermit L. Schoenholtz (2017). Money, Banking, and Financial Markets, 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill.
Assessment
Option A
- Attendance of at least 75% of the classes
- Midterm test (covering the topics from week 1 to week 6): 50%
- Endterm test (covering all the topics, but with more emphasis on the materials of weeks 7 to 12): 50%
- The grade in any of these tests cannot be lower than 8 out of 20 points
Option B
- One Final Exam covering all the topics: 100%
Re-sitting Exam
There will be a Re-sitting Exam accounting for 100% of the grade and covering all the topics for those who fail the course.