Spring 2020 - ECON 403 D100
Advanced Macroeconomic Theory (3)
Class Number: 1719
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2020: Tue, 8:30–11:20 a.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Luba Petersen
lubap@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
ECON 302, 305 and 331. Students who have completed both MATH 232 and 251 may substitute them for ECON 331. Entry into this course requires a minimum CGPA of 3.0 or permission of the department.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Advanced coverage of macroeconomic theory for students intending to pursue graduate study in economics. Topics may include economic growth, business cycles, and monetary theory. Quantitative.
COURSE DETAILS:
This is an advanced undergraduate course in theoretical and applied macro-economics. The aim of the course is broad in scope to prepare students for further graduate study in macroeconomics and also to ensure that all students leave the course with a policy-relevant toolkit.
The course will cover five key topics:
(1) Growth theory and institutions
(2) General equilibrium models of consumption and investment
(3) Unemployment and search models
(4) Optimal monetary and fiscal policy
(5) Behavioral macroeconomics
Because many interesting and practical models do not have analytical solutions, part of the toolkit of any applied macro-economist is a basic knowledge of computational methods. Thus, throughout the term we shall examine some relatively simple computational methods. You will be expected to learn these methods and apply them to assignment problems.
Grading
- Class presentation 15%
- Assignments and in-class quizzes 20%
- Midterm exam 25%
- Final exam 40%
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
None. All required readings will come from instructor-provided lecture notes. The lectures will be based on material from various articles and topics covered in:
“Monetary Theory and Policy” by Carl Walsh, MIT, 4th edition, 2017.
“Advanced Macroeconomics” by David Romer, McGraw Hill, 5th edition, 2019.
“Economic Growth” by Barro, R. and Sala-i-Martin, MIT, 2003.
Department Undergraduate Notes:
***NO TUTORIALS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES***
Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability must contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) at 778-782-3112 or caladmin@sfu.ca.
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS