Spring 2021 - ECON 403 D100
Advanced Macroeconomic Theory (3)
Class Number: 4338
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Jan 11 – Apr 16, 2021: Tue, 11:30 a.m.–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby -
Exam Times + Location:
Apr 27, 2021
Tue, 7:00–10:00 p.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
- Final exam 40%
- MIdterm exam 25%
- Assignments and in-class quizzes 20%
- Class presentation 15%
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.
https://sfu-store.vitalsource.com/products/advanced-macroeconomics-david-romer-v9781260231250?term=9781260185218
“Economic Growth” by Barro, R. and Sala-i-Martin, MIT, 2003.
(etext via SFU library)
Department Undergraduate Notes:
Please note that, as per Policy T20.01, the course requirements (and grading scheme) outlined here are subject to change up until the end of the first week of classes.
Final exam schedules will be released in February. This will allow students to avoid enrollment conflicts, and will significantly reduce instances of exam hardship. If your course has a final exam, please ensure that you are available during the final exam period of April 14 - 26 until you receive confirmation of your exam dates.
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.***NO TUTORIALS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES***
Registrar Notes:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS
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
TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2021
Teaching at SFU in spring 2021 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.
Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).