Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - ECON 482 D100

Selected Topics in Economics (3)

Computational Macro

Class Number: 2848

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 11, 2025
    Fri, 12:00–3:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    To be determined by the instructor subject to approval by the department chair.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

The subject matter will vary from term to term depending upon the interests of faculty and students.

COURSE DETAILS:

Prerequisite: ECON 305


The course will cover topics in empirical and computational tools to study modern macroeconomics questions and their applications. Many macroeconomic topics will be studied in the course including growth, consumption and saving behaviors, asset pricing, business cycle, expectation formation, and learning. Students will learn about the equilibrium consequences resulted from individual behaviors and how to analyze them. For each topic, the course will first layout the simple theoretical macroeconomic frameworks, discuss the model predictions and how they can be reconciled with real-time economic data, and show how to apply computational/empirical tools to perform quantitative analysis in the context of these frameworks. The course will have bi-weekly assignments including theoretical/computational work regarding materials taught in class. The assignment will take the form of both written (if analytical) and coding exercises. Students are encouraged to work on assignments in groups. They will use the software provided by the instructor. No computer skills are required for the class since students will be trained in a computer lab on how to use the software, example codes will be provided as well. Related papers will be assigned to groups of students who will do in-class presentations. The final exam will cover theory, empirics and computational methods discussed in the seminar.

The course will cover the following topics (subject to changes):

  1. Macroeconomic Data and Visualization
  2. Labor, Consumption and Saving (optimization and solving system of equations)
  3. Asset Pricing (iterative methods)
  4. Deterministic Dynamics in Growth Model
  5. DSGE models (State Space Models, VAR, Simulation Methods, Kalman Filter)
  6. Monetary Policy, Expectations, Information Frictions, and Learning




Grading

  • Assignments 40%
  • Paper Presentation 25%
  • Final 25%
  • Participation 10%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

None, lecture notes and codes will be provided by the instructor.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

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 during the second month of classes. If your course has a final exam, please ensure that you are available during the entire final exam period 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 website 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

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.