EC442
Macroeconomics for MRes students
This information is for the 2024/25 session.
Teacher responsible
Prof Benjamin Moll SAL.1.19, Dr Ethan Ilzetzki SAL.1.11 and Prof Matthias Doepke SAL.1.18
Prof Silvana Tenreyro SAL.2.17
Availability
This course is compulsory on the MRes/PhD in Economics, MRes/PhD in Economics and Management and MRes/PhD in Finance. This course is not available as an outside option.
Course content
The course will cover topics in advanced macroeconomics with emphasis on fundamentals and applications to recent theoretical advances:
i. Economic growth: Neoclassical Growth Model, Optimizing Behaviour in Dynamic Models under Certainty, Endogenous Technological Change, Imitation and Convergence, Growth and Development Accounting, Appropriate Technology.
ii. Search and Matching: The Matching Model, Efficiency Wages, Growth and Unemployment.
iii. Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium Models: Real Business Cycles, Applications to Models of Heterogeneous Agents and Open Economy, Fiscal Policy Analysis.
iv. Monetary Economics: Models with Credit Frictions, Sticky Prices, Search.
Teaching
30 hours of lectures and 15 hours of classes in the AT. 30 hours of lectures and 15 hours of classes in the WT. Attendance at classes is compulsory.
Formative coursework
Compulsory exercises are set for each class. A mock exam will take place in early WT.
Indicative reading
A good general textbook that is mostly below the level of the course is:
D Romer, Advanced Macroeconomics, McGraw-Hill Advanced Series in Economics, New York, 1996.
For the growth part the main references are the textbooks by:
D. Acemoglu, Introduction to Modern Economic Growth, Princeton University Press, 2009; R J Barro & X Sala-i-Martin, Economic Growth, McGraw-Hill, 1997.
Other useful texts include:
L Ljungqvist & T Sargent, Recursive Macroeconomic Theory, MIT Press, 2000; N Stokey & R E Lucas, Recursive Methods in Economic Dynamics, Harvard University Press, 1989.
More economic applications, with some required readings can be found in:
M Obstfeld & K Rogoff, Foundations of International Macroeconomics, MIT Press, 2000; P Aghion & P Howitt, Endogenous Growth Theory, MIT Press 1998; C A Pissarides, Equilibrium Unemployment Theory, MIT Press 2000.
Assessment
Exam (75%, duration: 3 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the spring exam period.
Problem sets (25%) in the AT and WT.
Key facts
Department: Economics
Total students 2023/24: 31
Average class size 2023/24: 16
Controlled access 2023/24: Yes
Value: One Unit
Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.