Economics 333 - Macroeconomic Theory

Fall Semester 2008

Notes from class meetings

Date

Topic

Part 1: Introduction and basic concepts

August 27

Introduction to the course

August 29

Introduction to macroeconomics

September 2

National income accounting

September 4

Measuring changes over time: real versus nominal data

September 8

Measuring changes over time: growth rates and compound interest

Part 2: Economic growth

September 10

Inputs, output and productivity

September 12

Total factor productivity and development accounting

September 16

Total factor productivity growth and growth accounting

September 18

Quiz #1

September 18

The Solow model: basic concepts

September 22

September 25

September 29

Applying the Solow model

September 22

September 25

September 29

October 1

Exam #1

October 7

The economics of ideas

October 9

October 13

The Romer model

October 9

October 13

October 15

Solow, Romer and the sources of long-run growth

October 13

October 15

October 17

Costs of economic growth

Part 3: Unemployment and inflation

October 21

October 23

Employment, wages and unemployment

October 21

October 23

October 27

October 29

Money, inflation and interest rates

October 27

October 29

October 31

Quiz #2

Part 4: Modeling the short run

October 31

The short run: an overview

November 4

The IS curve

November 6

The IS-MP model

November 10

Consumption and saving

November 12

Government spending and budget deficits

November 14

Exchange rates

(Exchange rate graphs)

November 18

Net exports and the IS curve

November 20

No class meeting

November 24

Exam #2

Part 5: Analyzing the short run

December 1

The IS-MP model and aggregate demand

(AD graph here)

December 3

The Phillips curve and aggregate supply

(AS graph here)

December 5

December 9

December 11

Understanding business cycles

December 5

December 18

8 am

Final Exam