The course will cover the following topics in macroeconomics: comparative advantage and trade, supply and demand, the data of macroeconomics - measuring inflation and unemployment, economic growth, the financial system, basics of finance, money, banking and central banks, inflation, exchange rates, balance of payments, aggregate supply and demand, business cycles, monetary and fiscal policy, and the inflation-unemployment tradeoff.
The course also aims to link the economic theory to current issues and debated questions. A focus will be devoted to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world economy, the ongoing debate on the “new protectionism” and the US-China trade relationships and the effects of the massive use of technology and AI on the global labor market.
Students are strongly encouraged to read articles from “The Economist” (available at the University’s library), and the “Financial Times”, as well as to follow the daily news on the main economic events.
The instructor will hand out (or direct students to) additional readings on macroeconomic issues.
Materials on the course will be posted on moodle web page.