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 links the economic theory to current issues and open questions. A focus will be devoted to the current situation in the Euro Area, the causes and the consequences of the sovereign debt crisis in Europe, the role of emerging countries in the world economy, the possible consequences on the world economy of a Chinese slowdown, the deflation in Europe and the impact of the European Central Bank “Quantitative easing” on the Euro area countries
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 myjcu web page.