MACROECONOMICS

Academic Year 2024/2025 - Teacher: ROBERTO CELLINI

Expected Learning Outcomes

 

  1. Knowledge and understanding: The course aims at presenting the main macroeconomic models, in the short run (Keynesian income-expendture model; IS-LM model), in the medium run (AD-AS, Phillips curve) and in the long run (Harrod-Domar, Solow; endogeneous growth models).
  2. Applying knowledge and understanding:  The student has to be able to apply the theoretical knowledge acquired to analyse specific case studies,to solve simple numerical exercises, and to provide comments and criticisms on data and statistics.
  3. Making judgements: The student will be able to understand which theoretical model is the most appropriate to describe and analyse real situation. He/she will be also able to understand pros and cons of different models, along with their weakness and strength points.
  4. Communication skills: During the course the student has to improve and develop the knowledge of a technical and economic language to use in an appropriate way as an useful instrument of communication, even with the aim of introducing herself /himself in the job market.
  5. Learning skills: The student will be able to understand which theoretical concept is appropriate to deal with specific case(s); he/she will be able to solve simple numerical analysis exercises; he/she will be able to comment upon news and data from official statistics. 

Course Structure

Lectures (80%); Guided exercises (10%); Discussion on case studies (10%).

(Exam: written; optional oral colloquium;
Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.)

Required Prerequisites

No formal requirements are set. Knowledge of basic mathematics (high school level), basic microeconomics and Italian language is necessary. 

Attendance of Lessons

Usually compulsory; in any case, strongly recommended.

Detailed Course Content

(1) Introduction to Macroeconomics (facts and statistics), (2) The composition of GDP and the goods market, (3) The Keynesian multiplier model, (4) Financial and money market, (5) The public sector and the public budget; (6) IS-LM model, (7) The labour market, the Phillips curve, reasons of sticky wages, (8) AD-AS model (i.e., IS-LM-PC model in Blanchard’s label), (9) Growth theory (classical, Keynesian, neoclassical and endogeneous growth models), (10) Basics of open economy, (11) The role of expectetions in financial markets, (12) Main schools in the history of macroeconomics.

Textbook Information

The reference textbook is: O. Blanchard, A. Amighini, F. Giavazzi, Macroeconomics – A European Perspective, Pearson, London: 2020 4th edition. – Chapters 1-14, 17-20, 25, (please, note that the chapters’ numbers differ from the Italian edition), along with 5 (compulsory) short handouts provided by the Instructor.

 

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

EXAM: 

Written test (students are required to answer 5 questions out of 6 proposed). A subsequent oral exam is available on demand. During the course, two separate written tests are offered as a substitute for the final written test.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

Examples of frequent questions.

Definition, characteristics, and limitations of GDP.

Real GDP and nominal GDP; GDP deflator.

The components of GDP.

The aggregate consumption function.

The aggregate investment function.

Public spending, taxes, transfers, and the state budget.

The function of imports and exports and the trade balance.

The balance of payments.

Determination of equilibrium income in the income-expenditure model.

Equilibrium in the goods market and the relationship between savings and investments.

The Keynesian multiplier.

The Keynesian multiplier with direct taxes.

Government spending multiplier vs. transfer multiplier.

The Keynesian multiplier in an open economy.

Money demand.

Money supply and monetary multipliers.

Equilibrium in the money market.

Stabilization of interest rates by monetary authorities.

The relationship between the price and yield of financial securities.

The liquidity trap.

The IS curve.

The LM curve (in its original version and in the case of fixed interest rates).

The IS-LM model.

Effects of fiscal policies in the IS-LM model and their comparative effectiveness.

Effects of monetary policies in the IS-LM model and their comparative effectiveness.

Effects of economic policy mix.

Causes and effects of "bank runs."

Nominal or real interest rates in the IS-LM model.

Variables in the labor market: participation rate, employment rate, unemployment rate.

The labor market (labor demand and supply) in neoclassical models.

The labor market in the Keynesian model.

Wage rigidity: the monopolist union model.

Wage rigidity: the efficiency wage model.

The natural rate of unemployment.

The output gap.

The price-setting curve and the wage-setting curve.

The labor cost per unit of output.

Okun's law.

The Phillips curve in its original version.

The Phillips curve and expectations.

Wage indexation and effects on the Phillips curve.

IS-LM model and Phillips curve (IS-LM-PC model).

The concept of underemployment equilibrium.

The effects of lockdown according to the IS-LM model.

The stylized facts of long-term growth.

The classical growth model (Lewis model).

The Keynesian growth model (Harrod-Domar model).

The post-Keynesian growth models.

The neoclassical growth model (Solow model).

Endogenous growth models.

Convergence in growth processes.

Physical capital, human capital, and social capital in growth processes.

Debates on technological unemployment.

Distributive inequalities in wages, incomes, and wealth.

The role of expectations in the goods market.

The role of expectations in financial markets.

The yield curve for bonds by maturity.

Relationships between dynamics in the goods and stock markets.

Effects of monetary policies on stock markets.

The goods market in an open economy.

Financial markets in an open economy.

Nominal, effective, and real exchange rates.

Effects of exchange rate changes on the goods market.

Effects of exchange rate changes on capital movements.

The evolution of macroeconomic thought: main contributions of Keynes.

Neoclassical criticisms of the Keynesian model: monetarists.

Rational expectations and their implications.

VERSIONE IN ITALIANO