08795 - Macroeconomics

Learning outcomes

This course provides an introduction to the economic analysis of key macroeconomic variables such as output, employment, inflation, interest rates and exchange rates. It first builds a foundation to understand how the labour, money, and goods and services markets are interacted, interconnected and are influenced by changes in prices, inflation rates and interest rates. The basic framework is then used to examine how the policies set by the central bank and the government affect the economy in the short-run and long-run time horizon.

Course contents

Principles of National Accounting

The Goods Market

Financial Markets

IS-LM Model

The Labor Market

Inflation

The AS-AD Model

Goods and Financial Markets in Open Economy

Exchange Rate Regimes

Readings/Bibliography

• Blanchard O. et al. (2016), Macroeconomia. Una prospettiva europea. Il Mulino, Italia.

Alternatively:

• Blanchard O. et al. (2016), Scoprire la macroeconomia I - Quello che non si può non sapere + Blanchard O. et al. (2016), Scoprire la macroeconomia II - Un passo in più.

In addition, notes available on teacher's website  (www.lauravici.com/macroeconomia).

Exercises:

• Savioli M. e Vici L. (2014), Macroeconomia. Dalla teoria alla pratica, McGraw-Hill Education, Italia.

Teaching methods

The program will be presented in-depth in class. Theoretical and practical classes will be provided.

Assessment methods

Assessment is based on a written exam.

The exam lasts 90 minutes and the final mark is expressed in thirties. 

The exam is composed of 10 multiple-choice questions, 2 open-ended questions and 2 exercises. There are three requirements to pass the exam: i) correctly answer at least 5 multiple-choice questions; ii) correctly answer at least one open-ended question; ii) the overall mark must be at least to 18/30.

The grade is graduated as follows:

<18 failed
18-23 sufficient
24-27 good
28-30 very good
30 e lode excellent

Students are not allowed to use notes, books, mobile phones, smart watches or other electronic devices. 

Grade rejection. Students can reject the grade obtained at the exam once. To this end, he/she must email a request to the instructor within the date set for registration. The instructor will confirm reception of the request within the same date.

 

Teaching tools

Whiteboard and projector.

Office hours

See the website of Laura Vici