Examines the causes of long-run economic growth and short-run fluctuations in output, employment, inflation, and interest rates. Topics include fiscal and monetary policy, labor markets, financial markets, and international trade. Emphasis on data-driven, model-based analysis of real-world macroeconomic conditions in both closed and open economies.
Athena Title
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in ECON 4020E, ECON 4020H
Prerequisite
(ECON 2106 or ECON 2106E or ECON 2106H) and (ECON 2105 or ECON 2105E or ECON 2105H) and (MATH 2200 or MATH 2250 or MATH 2250E or BUSN 4000 or BUSN 4000E)
Semester Course Offered
Offered every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will apply macroeconomic models such as the Solow Growth Model, the Quantity Theory of Money, Labor Market models, Real Business Cycle Theory, the IS/LM framework, and/or the IS/MP framework, to analyze long-run growth and short-run fluctuations across countries and timeperiods
Students will interpret macroeconomic data using real-world sources to identify trends, compare outcomes, and support evidence-based conclusions about macroeconomic performance.
Students will evaluate the strengths and limitations of fiscal and monetary policy tools to assess trade-offs in policy design and effectiveness across macroeconomic environments.
Students will communicate macroeconomic reasoning clearly in written and oral formats by constructing structured arguments supported by models and empirical evidence.
Students will create original interpretations of current macroeconomic events by synthesizing theoretical models, policy debates, and data-driven insights.
Topical Outline
Macroeconomic Measurement
Economic Growth, Productivity, and Capital Accumulation
Labor Markets and Unemployment
Consumption, saving and financial markets
Inflation and the Monetary System
Short-Run Fluctuations and Stabilization Policy
Fiscal Policy
Monetary Policy and Central Banking
International Macroeconomics
Data-Driven Applications and Current Events
Institutional Competencies
Analytical Thinking
The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.
Critical Thinking
The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.
