Lutz Hendricks. UNC. Department of Economics

Econ520 - Advanced Macroeconomic Theory

Spring 2012 - Prof. Lutz Hendricks


Announcements

  • No class on Mar-1 (will be rescheduled).
  • Feb-3: One of our PhD students is conducting a study on textbook use. He is asking students to participate in a survey. If you would like to help, please click here. Participation is, of course, voluntary.
  • Exam dates are: Feb-14, Mar-22, final: May-1 4pm.
  • Important: you must have passed Intermediate Macroeconomics to register for this course.

For those planning / buying ahead: the text will be

Charles Jones. Introduction to Economic Growth (Second Edition), 2001. ISBN-13: 978-0393977455.

I will also draw on:
Charles Jones. Intermediate Macroeconomics. Norton. ISBN-10: 0393926389 ISBN-13: 978-0393926385. [A 2nd edition also exists]

Class meets Tue, Thr 3:30 - 4:45pm, GA007.

Check this web site (www.lhendricks.org) regularly for updates.

Syllabus. Course grades. Letter grade cutoffs: A: 85, B: 70, C: 55, D: 45. Math review problems.

Schedule

Topic

Date

Material

Introduction

Jan-10
SL (SL means "slides" - which appeared on the screen in class.)

Economic Growth

-- --
Growth facts Jan-12
J1, JA.1, SL, PP
The Role of Capital
Jan-17
J2, SL, PP
Solow model Jan-19
J2, SL, PP
Applications
Jan-26
J3, SL
Institutions
Jan-31
J7, SL, PP
Ideas Feb-2
J4, SL
Romer model Feb-4
J5, SL, PP
Exam 1 Feb-14 Bring: paper, pens, calculator.
Rules: closed book, closed notes. Questions similar in spirit to Practice Problems.
Material covered: Up to (including) Romer model.

Long-run Challenges for the U.S. Economy

-
-
Life-cycle model
Feb-16
SL, PP
Adding a government
Feb-23
SL
Fiscal policy
SL, PP
Visual exploration of the federal budget
International trade: twin deficits
SL, PP
Exam 2
Mar-22
Bring: paper, pens, calculator.
Rules: closed book, closed notes. Questions similar in spirit to Practice Problems.
Material covered: TBA. But remember: New material builds on older material.
The falling U.S. saving rate
SL, PP
Do Americans save enough?

SL
Income inequality
SL
Labor markets

SL, PP
Unemployment

SL
Hours worked

SL
Open economy

SL, PP
Last class
Review. All questions answered.
Final exam May-1
Rules as previous 2 exams. Time: 4pm to 5:15pm.
Material covered: TBA.
But remember: New material builds on older material.


Legend: "J1" means Jones, Introduction to Economic Growth, ch. 1.
SL: slides. PP: practice problems (not to be handed in).
Past exams: