EC210     
Macroeconomic Principles

This information is for the 2019/20 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Kevin Sheedy 32L1.09

Professor Ricardo Reis 32L1.27

Availability

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, BSc in Economics, BSc in Economics with Economic History, BSc in Government and Economics, BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics and MSc in Economics (2 Year Programme). This course is available on the BSc in Accounting and Finance, BSc in Business Mathematics and Statistics, BSc in Economic History with Economics, BSc in Economics and Economic History, BSc in Environmental Policy with Economics, BSc in Geography with Economics, BSc in International Social and Public Policy and Economics, BSc in Management, BSc in Mathematics and Economics, BSc in Mathematics with Economics, BSc in Mathematics, Statistics, and Business, BSc in Philosophy and Economics, BSc in Politics and Economics, BSc in Social Policy and Economics, BSc in Statistics with Finance and Diploma in Accounting and Finance. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

Pre-requisites

Students must have completed Economics A (EC100) or Economics B (EC102), or an equivalent introductory course in Economics. Students are also expected to have completed at least an introductory Mathematics course such as Basic Quantitative Methods (MA110).

Course content

This course will cover the fundamental principles of macroeconomics at an intermediate level. Topics include the study of economic growth, consumption, investment, unemployment, business cycles, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy, financial markets and international macroeconomics.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the MT. 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT.

Formative coursework

Students should attempt the assigned problems before attending classes, as they will have to hand them in every week, and will receive feedback from the class teachers on approximately half of them.

Students are expected to make positive contributions to class discussions.

Indicative reading

There is no single textbook for the course, as we will follow several different readings from different textbooks. For the Michaelmas term, a combined package containing chapters from the relevant textbooks will be available in the Economists' Bookshop.

Assessment

Exam (25%, duration: 1 hour, reading time: 15 minutes) in the January exam period.
Exam (75%, duration: 3 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the summer exam period.

The Lent term examination is based 100% on the Michaelmas term syllabus, and the Summer exam on 33% of the Michaelmas term syllabus and 67% of the Lent term syllabus.

Key facts

Department: Economics

Total students 2018/19: 574

Average class size 2018/19: 18

Capped 2018/19: No

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Application of numeracy skills