EC210     
Macroeconomic Principles

This information is for the 2020/21 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 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 9 hours of classes in the LT. 1 hour of classes in the ST.

There will be a reading week in Week 6 of LT only (no lectures or classes that week).

There will be a revision lecture in week 1 of ST.

This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 59 hours across Michaelmas Term and Lent Term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of virtual classes, live streamed (recorded) lectures, and some flipped content delivered as short online videos.

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.

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Key facts

Department: Economics

Total students 2019/20: 654

Average class size 2019/20: 19

Capped 2019/20: No

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

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