EC202: Intermediate Macroeconomics

What are the forces that drive long-term prosperity? What are the consequences of high levels of government debt? What are central banks and how do they control interest rates? These are some of the pressing challenges macroeconomics aims to address.

Both business and government leaders need to have a firm understanding of macroeconomics in order to make strategic decisions in today’s highly dynamic and international global market.

This course brings you up-to-date with modern developments in macroeconomic theory and offers you fresh perspectives on the macroeconomic challenges of the day. Covering key topics such as macroeconomic measurement and data, labour markets, unemployment, consumption and savings, monetary and fiscal policy and international macroeconomics, you will have the opportunity to test economic models using real-world data.

Engaging with leading faculty and your peers, you will delve into some of the most pressing global challenges, exploring how the study of macroeconomics can help solve these problems. As a result, by the end of the course, you will take away the in-depth analytical tools to interpret global economic shifts and their impact on the public and private sectors.

Prerequisites: Introductory macroeconomics (see our course EC102 for an example of the required level) and microeconomics (see EC101), and differential calculus.

Level: 200 level. Read more information on levels in our FAQs

Fees: Please see Fees and payments

Lectures: 36 hours

Classes: 18 hours

Assessment: Two written examinations

Typical credit: 3-4 credits (US) 7.5 ECTS points (EU)

Please note: Assessment is optional but may be required for credit by your home institution. Your home institution will be able to advise how you can meet their credit requirements. For more information on exams and credit, read Teaching and assessment

This course is suitable if you already have an introductory level understanding of macroeconomics and would like to pursue the field in further depth. As a result, it aims to bring you up-to-date with modern developments in macroeconomic theory and offer fresh perspectives on the macroeconomic challenges of the day.

It is especially suited if you wish to pursue further study in economics or if you are targeting a career in policy development, government, consulting and business management. 

• Understand the forces that drive long-term prosperity and why economic activity fluctuates
• Identify the features of financial markets and labour markets that make them special, and examine how they interact with the rest of the economy
• Analyse the role of banks and why they are inherently fragile
• Interpret what the implications of the increasing globalisation of trade and finance are for the economy
• Discuss whether central banks conduct monetary policy

The design of this course is guided by LSE faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.