EC202-Intermediate Macroeconomics

Module Provider: School of Politics, Economics and International Relations
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:5
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites: EC113 Introductory Microeconomics and EC114 Introductory Macroeconomics and EC116 Introductory Mathematics for Economics 1 or EC113 Introductory Microeconomics and EC114 Introductory Macroeconomics and IC104 Introductory Quantitative Techniques for Business and Finance or EC113 Introductory Microeconomics and EC114 Introductory Macroeconomics and EC121 Introductory Mathematics for Economics 2
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Mark Guzman
Email: m.g.guzman@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

Intermediate Macroeconomics builds on concepts introduced in Principles of Macroeconomics.Ìý It is designed to provide a more in-depth understanding of the fundamental principles and analytic concepts related to economic growth, inflation, unemployment and interest rates.ÌýÌý

Aims:

You should develop a clearer understanding of the specific determinants of growth, the causes of unemployment and inflation and also the importance of interest rates in the economy.Ìý In addition, you should have a deeper appreciation of the interrelationship between these macroeconomic variables and government policy, and thus, be able to critically analyze relevant issues discussed in newspapers, magazines, and by politicians.ÌýÌý

Assessable learning outcomes:

At the end of the module students should be able to:

Understand and explain the basic development of macroeconomics during the twentieth century, develop simple macroeconomic models based on differing assumptions about the underlying economy, economically and mathematically explain the links between the major variables of importance in macroeconomics, apply these models to real world situations.

Additional outcomes:

You should:

Be able to provide analysis for the likely impact of both future events and also future policies on the key variables of interest, understand and interpret basic macro data sets, be able to coherently link data, mathematical models and the real world.Ìý

Outline content:

This course has been broken down into two parts.Ìý The first part of the course focuses on the long-run determinants of economic growth, while the second part examines the theory underlying short-run fluctuations in the economy.Ìý Finally, time permitting, we will explore how modern macroeconomics builds upon the previous two parts of the course.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
Lectures will develop all the main module material. Tutorials will cover exercise material designed to facilitate understanding of lecture topics.