• Fully explain the basic concepts, models, theories and tools used in this macroeconomics course and use them to analyze economic decisions by individuals and by firms.
• Explain how and what we measure economics aggregates. Explain why economics focuses on economic growth and develop models that help us to understand what factors aid in economics growth. Explain why we care about growth and how knowledge of personal finance and stock markets can lead to growth in aggregate and individual wealth.
• Predict the typical general effects of the business cycle on inflation and unemployment. Display clear knowledge of the correct countercyclical monetary and fiscal policies in an economic contraction and an economic expansion.
• Articulate and explain the origins, workings, and potential problems in monetary systems.
• Analyze economic outcomes in terms of their effects on aggregate income and income distribution.
• Be able to outline the major themes of international trade and international finance in an economic analytical framework.

The Principles of Macroeconomics is the introductory, foundational course that gives students a comprehensive overview of macroeconomic theory. It provides the framework for subsequent intermediate macroeconomic theory courses and is any student's introduction to the analysis of economies at the aggregated (national or state) level.

Macroeconomics is the study of the behavior of an entire economy aggregated across all of the individual decision-making units. It deals primarily with those factors affecting production, employment, and price levels. Topics which we will cover include: economic growth, business cycles, the national debt, interest rates, government spending, the measurement of economic aggregates, monetary policy, and fiscal policy. We will also introduce international economics and policies along with international finance.  

There is relatively-wide agreement on the goals of macroeconomic policy: growth in real output, full employment, and price stability. However, macroeconomic theory is marked by diverse perspectives concerning the appropriate policy actions required to achieve these goals. A number of alternative schools of thought exist including Keynesianism, Monetarism, and Rational Expectations. Each stresses different paths and perspectives on the proper path(s) to achieving the goals of macroeconomic success.

Students are encouraged to follow the economic and financial news over the period of the course – the course will provide the background necessary for formulating informed opinions on the workings of a macroeconomy. 

The primary focus of this course is on the development of analytical prowess or "critical thinking." The discipline of economics originated within philosophy, rhetoric, logic and mathematics and transitioned through political economy in the 19th century into modern economics.  As a result, economics is a very broad social science drawing upon the interconnectedness of human action. We model human behaviors within particular institutional arrangements. 

This course focuses on the macroeconomy including government policies designed to influence, direct, and coordinate economics behavior.  The two major categories of policies covered here are fiscal policy and monetary policy.  We will address how we recognize the business cycle, why we may want to use policy to adjust that cycle, and what polices would be called from in both the fiscal and monetary policy actions spheres. We will also develop an understanding of the monetary system.  

Preliminary Assignment: 
(1) Read the first four chapters of the textbook and prepare questions to discuss in our first week of class meetings. 
(2) Carefully read this article: Radford, R.A. 1945. “The Economic Organisation of a P.O.W. Camp.” Economica, 12(48): 189-201.  Be prepared to participate in the discussion in the first class. Prepare written answers to the study guide questions. 
(3)  Carefully read this article: Hayek, F. A. 1945. “The Use of Knowledge in Society.” American Economic Review, 35(4): 519–30. Be prepared to participate in the discussion in the fourth class. Prepare written answers to the study guide questions. 

Class 1 Introduction
1. The Big Ideas in Economics
2. The Power of Trade and Comparative Advantage

Class 2  Supply and Demand, Price Controls
3. Supply and Demand
4. Equilibrium: How Supply and Demand Determine Prices 
5. Price Ceilings and Price Floors

Class 3 Economic Growth, National Income Accounting
6. GDP and The Measurement of Progress
7. The Wealth of Nations and Economic Growth
Appendix: The Magic of Compound Growth: Using a Spreadsheet
Preliminary Assignment due

Class 4 Economic Growth and Productivity
8. Growth, Capital Accumulation and the Economics of Ideas: Catching Up vs. The Cutting Edge
Appendix: Excellent Growth
9. Savings, Investment, and the Financial System
Appendix: Bond Pricing and Arbitrage

Class 5 Personal Finance, Political Economy and Public Choice
10. Stock Markets and Personal Finance
21. Political Economy and Public Choice

NOTE: 
The Optional Midterm Assignment below opens at the beginning of Week 5 on LEARN.

Class 6 Business Fluctuations, Employment, Money, and Inflation
11. Unemployment and Labor Force Participation
12. Inflation and the Quantity Theory of Money

Optional Mid-term Assignment
The optional mid-term assignment will be a take-home examination covering course materials up to that point and will be similar to the final examination. Its format will be multiple choice and short answer. It will be posted on LEARN a week prior to its due date - the beginning of Class Meeting 5. This midterm is best viewed as learning opportunity for students. I encourage you, and you have my explicit permission, to work with a classmate or small team. Ideally, you will learn from one another. Midterm questions are drawn from the test bank which is a supplement to your textbook. Space will be provided for you to do your analysis on the examination. 

Class 7 Business Fluctuations, Aggregate Demand and Aggregate Supply, Transmission of Policy
13. Business Fluctuations: Aggregate Demand and Supply 
14. Transmission and Amplification Mechanisms

Class 8 Macroeconomic Policy and Institutions - Monetary Policy and the Fed
15. The Federal Reserve System and Open Market Operations
Appendix: The Money Multiplier Process in Detail
16. Monetary Policy

Class 9 Macroeconomic Policy and Institutions - Fiscal Policy and Congress
17. The Federal Budget: Taxes and Spending
18. Fiscal Policy

Class 10 International Economics - Trade, Finance, and Exchange Rates
19. International Trade 
20. International Finance

Class 11 Comprehensive Review

Preliminary Assignment: To help students get maximum value from ISUP courses, instructors provide a reading or a small number of readings or video clips to be read or viewed before the start of classes with a related task scheduled for class 1 in order to 'jump-start' the learning process.

Course timetable is available on https://www.cbs.dk/uddannelse/international-summer-university-programme-isup/courses-and-exams

We reserve the right to cancel the course if we do not get enough applications. This will be communicated on https://www.cbs.dk/uddannelse/international-summer-university-programme-isup/courses-and-exams end February 2019 at the latest.

Mandatory readings:

Articles are available through JSTOR from the CBS Library.   
Hayek, F. A. 1945. “The Use of Knowledge in Society.” American Economic Review, 35(4): 519–30.

Radford, R.A. 1945. “The Economic Organisation of a P.O.W. Camp.” Economica, 12(48): 189-201.

Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrok
Modern Principles of Macroeconomics
ISBN-13: 978-1429278409
ISBN-10: 1429278404

Macmillan3rd Ed