API-121: Macroeconomic Theory and Policy

Teaches students the basic tools of macroeconomics and how to apply them to real-world economic policy. The goals of the course are for students to understand how to evaluate macroeconomic conditions such as unemployment, inflation, and growth; to understand how monetary policy and fiscal policy can be used to influence macroeconomic conditions; and to understand media accounts of macroeconomic events. The course covers a broad range of topics in macroeconomics including the role of fiscal and monetary policies in stabilizing the economy; the relationship between inflation and unemployment; the determinants of long-term economic growth; and monetary and fiscal policies in an open economy.

Prerequisite: A previous semester-long course in economics or a quantitative undergraduate background (e.g., some engineering or math).