Overview
Current topics in macroeconomic policy which may include: unemployment and policies to reduce it, government budget deficits, supply-side controversies, financial deregulation, policy coordination, and management of exchange rates. Comparison of policies in Canada, the United States, and other OECD countries.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify the essential features of a macroeconomy and to diagnose its problems;
- Describe how savings and trade contribute to economic growth;
- Explain how governments use fiscal policy to stabilize an economy or boost its growth;
- Explain how governments use macroeconomic policy to stabilize an economy;
- Describe how exchange rates are managed, and the pros and cons of various exchange rate choices;
- Define Keynesian and Austrian views of how a business cycle is generated and how to respond to a business cycle;
- Describe how economists and politicians have steered economies in either more Keynesian or more Austrian directions;
- Describe recent macroeconomic events in Japan, Europe and North America, as well as whatever breaking news events there may be.
Terms
Evaluation
10% - Review Quizzes
24% - Online Discussion Group Participation
36% - Assignments (3x10%)
30% - Non-Proctored Final Exam
**Evaluation Subject to change**
Textbook and Materials
ASO reserves the right to make changes to the required material list as received by the instructor before the course starts. Please refer to the Campus Bookstore website at to obtain the most up-to-date list of required materials for this course before purchasing them.
Course Notes
Students will obtain their lesson notes, assignments, and any supplementary material from the course onQ site beginning the first day of term.
Required Textbooks
The online textbook for the course will be available on onQ.
Time Commitment
To complete the readings, assignments, and course activities, students can expect to spend on average, about 10 - 12 hours (120 hours per term) per week on the course.