Learning outcomes

At the end of the course students will be able to demonstrate:
 

  1.  ability to identify the main causes of macroeconomic fluctuations in a given country;
  2.  understanding of the role of government policies and structural characteristics in macroeconomic fluctuations across countries at different stages of development;
  3.  design policy reforms capable of alleviating the adverse impacts of macroeconomic fluctuation on growth, poverty, and welfare

At the end of the course students will also be able to mobilize the following soft skils:

  1.  communicate clearly and persuasively both in English (written and oral) as well as in graphical form;
  2. manage a project;
  3.  integrate and work within a team and also to exercise leadership.

Goals

This course is concerned with the causes and consequences of macroeconomic fluctuations and their implications for the design of macroeconomic policies  and structural reforms.
 

Content

    (Suggestive) Outline of the Course

  1. Macroeconomic Fluctuations: Measurement and Co-movement Analysis
  2. Explaining Macroeconomic Fluctuations: a Static General Equilibrium Model
  3. Explaining Macroeconomic Fluctuations: Structural Characteristics and Development
  4. Identification of Macroeconomic Shocks with Dynamic Structural Statistical Models
  5. Explaining Macroeconomic Fluctuations: Fiscal Policy and Political Institutions
  6. Macroeconomic Volatility, Growth and Poverty
  7. Welfare Cost of Macroeconomic Fluctuations

Table of contents

  (Suggestive) Outline of the Course

  1. Macroeconomic Fluctuations: Measurement and Co-movement Analysis
  2. Explaining Macroeconomic Fluctuations: a Static General Equilibrium Model
  3. Explaining Macroeconomic Fluctuations: Structural Characteristics and Development
  4. Identification of Macroeconomic Shocks with Dynamic Structural Statistical Models
  5. Explaining Macroeconomic Fluctuations: Fiscal Policy and Political Institutions
  6. Macroeconomic Volatility, Growth and Poverty
  7. Welfare Cost of Macroeconomic Fluctuations

Exercices

A lab session of about 8 hours is organized where students will be intoduced to the software matlab to implement empical analysis.

Assessment method

Evaluation includes 3 parts:

  1. Group project: 40%; 
  2. Interim evaluation: 20%
  3. Written close book exam: 40%

This mode of evaluation is suject to changes according to the evolution of the covid crisis

Sources, references and any support material

  1. Agénor, P. R. (2004): The Economics of Adjustment and Growth, Second Edition, Harvard University Press
  2. Montiel, P. (2003): Macroeconomics in Emerging Markets, Cambridge University Press
  3. Journal Articles

Language of instruction

Français