Knowledge and understanding
The course provides a unified treatment of economic policy, introducing the students to a rigorous analysis of its
main topics in order to help the students to build a solid background in economic policy and to become familiar
with new methodologies.
Knowledge and applied understanding
The course provides students with the economic knowledge to enable them to understand major policy issues
in the twenty-first century. By the end of course the student should have an understanding of theoretical
economic models and their implications for economic policy and planning, mainly macroeconomic and labour market policies;
to be able to apply an analytical framework to explain the effects of monetary and fiscal policy on
macroeconomic performance, economic crises, financial and fiscal stability, and income and wage distribution.
CONTENTS
Modern Macroeconomics: A review of methods and tools: IS-LM-MP framework, time series econometrics, and Dynamic General
Equilibrium models. Great Moderation and macro policy. The Great Recession. Budget Deficits and Fiscal Consolidations. Labor
Market Policy: Wage distribution, minimum wage; Unemployment Insurance in OECD countries and the impact on wages,
unemployment, and productivity. International Macroeconomic Policy.
Lecture notes, as the main reference for this course, will be provided prior to the lecture. There are other supplementary readings
from academic journal articles, books, and policy analysis and reports which will be accessible in the course website.
TEXTBOOKS
• David Romer. 2000. "Keynesian Macroeconomics without the LM Curve". Journal of Economic Perspectives, 14(2): 149-169.
• Ben Bernanke. 2004. "The Great Moderation". Remarks at the meetings of Eastern Economic Association, Washington DC.
• Reinhart, Carmen, and Kenneth Rogoff. 2009. "The Aftermath of Financial Crises" in "This Time is Different: Eight Centuries
of Financial Folly"
• Diamond, D. and Philip Dybvig. 1983. "Bank Runs, Deposit Insurance, and Liquidity" Journal of Political Economy. 91(3): 401-
419.
• Tressel, Hierry; Wang, Shengzu; Kang, Joong Shik, and Jay Shambaugh. 2014. “Adjustment in Euro Area Deficit Countries:
Progress, Challenges, and Policies". IMF working paper.
• Jay C. Shambaugh. 2012."The Euro's Three Crises". Brokkings papers on economic activity. 157-187.
• Gauti B. Eggertsson. 2010. "What Fiscal Policy is Effective at Zero Interest Rates?" NBER Macroeconomics Annual.