Office hours for this class are Wednesday 7:30-12:00, or by appointment, in Monteith 318.
A fourth edition of the book is now available. You may still use the third or second editions without much loss. The fourth and third editions have some added material that is covered by supplementary material that you can download in the schedule below. There is a cheaper, online version of the textbook at CourseSmart.
We will not cover every chapter of the textbook, and I will cover some material not covered in the textbook. Supplementary material along with links to more on certain topics on the web are provided below.
And to help you follow the class, the list of symbols used. Starting lecture 30, you may want to use this model template. This schedule is subject to changes in terms of content, dates for all evaluations are firm.
Textbook pages | Recommended Exercices | |||||
Date | Topic | Ed. 3 | Ed. 4 | Ed. 3 | Ed. 4 | |
1 | 31 Aug | Course Introduction | ||||
2 | 2 Sep | Macroeconomic measurement I | 37-59 | 39-62 | C2: Q1-5, Q7-10, Q15, P1-6, P12, S1-4, S6-9, S12-14, G1-2 | C2: Q1-5, Q7-10, Q15, P1-6, P14, S1-4, S6-9, S12-13, S15, G1-2 |
3 | 7 Sep | Dealing with business cycle data | 67-76, notes 1-11 | 70-81, notes 1-11 | ||
4 | 9 Sep | Business cycle facts I | 76-88, notes 12-21 | 81-93, notes 12-21 | C3: Q1-2, Q7, S1-3 | C3: Q1-4, S1-3 |
5 | 14 Sep | Quiz 1, Business cycles facts II, Data problem handed out | notes 12-21 | notes 12-21 | ||
6 | 16 Sep | Household decisions I | 99-112 | 102-116 | C4: Q1-9, P3, P5-6, S1-2, G1-2, G6 | C4: Q1-9, P4, P6-7, S1-2, G1-2, G6 |
7 | 21 Sep | Household decisions II, Firm decisions I | 112-128 | 116-132 | C4: Q10-13, P8-9, S3, G3-4 | C4: Q10-13, P10-11, S3, G3-4 |
8 | 23 Sep | Quiz 2, Firm decisions I, A first macroeconomic model: statics I, data problem due | 129-133, 139-142 | 134-138, 146-149 | C4: Q5, P5, P8-9, S5, G5, G7-8 | C4: Q5, P7, P10-11, S4, G5, G7-8 |
9 | 28 Sep | A first macroeconomic model: statics II | 142-163 | 149-168 | C5: S2-5, S7, S10-13, G2-3 | C5: S2-5, S7, S10-13, G2-3 |
10 | 30 Sep | Mid-term I | Material: all until class 9 | Material: all until class 9 | ||
11 | 5 Oct | Growth: the Maltusian model | 189-199 | 195-207 | C6: Q3-5, P1-2 | C6: S10-14, G3, Q3-5, P1-2 |
12 | 7 Oct | Quiz 3, Growth: modern stylized facts | 184-189, notes 8-12 | 192-195, notes 8-12 | C6: S1, Q2 | C6: S1, Q2 |
13 | 12 Oct | Growth: the Solow model | 200-212 | 207-219 | C6: S3-7 Q6-9, P3-5 | C6: S3-7, Q6-9, P3-5 |
14 | 14 Oct | Growth: technology, growth accounting | 213-220 | 221-230 | C6: S15, S17, G1-2, Q15, P6, P10-11 | C6: S15, S17, G1-2, Q15, P6, P11-12 |
15 | 19 Oct | Quiz 4. Engogenous growth: a survey | 230-244 | 238-253 | C7: S5-10, S12-13, Q5-9, P4 | C7: S5-10, S12-13, Q5-9, P5 |
16 | 21 Oct | Bringing some dynamics: consumption and savings | 253-279 | 262-289 | C8: S1-5, G1, G4, Q1-2, Q4-11, Q13-14, P1, P3-4 | C8: S1-5, G1, G4, Q1-2, Q4-11, Q13-14, P1, P3-4 |
17 | 26 Oct | Bringing some dynamics: Ricardian equivalence, credit market frictions | 279-288, 295-298 (incomplete) | 289-324 | C8: S8-9, G6, Q17-19, P6, P9 | C8: S7-8, G6, Q17-19, P6, P9 |
18 | 28 Oct | Bringing some dynamics: social security, investment and interest rates | 288-294, 311-335 | 327-364 | C8: Q20-22, C9: S4-6, G1, Q4-8, P1-2 | C9: Q8-10, C10: S4, S6, S8, G1, Q4-7, Q9, P1-2 |
19 | 2 Nov | Bringing some dynamics: market equilibrium | 335-346 | 364-377 | C9: S8-10, Q9-11, P3, P6 | C10: S10-12, Q10-12, P3, P5 |
20 | 4 Nov | Bringing some dynamics: policy | 346-352 | 378-386 | C9: S11, Q15-16, P9-10, P12 | C10: S12, Q15-16, P9-10, P12 |
21 | 9 Nov | Quiz 5, Money: what it is | 363-368, 560-566 | 396-398, 571-577 | C10: S1, Q1, C15: S1-4, Q1, Q3 | C11: S2, Q1, C16: S1-4, Q1, Q3 |
22 | 11 Nov | Money: what it does I | 369-379, notes | 399-414, notes | C10: S2-3, G1, P1, Q2-3 | C11: S3-5, G1, P1, Q2-3 |
23 | 16 Nov | Mid-term II | Material: classes 16-20 | Material: classes 16-20 | ||
24 | 18 Nov | Money: what it does II, Extra-credit problem handed out | 379-391 | 415-425 | C10: S4, Q4, Q9, P3-5 | C11: S6, Q4, Q9, P1, P4, P6 |
27 | 30 Nov | Money: policy, Teacher evaluation | 391-397, 566-575 | 425-430, 577-587 | C10: S5-6, Q5-6, Q12-13, P8, C15: S9, Q7, P5 | C11: S8, Q5-6, C16: Q7, P5 |
2 Dec | Quiz 6, Extra-credit problem due, Review session | |||||
16 Dec, 8-10am | Final exam | Material: all of the above with strong emphasis on classes 11-27 | Material: all of the above with strong emphasis on classes 11-27 |
15/30% means that the lowest of the mid-terms and final will count for 15%, the two others for 30%. A 5% extra-credit project will also be offered towards the end of the term.
A word about grading. When I grade, the average is usually around 60%. This allows me to reward better those who do well. Do not be too alarmed when you get a grade that is lower than those you get in other classes. But if it is really low, you should do something about it...
There are past exams available from previous times I taught this class. Note however, that the order of the material has changed. Watch therefore for class titles: Spring 2003, Fall 2003, Spring 2004, Fall 2004, Fall 2005, Spring 2006, Fall 2006, Fall 2007 and Fall 2009. If I encourage you to do particular exercices, keep in mind that I may ask similar questions.
To contact me: Phone: 6-3272, Email: christian.zimmermann@uconn.edu