International Macroeconomics (Master Level, Fall Semester 2011)

1. Course Objectives

This graduate level course familiarize students with key concepts in international macroeconomics. The focus is on the new open macroeconomics, as well as on issues financial stability and development. Particular attention is given to the recent financial crisis. The course draws on a wide range of scientific articles of varying difficulty. Students with no background in economics are strongly recommended to read an introductory textbook in macroeconomics. A basic knowledge of statistical and econometric inference is also essential. 

2. Course Organization

 The course is a blend of lectures and research paper discussions. The required reading assignment for each session consist of one (or at most two) journal article. Students are expected to have carefully read these articles (marked by RR) and be prepared to summarize and discuss their key insights. Other optional reading includes suggested reading (SR) and advanced reading (AR).

The grading will be based on class participation (30%), group assignments (40%), and the final exam (30%). For the group assignments, groups of (at most) 3 students are formed.  A single joint solution to each group assignment need to be send to Nicolay.Markov@unige.ch before the class (in which the solution is discussed). Please adhere to the following naming convention: The e-mail "subject" and world file "name" should correspond to the following form:  

Assignment_1_group_8       for group 8 handing in assignment #1.

Late submissions are not accepted. The word file has to name (on the top) all group participants who have worked on the solution. You also have to adhere to the page or word restriction on the length of the document. Additional documentation (programs, calculations, etc.) you can but into an appendix. You should be able to present and defend your solution in class.

3. Course Material

Principle course textbook:
Obstfeld, Maurice, and Kenneth Rogoff, Foundations of International Macroeconomics (MIT Press, 1996)

Recommended introduction to modern monetary economics:
Gali, Jordi, Monetary Policy, Inflation, and the Business Cycle (Princeton University Press, 2008)

For more detail on econometrics and macroeconomics:
Nelson, C. Mark, International Macroeconomics and Finance: Theory and Econometric Methods (Blackwell Publishers, 2001)

International Finance (Master Level, Spring Term 2012)

Not yet finalized.