Economics 53
Introduction to Macroeconomics
Course Calendar – Spring 2013

Note:  This may be revised as the semester proceeds.
 

Section

Dates

Topic and Reading Assignment

(also periodically check the course assignments web page)

1

J22,24

 National Income Accounts and the Economy in Statistics

To get a brief overview of the current U.S. economy, we will begin by reading a very current (January 2013) GDP and the Economy and Disposable Personal Income (December 2012) both published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. We will eventually cover most of this material in class.

2

J29,31

 Business Cycles

Download and read the Business Cycle Essay.

3

F5,7

 The Aggregate Supply/Aggregate Demand Model

 

Download and read Chapter 1 - Economic Models.
Download and read Chapter 2 - The Aggregate Supply/Aggregate Demand Model.

4

F12,14

 The Loanable Funds Model

Download and read Chapter 3 - The Loanable Funds Model

First exam: Tuesday, February 19, covering 1-4

5

F21

 Guest lecture(s)

No assigned reading here. Right after the exam we will take a break and (probably) hear a lecture offer by alumni guests.

6

F26,F28,

M6

Price Behavior and Inflation

 

Download and read Chapter 4 - Inflation and Deflation

7

M7,12

  Employment, Unemployment and Income Distribution

Download and read How the Government Measures Unemployment.

Listen to the NPR Podcast The Secret to Germany's Low Youth Unemployment

Go to the Bureau of Labor Statistics site and use their search feature to find the online Occupational Outlook Handbook 2012-2013 edition (this edition should appear about the time this assignment is made) and in the left column (a) read the overview of projections and (b) find your intended profession (such as Engineers under the category Professional) and read your occupational outlook.

SB

M 14,19,

21

Guest lecture(s) on Thursday, March 14, then Spring Break the following week.

8

M26,28

 International Macroeconomics

Download, print, and read the FRB Chicago article Strong Dollar/Weak Dollar.

Download and read U.S. International Transactions from the BEA.

Second exam: Tuesday, April 2, covering 5-8

9

A4,9,11,

16

 Monetary Policy 

Download and read these three Federal Reserve Publications [Some of the examples are dated but the procedures and regulatory environment are still the same, and the data will be updated in the lectures]:

Overview of the Federal Reserve System
Monetary Policy and the Economy
The Implementation of Monetary Policy

10

A18,23,25,

30

 Fiscal Policy

 

Download and read CBO's 2012 Long-Term Budget Outlook.
 
 

11

A26

  In-class final: Thursday, May 2, with take-home component, all covering 9-10, take-home due for seniors only Thursday, May 9, 5:00 PM in Parsons 1261, for all others Tuesday May 14, 5:00 PM in Parsons 1261.