Introduction to Macroeconomics
As taught in Spring Semester 2010
Dr John Gathergood, School of Economics
This module provides an introduction to modern
macroeconomic analysis. Macroeconomics is concerned with some of the most
pressing and fundamental questions economists can ask, such as: What determines
economic growth? Why do economies exhibit expansions ('booms') and contractions
('busts') in output? What drives employment and wages, saving and investment?
What causes inflation and why is it a problem? What, if anything, can
governments do to improve the performance of an economy?
Microeconomics is concerned with the analysis of
economic agents and markets at the individual level. Macroeconomics is
concerned with the aggregate implications of microeconomic behaviour at the
economy-wide level. So there is a clear connect between the actions of
individual agents in the economy and the aggregate performance of the economy.
This is the starting point for modern macroeconomic analysis - though
macroeconomics has not always been understood or taught in these terms, and
prior study of macroeconomics at A-level or equivalent is not based on this
modern understanding of macroeconomics built on 'microfoundations'.
Consequently prior study of economics is not necessary for taking this module
and students who have studied macroeconomics previously may have to re-think
how they understand the aggregate economy.
This module is suitable for study at Undergraduate level 1