Economics 101b: Fall 2000
J. Bradford DeLong
delong@econ.berkeley.edu
http://www.j-bradford-delong.net/
Office Hours: Tu 3:30-5:00, Evans 601
Pawel Dyczewski
pawel@econ.berkeley.edu
Office Hours: W 3-5
Lecture Meets: Tu Th 12:30 - 2:00, Cory 241
Sections Meet: MW 12-1 210 Wheeler; MW 2-3 35 Evans
This course is the go-faster and do-more version of intermediate macroeconomics. Two books are required: the draft of DeLong's intermediate macroeconomics textbook (available from Copy Central, northside) and the Economic Report of the President (not yet available in the bookstore, but available online at http://w3.access.gpo.gov/eop/).
| August 29 |
Introduction: What Is Macroeconomics? |
Ch. 1: Introduction |
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| August 31 |
Measuring the Economy. |
Ch. 2: Measuring the Economy |
Problem Set 1 Out |
| September 5 |
Thinking Like an Economist. |
Ch. 3: Thinking Like an Economist |
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| September 7 |
The Solow Growth Model. |
Ch. 4: The Theory of Economic Growth |
P.S. 1 Due; Answers; P.S. 2 Out |
| September 12 |
Steady-State Growth Paths. |
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| September 14 |
Working with the Solow Growth Model. |
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P.S. 2 Due; Answers; P.S. 3 Out |
| September 19 |
Facts of Long-Run Growth I. |
Ch. 5: The Full-Employment Model |
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| September 21 |
Facts of Long-Run Growth II. |
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P.S. 3 Due; Answers; |
| September 26 |
FIRST MIDTERM EXAM |
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| September 28 |
Building Blocks of the Full-Employment Model. |
Textbook, ch. 6 |
P.S. 4 Out |
| October 3 |
Equilibrium in the Full-Employment Model. |
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| October 5 |
Working with the Full Employment Model. |
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P.S. 4 Due (Answers); P.S. 5 Out |
| October 10 |
Money and Inflation. |
Textbook, ch. 7 |
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| October 12 |
The Sticky-Price Macroeconomic Model: the Multiplier and Equilibrium. |
Textbook, ch. 8 |
P.S. 5 Due (Answers); P.S. 6 Out |
| October 17 |
Recent History with the IS Curve. |
Textbook, ch. 9 |
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| October 19 |
The Money Market and Equilibrium. |
Textbook, ch. 10 |
P.S. 6 Due; Answers |
| October 24 |
Inflation and the Phillips Curve. |
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P.S. 7 Out |
| October 26 |
Recent History with the Phillips Curve. |
Textbook, ch. 11 |
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| October 31 |
Issues in Stabilization Policy: Institutions. |
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P.S. 7 Due (Answers); |
| November 2 |
Issues in Stabilization Policy: Credibility and Politics. |
Textbook, ch. 12 |
P.S. 8 Out |
| November 7 |
Debts, Deficits, and Economic Growth. |
Textbook, ch. 13 |
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| November 9 |
The Political Economy of Deficits and Debts. |
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P.S. 8 Due (Answers); Mock Midterm 2 Out |
| November 14 |
REVIEW |
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| November 16 |
SECOND MIDTERM EXAM |
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| November 21 |
NO CLASS |
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| November 23 |
NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING |
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| November 28 |
International Issues I: Choice of Exchange Rate Regime. |
Textbook, ch. 14 |
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| November 30 |
International Issues II: Financial Crises. |
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P.S. 9 Out |
| December 5 |
Macroeconomics and the Changing Economy |
Textbook, ch. 15 |
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| December 7 |
The Future of Macroeconomics |
Textbook, chs. 16-17 |
P.S. 9 Due; Mock Final Out |
| December 12 |
REVIEW: 100 Wheeler from 12:30pm to 2pm on Tuesday, December 12 (7862) |
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| December 19 12:30-3:30 |
FINAL EXAM: Haas F320 |
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Course Requirements:
Two midterms (October 3, November 14, each 20%), one final (December 19, 45%), ten problem sets (1.5% each, no late problem sets will be graded, problem sets due at the start of lecture on Thursday), with bonus points for class participation and intelligence in section.
Course readings:
Draft textbook--available for purchase at Copy Central (northside).
Economic Report of the President (not yet available in the bookstore, but available online at http://w3.access.gpo.gov/eop/)
If you want another textbook as well, let me recommend two: Greg Mankiw's Macroeconomics (4th edition): http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1572596449/
And Olivier Blanchard's Macroeconomics (2nd edition): http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/013013306X/
Course meetings:
We have a lot to cover, so we'll run through to the end of dead week with classes (and I'll run a final exam review, probably on Thursday December 14.
Course website:
This is it. This is http://www.j-bradford-delong.net/Econ_101b_f2000/Econ_101b_f2000.html
Course philosophy:
This is the go-faster and do-more version of macroeconomics--the study of the determination of output, production, income, employment, and prices in the economy as a whole. As a group, the class will be made up of people comfortable using calculus, so I'll feel free to use it in lectures, handouts, and in problem sets (and on exams). If you aren't comfortable using calculus, you probably don't belong here and may well not have a good time...
Since you are also guinea pigs for my draft textbook-to-be, I am also going to be very concerned with issues of pedagogy: what ways of communicating the subject matter of this course are effective, and what ways are not effective?
Grading:
Almost everyone here could be taking Econ 100b instead--and get at least a B+, probably an A-, A, or A+. This will be taken into account in setting the curve for the class. I have no desire for anyone who could handle 101b to take 100b instead in the hope of getting a higher grade...
First Midterm Format:
The first third of the midterm will be "police the readings" questions about national income accounting, and similar issues of economic measurement. The questions will be easy if you have read the book, and very difficult if you have not.
The rest of the exam will be made up of three problems. Two of them will be straightforward use-the-growth-model problems like those on the homework. The third will have a twist...
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Professor of Economics J. Bradford DeLong, 601 Evans Hall, #3880