Kristin A. Van Gaasbeck

Dept. of Economics | College of SSIS | Sacramento State
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ECON 200A: Advanced Macroeconomic Theory

Course Readings

The course readings below are organized according to the outline given on the syllabus. In order to access the articles with links, you will need to be either logged onto a campus computer, or you will receive a prompt to verify your saclink account. When in doubt, you can always access these articles by logging in through the library directly. Please see the syllabus for complete references for the required books. Assigned chapters are given below.

Week :: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16

Week 1 : Measuring Macroeconomic Variables & Working with Economic Data

Hoover - Guide to Working with Economic Data

Background Reading:
Mankiw, Ch. 1-3 & 19
Jones (2008), Ch. 1-2 & 8
Studenmund, Ch. 1-5 & 9 - see Lecture 2: Econometrics Primer
Chiang, Ch. 1-2 & 10
Week 2 : Econometrics Primer and ARMA Processes and Trends

Jones, Ch. 1

Background Reading:
Studenmund, Ch. 12 & 15
Week 3 : Solow Growth Model and Extensions

Jones (2002), Ch. 2 & 9 + Appendix A
Romer, Ch. 1

Background Reading:
Chiang, 9, 11 & 14
Mankiw, Ch. 7-8
Jones (2008), Ch. 2-5
Week 4 : Diamond Model & Empirical Applications of the Neoclassical Growth Model

Romer, Ch. 2, Part B
Jones, Ch. 3
Pritchett, L. (1997). Divergence, big time. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 11(3), 3-17.
Olson, M. (1996). Distinguished lecture on economics in government: Big bills left on the sidewalk: Why some nations are rich, and others poor. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 10(2), 3-24.

Background Reading:
Chiang, Ch. 12 & 16
Studenmund, Ch. 6-7 & 11
Week 5 : Endogenous Growth Models I

Jones, Ch. 4-6
Romer, Ch. 3
Romer, P. (1994). The origins of endogenous growth. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 8(1), 3-22.


Week 6 : Endogenous Growth Models II

Jones, Ch. 8 & 10
Week 7 : Exam #1
Week 8 : Economic Fluctuations (Data) & RBC Approach

Romer, Ch. 4
Plosser, C. (1989). Understanding real business cycles. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 3(3), 51-77.
Franses, Ch. 5

Background Reading:
Mankiw, Ch. 9 & 19
Week 9 : IS/MP/AS Model I

Romer, Ch. 5
Romer, D. (2006, January). Short-run fluctuations. Retrieved January 29, 2007 from http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~dromer/papers/text2006.pdf
Romer, D. (2006, January). Figures for short-run fluctuations. Retrieved January 29, 2007 from http://elsa.berkeley.edu/~dromer/papers/Figures_for_Web_1-2-06.pdf

Background Reading:
Chiang, Ch. 4-5
Week 10 : IS/MP/AS Model II

Lucas, R. (1973). Some international evidence on output-inflation tradeoffs. American Economic Review, 63 , 326-334.
Snowdon, B. & Vane, H.R. (1997). The development of modern macroeconomics: A rough guide. In B. Snowdon & H.R. Vane (Eds.), A macroeconomics reader (pp. 1-26). London : Routledge.

Background Reading:
Mankiw, Ch. 13-2
Week 11 : Neoclassical Approach

Romer, Ch. 6, Pt. A
Mankiw, N.G. (2006). The macroeconomist as a scientist and engineer. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 20 (4), 29-46. (available in print in the Library).

Background Reading:
Mankiw, Ch. 13-1
Week 12 : New Keynesian Approach

Romer, Ch. 6, Pt. B-C
Mankiw, N.G. (1985). Small menu costs and large business cycles: A macroeconomic model. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 100, 526-538.
Ball, L., Mankiw, N.G., & Romer, D. (1988). The new Keynesian economics and the output-inflation trade-off. Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, 1988, 1-82. Please read the commentary at the end.

Background Reading:
Mankiw, Ch. 13-1

Week 13 : Unemployment and Real Rigidities

Romer, Ch. 9, pg. 437-449
Yellen, J. (1984). Efficiency wage models of unemployment. American Economic Review, 74, 200-205.
Blanchard, O. & Katz, L. (1997). What we know and do not know about the natural rate of unemployment. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 11 (1), 51-72.

Background Reading:
Mankiw, Ch. 6

Week 14 : Consumption Theory

Romer, Ch. 7
Hall, R. (1978). Stochastic implications of the life cycle-permanent income hypothesis: Theory and evidence. Journal of Political Economy, 86 , 971-987.

Background Reading:
Mankiw, Ch. 16

Week 15 : Special Topics - International Macroeconomics (by majority vote)

Reading:
Obstfeld, M., Shambaugh, J. & Taylor, A. (2005). The trilemma in history: Tradeoffs among exchange rates, monetary policies, and capital mobility. Review of Economic Statistics, 87(3), 423-438.

Lecture presentation on article

Week 16 : Exam #2

 

©2007 Kristin Van Gaasbeck | Department of Economics | 6000 J Street | Sacramento, CA 95819-6082 | 916.278.6223