Dr Mohan Bijapur 32L.1.31

This course is available to General Course ‘Spring Semester’ students.

Students normally will have completed an introductory-level course in macroeconomics.

This course uses economic analysis to explore important questions in contemporary public policy. The Spring Semester will focus on macroeconomic policy. The use of mathematics is minimal (in particular with no calculus) and the emphasis of instruction is on graphical analysis and economic intuition. Precise topics and readings will be announced and are selected to be of current interest.  Last year’s topics included: Why did the UK government grant independence to the Bank of England in 1997 and adopt an inflation target?; What caused the global financial crisis and how can policy prevent future crises?; How was global financial regulation reformed in the aftermath of the crisis?; What unconventional tools of monetary policy did central banks implement?; What causes currency crises, how can policy prevent them and what sparked the Trump trade war?; Why has the US been a more successful currency union than the Eurozone, what caused the European sovereign debt crisis and how is it related to Brexit?; How should governments deal with a debt crisis - did Greece make the right choice?; What drives convergence in income levels across countries, why do some countries stay poor and what can policy do about it?

15 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the LT.

There will be a reading week in Week 6 of LT only (no lectures or classes that week).

This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 25 hours across Lent Term and Summer Term. This year, some or all of this teaching will be delivered through a combination of virtual classes, live streamed (recorded) lectures, and some flipped content delivered as short online videos.

Two pieces of written work to be handed in to the class teacher. Students are expected to make positive contributions to class discussions.

There is no set course textbook. A list of selected texts and readings will be provided at the start of term.

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours, reading time: 15 minutes) in the summer exam period.