AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT
GRADUATE
Econ 327
Macroeconomics
Spring 23-24, Spring 24-25, Spring 25-26
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of fundamental macroeconomic concepts. Throughout the course, core macroeconomic topics such as long-term economic growth, business cycle fluctuations, unemployment, inflation, and optimal stabilization policies will be examined using formal economic models. The initial half of the course will be dedicated to the study of models of long-term economic growth and real business cycles. These models are characterized by their frictionless nature, meaning they do not inherently incorporate the impact of macroeconomic policies. Nevertheless, they serve as vital theoretical benchmarks upon which subsequent knowledge will be built. In the latter half of the course, the focus will shift to the analysis of various economic frictions. Topics covered will include nominal rigidities resulting in monetary non-neutralities, labor market frictions leading to unemployment, and financial market frictions that both amplify external shocks and generate internal sources of volatility.
Econ 332
Political Economy
Spring 23-24, Spring 24-25
How do politics and institutions affect economic outcomes? This question has been asked probably as long as people have been interested in economics itself. This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the intricate relationship between politics and economics within the macroeconomic context. It delves into the pivotal role played by political institutions and government policies in shaping a nation's economic prosperity and stability. Students will develop a profound understanding of how political decisions exert influence over key macroeconomic variables, including inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. This course equips students with the analytical tools necessary to navigate the complexities of political economies. Major topics covered in this course include the impact of political institutions on economic policies, government's regulatory role, the influence of electoral cycles, the political economy of economic crises, globalization's effects, and the challenges of implementing economic reforms.
Econ 336
International Monetary Economics
Spring 22-23, Fall 23-24, Fall 24-25
This course studies issues in international economics and finance from a macroeconomic perspective. It is international because a deeper exploration of the interconnections among nations is essential to understand how the global economy works. It is macroeconomic because it focuses on key economy wide-variables such as exchange rate, prices, interest rates, income, wealth and the current account. The course develops a framework to analyze issues of importance to interdependent countries interacting in this globalized world. We will address three broad questions: How are goods traded between countries and why do exchange rates matter, and what explains their behavior? Why do countries borrow from and lend to each other, with what effects and how to account for these interactions? How do government policy choices affect macroeconomic and international outcomes? Topics covered in this course include national income accounting and the balance of payments; exchange rates and the foreign exchange markets; exchange rate policy; macroeconomic policy coordination; developing countries and the problem of debt; and the global capital market.
UNDERGRADUATE
Econ 217
Intermediate Microeconomics
Fall 22-23, Spring 22-23
This course is designed to extend your knowledge of the basic microeconomic principles that will provide the foundation for your future work in economics and give you insight into how economic models can help us think about important real-world phenomena. The course will provide a rigorous presentation of microeconomics, the branch of economics that deals with the behaviour of individual decisions makers and will teach you how economists use theoretical models to think of how economic agents make choices and the implications of these choices. We first study consumer decision-making and cover some fundamental topics including utility maximization and individual demand. We then discuss producer theory where we cover topics like factor demand, production and cost minimization. Additional topics include market structure, partial and general equilibrium and game theory and its applications. The course will emphasize the use of analytical tools and mathematical models. These tools and models underpin much of the world's current research in microeconomics.
Econ 223
Economics of the Middle East
Fall 24-25
This course examines the economic structures, issues, and policies of the Middle East, focusing on historical and contemporary factors affecting human development, economic performance, and political economy. Key topics include the impact of historical events on economic development, the roles of international trade, natural resources, and foreign direct investment, and the effects of human resources, gender disparities, and income inequality on economic growth. Additionally, the course explores environmental challenges such as water scarcity, air pollution, and the consequences of global warming, as well as government spending on urban infrastructure, energy subsidies, and military expenditures. Through this comprehensive framework, students will gain insights into the complex economic dynamics of the Middle East and the interplay between policy choices and macroeconomic outcomes.
Econ 227
Intermediate Macroeconomics
Fall 23-24, Spring 25-26
The macroeconomy of a country is a complex network consisting of millions of interacting pieces such as consumers, firms, banks, and government institutions. This course presents an integrated, global view of macroeconomics, enabling students to see the connections between goods markets, financial markets, and labor markets worldwide. It introduces students to some of the key models economist employ to understand how these pieces interact to generate economic growth, the business cycle, and inflation. The course covers models of aggregate income determination; theories of aggregate economic behaviour with respect to consumption, investment expenditures, and financial transactions; balance of payments and exchange rate analysis; theories of inflation and unemployment; and introductory dynamic analysis. The course develops the tools, skills and knowledge base necessary to operate as a practicing macroeconomist.
Econ 232
Economics of Institutions
Spring 23-24, Spring 24-25
How do politics and institutions affect economic outcomes? This question has been asked probably as long as people have been interested in economics itself. This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the intricate relationship between politics and economics within the macroeconomic context. It delves into the pivotal role played by political institutions and government policies in shaping a nation's economic prosperity and stability. Students will develop a profound understanding of how political decisions exert influence over key macroeconomic variables, including inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. This course equips students with the analytical tools necessary to navigate the complexities of political economies. Major topics covered in this course include the impact of political institutions on economic policies, government's regulatory role, the influence of electoral cycles, the political economy of economic crises, globalization's effects, and the challenges of implementing economic reforms.
Econ 236
International Finance
Spring 22-23, Fall 23-24, Fall 24-25
This course studies issues in international economics and finance from a macroeconomic perspective. It is international because a deeper exploration of the interconnections among nations is essential to understand how the global economy works. It is macroeconomic because it focuses on key economy wide-variables such as exchange rate, prices, interest rates, income, wealth and the current account. The course develops a framework to analyze issues of importance to interdependent countries interacting in this globalized world. We will address three broad questions: How are goods traded between countries and why do exchange rates matter, and what explains their behavior? Why do countries borrow from and lend to each other, with what effects and how to account for these interactions? How do government policy choices affect macroeconomic and international outcomes? Topics covered in this course include national income accounting and the balance of payments; exchange rates and the foreign exchange markets; exchange rate policy; macroeconomic policy coordination; developing countries and the problem of debt; and the global capital market.
UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
GRADUATE
Econ 5002
Macroeconomic Theory
Semester 1 2022
This unit presumes no prior exposure to economics and aims, by the end of the unit, to bring a proficiency equivalent to that of students with an intermediate level macroeconomics unit in an Honours degree program. Many economic principles developed in this unit are routinely used in several other units in the program. Macroeconomics studies aggregate economic behaviour. The unit covers theories of the engines of long-run economic growth, of unemployment, of money, inflation, the interest rate and the exchange rate, as well as consumption, saving and investment behaviour. The unit also studies a number of applications of the theory and addresses contemporary macroeconomic problems and policy.
Econ 6002
Macroeconomic Analysis 1
Semester 2 2021
This unit is aimed at providing students with a sound and comprehensive knowledge of modern macroeconomic theory, an ability to formulate and solve problems analytically, and a general appreciation of how policymakers can use the analysis in practice. Topics covered include (i) micro-foundations of macroeconomics, focusing on consumption, investment, money demand, and credit rationing; (ii) equilibrium macroeconomics, focusing on the conventional prototype as well as on recent stochastic macroeconomic models; and (iii) dis-equilibrium macroeconomics, concepts, issues, and models.
UNDERGRADUATE
Econ 1002
Introductory Macroeconomics
Semester 1 2022
Introductory Macroeconomics addresses the analysis of the level of employment and economic activity in the economy as a whole. Introductory Macroeconomics examines the main factors that determine the overall levels of production and employment in the economy, including the influence of government policy and international trade. This analysis enables an exploration of money, interest rates and financial markets, and a deeper examination of inflation, unemployment and economic policy. It is assumed that students undertaking this unit will have a prior knowledge of mathematics.
UNSW SYDNEY
GRADUATE
Quantitative Preparatory Course
Semester 1 2016, Semester 1 2017, Semester 1 2018
The math refresher course is aimed at explaining the most important mathematical concepts used to solve economic problems. In particular, it provides a review of the basic mathematical tools used in the core courses of the graduate program in Economics at UNSW. The course starts with a general revision of logic, sets, and methods of proof. The course then proceeds with a revision of sequences, functions, and linear algebra which are useful for understanding optimization concepts. Afterwards, unconstrained and constrained static optimization techniques are reviewed.
UNDERGRADUATE
Econ 1102
Macroeconomics 1
Summer 2019
Macroeconomics studies the aggregate behaviour of the economy. This course provides an introduction to the economic analysis of key macroeconomic variables such as output, employment, inflation, interest rates and exchange rates. The important elements of the course include measurement of macroeconomic variables, the development of models and theories to explain the behaviour of macroeconomic variables, the use of empirical evidence in evaluating different models, and the role of government policy in seeking to influence macroeconomic outcomes. The course will provide students with a framework for understanding the workings of the whole economy and the various interactions among households, business and governments.
Econ 3202/5402
Mathematical Economics
Semester 2 2017
Mathematical tools are an important part of theoretical economic analysis. This course gives students a working knowledge of static and dynamic optimization techniques applied in economics. Topics include classical optimization with and without constraints, comparative statics, non-linear programming and differential equations. Knowing these tools will equip students to solve complex economic models. All mathematical techniques are illustrated with mainstream theoretical applications such as consumer theory and the neoclassical theory of optimal growth.