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Macroeconomics

Code: 102118
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Accounting and Finances OB 2
Business and Information Technology OB 3

Contact lecturer

Name :
Valeri Sorolla Amat
Email :
valeri.sorolla@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Maria Jose Solís Baltodano
Mireia Pilar Durany Forns
Jessica Vazquez Sanchez

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

Introduction to Economics

Mathematics I

Mathematics II

Statistics I

Objectives

This course proposes and discusses the main tools and instruments from both the theoretical and the empirical point of view, to be used in the analysis of the evolution of an economic systrem. Main themes of study are Production, and the distribution and allocation of income over time, and its relationship with other agreggate (macro-economic) variables of interest.

Learning outcomes

Accounting and Finances
  • CM15 (Identify the social, economic, technological and environmental implications of academic-professional activities in the field of knowledge.) Identify the social, economic, technological and environmental implications of academic-professional activities in the field of knowledge.
  • KM08 (Describe earnings from trade and exchange.) Describe earnings from trade and exchange.
  • KM09 (Identify the forces that govern demand and supply.) Identify the forces that govern demand and supply.
  • KM10 (Differentiate between equilibrium effects in different competition regimes (markets).) Differentiate between equilibrium effects in different competition regimes (markets).
  • KM11 (Identify the elements comprising technology and costs.) Identify the elements comprising technology and costs.
  • KM12 (Detail the main economic indicators and their components, justifying their calculation and use.) Detail the main economic indicators and their components, justifying their calculation and use.
  • KM13 (Identify the aspects that affect economic growth.) Identify the aspects that affect economic growth.
  • KM14 (Relate the effects of disruptions of demand and supply in closed and open economies.) Relate the effects of disruptions of demand and supply in closed and open economies.
  • KM15 (Describe the relationship between unemployment and inflation.) Describe the relationship between unemployment and inflation.
  • SM08 (Identify the dynamic aspects of economic activity, taking as a reference the main phases of contemporary economic growth and the main conditioning factors.) Identify the dynamic aspects of economic activity, taking as a reference the main phases of contemporary economic growth and the main conditioning factors.
Business and Information Technology
  • CM01 (Identify the social, economic, technological and environmental implications of academic-professional activities in the field of knowledge.) Identify the social, economic, technological and environmental implications of academic-professional activities in the field of knowledge.
  • CM02 (Evaluate the main inequalities and discrimination based on sex/gender present in society.) Evaluate the main inequalities and discrimination based on sex/gender present in society.
  • KM01 (Describe earnings from trade and exchange.) Describe earnings from trade and exchange.
  • KM02 (Identify the forces that govern demand and supply.) Identify the forces that govern demand and supply.
  • KM03 (Differentiate between equilibrium effects in different competition regimes (markets).) Differentiate between equilibrium effects in different competition regimes (markets).
  • KM04 (Identify the elements comprising technology and costs.) Identify the elements comprising technology and costs.
  • KM05 (Detail the main economic indicators and their components, justifying their calculation and use.) Detail the main economic indicators and their components, justifying their calculation and use.
  • KM06 (Identify the aspects that affect economic growth.) Identify the aspects that affect economic growth.
  • KM07 (Relate the effects of disruptions of demand and supply in closed and open economies.) Relate the effects of disruptions of demand and supply in closed and open economies.
  • KM08 (Describe the relationship between unemployment and inflation.) Describe the relationship between unemployment and inflation.
  • KM09 (Describe the most remarkable technological, organisational and spatial aspects of revolutions in the field of production, emphasising organisational changes in business.) Describe the most remarkable technological, organisational and spatial aspects of revolutions in the field of production, emphasising organisational changes in business.
  • SM01 (Identify the dynamic aspects of economic activity, taking as a reference the main phases of contemporary economic growth and the main conditioning factors.) Identify the dynamic aspects of economic activity, taking as a reference the main phases of contemporary economic growth and the main conditioning factors.
  • SM02 (Analyse the explanatory capacity of different theoretical models of economics, in relation to their initial assumptions, taking as reference different historical cases.) Analyse the explanatory capacity of different theoretical models of economics, in relation to their initial assumptions, taking as reference different historical cases.

Contents

1. Introduction.


1.1   Macroeconomic variables.


1.2   Gross domestic Product (GDP).


1.3   Inflation and the cost of living: GDP deflator and CPI.


1.4    The circular flow of income: Production, distribution and expenditure.


 


2. Growth and economic growth models.


2.1   Growth and growth accounting.


2.2   Capital accumulation, technological progress; Solow’s model.


2.3   Empirical evidence: absolute and conditional convergence.


2.4   A simple model of endogenous growth.


 


3. The labor market.


3.1   Main variables.


3.2   A simple model of the natural rate of unemployment.


3.3   Frictional unemployment.


3.4   Structural unemployment.


 


4. Economic fluctuations.


4.1   Economic cycles.


4.2   The aggregate demand curve.


4.3    Aggregate supply in the short and long run.


 


5. The IS-LM model and the aggregate demand curve.


5.1   The Keynesian cross model.


5.2    Multipliers and fiscal policy.


5.3   The IS curve.


5.4   Financial assets, money market and the LM curve.


5.5   Effects of monetary and fiscal policies in the IS-LM model.


5.6   The aggregate demand curve.


 


6. Macroeconomics in an open economy.


6.1   Exchange rates and exchange rates regimes.


6.2   The Mundell-Fleming model.


6.3   Effects of fiscal and monetary policies in an small open economy.


6.4   The big open economy.


 


7. Issues in Macroeconomics.

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Problem sets and discussion in groups. 17 0.68 CM01, CM02, CM15, KM01, KM02, KM03, KM04, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, KM12, KM13, KM14, KM15, SM01, SM02, SM08
Readings. 20 0.8 CM01, CM02, CM15, KM01, KM02, KM03, KM04, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, KM12, KM13, KM14, KM15, SM01, SM02, SM08
Tutorial and office hours. 20 0.8 CM01, CM02, CM15, KM01, KM02, KM03, KM04, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, KM12, KM13, KM14, KM15, SM01, SM02, SM08
Study. Preparation of exercices and idiscusion in groups. 55.5 2.22 CM01, CM02, CM15, KM01, KM02, KM03, KM04, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, KM12, KM13, KM14, KM15, SM01, SM02, SM08
Lectures. 32.5 1.3 CM01, CM02, CM15, KM01, KM02, KM03, KM04, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, KM12, KM13, KM14, KM15, SM01, SM02, SM08

This course combines lectures and personal work by means of solving problem sets and other assignements.

 

 

In this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is not permitted in any of its phases. Any work that includes fragments generated with IA will be considered a foul of
academic honesty and may entail a partial or total penalty in the activity grade, or major sanctions in certain cases.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Problem sets and homeworks 15% of the final grade 1.5 0.06 CM01, CM02, CM15, KM01, KM02, KM03, KM04, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, KM12, KM13, KM14, KM15, SM01, SM02, SM08
Midtern exam 35% of the final grade 1.5 0.06 CM01, CM02, CM15, KM01, KM02, KM03, KM04, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, KM12, KM13, KM14, KM15, SM01, SM02, SM08
Final exam 50% of the final grade 2 0.08 CM01, CM02, CM15, KM01, KM02, KM03, KM04, KM05, KM06, KM07, KM08, KM09, KM10, KM11, KM12, KM13, KM14, KM15, SM01, SM02, SM08

Calendar of evaluation activities

The dates of the evaluation activities ( exercises in the classroom, assignments, ...) will be announced well in advance during the semester.

The date of the midterm and final exam is scheduled in the assessment calendar of the Faculty.

  • \"The dates of evaluation activities cannot be modified, unless there is an exceptional and duly justified reason why an evaluation activity cannot be carried out. In this case, the degree coordinator will contact both the teaching staff and the affected student, and a new date will be scheduled within the same academic period to make up for the missed evaluation activity.\" Section 1 of Article 115. Calendar of evaluation activities (Academic Regulations UAB). Students of the Faculty of Economics and Business, who in accordance with the previous paragraph need to change an evaluation activity date must process the request by filling out an Application for exams' reschedule: e-Formulari per a la reprogramació de proves

.


Retake Process

"To be eligible to participate in the retake process, it is required for students to have been previously been evaluated for at least two thirds of the total evaluation activities of the subject." Section 3 of Article 112 ter. The recovery (UAB Academic Regulations). Additionally, it is required that the student to have achieved an average grade of the subject between 3.5 and less than 5.

The date of the retake exam will be posted in the calendar of evaluation activities of the Faculty. Students who take this exam and pass, will get a grade of 5 for the subject. If the student does not pass the retake, the grade will remain unchanged, and hence, student will fail the course.


Irregularities in evaluation activities

The completion of assessment activities is subject to the provisions set out in this course guide and in the "Policy of the School of Economics and Business on the Detection of Irregularities during Assessment Activities", which regulates the conditions under which assessment tasks are conducted and the procedures applicable in cases where indications of irregularities are detected. Students are encouraged to consult the policy.

This subject does not offer the option for comprehensive evaluation.


Not evaluable subject

A student who does not perform any evaluative task is considered “not evaluable”, therefore, a student who performs a continuous assessment component can no longer be qualified with a "not evaluable".

Bibliography

It is preferable to use the original Englisht textbooks:

Mankiw, N. G., Macroeconomics, 10th edition, 2019. New York: Worth Publishers.
Blanchard, O., A. Amighini y F. Giavazzi,  Macroeconomics. A European Perspective, 3rth edition, 2017. New York: Pearson Education. Online edition: https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.are.uab.cat/lib/uab/reader.action?docID=5175087

Software

Spread sheet and word processor.

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 10 Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 20 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(TE) Theory 50 Catalan second semester afternoon
(PAUL) Classroom practices 101 Spanish second semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 201 Spanish first semester morning-mixed
(PAUL) Classroom practices 501 Catalan second semester afternoon