Course detail

Macroeconomics 1

FP-mak1PAAcad. year: 2020/2021

The course focuses on the understanding of entire economy functioning. The relations among product, services and labour markets on one hand and assets of the given economy on the other hand are explained. Also dealt with is the influence on consumption, investments, inflation rate and unemployment, measurement of economic output and its long term growth, issues related to the economic cycle, fiscal and monetary policy as well as present economic problems. Also discussed are the modern economic theories and their methods of solution of key economic problems.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

7

Learning outcomes of the course unit

After finishing the course students should be able: To understand theoretical basis and principles of macroeconomics. To understand the functioning of the national economy mechanism and its equilibrium, interconnection of the national economy and the world economy and their influences on particular businesses and achieving key managerial objectives. To understand how the managerial tasks are being accomplished in the national economy. To work out analytic and synthetic managerial information related to the national economy and apply it when making key managerial decisions. To use critical and analytical way of thinking in the managerial processes underlying the operation and strategic development of business activity within national and world economy.

Prerequisites

Secondary school knowledge of economics and mathematics is expected.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course contains of two-hour lectures that explain principles, problems and methodology of the discipline, and two-hour practical seminar. The practical exercises promote the practical knowledge of the subject presented in the lectures and also are concerned on handling numerical tasks.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Student gets credit if he receives at least 16 points out of 30 possible points awarded for practical seminars. Points will be awarded for knowledge at seminars and final tests. The requirement to final examination is the knowledge of the course and obtained credit. The final exam is written (written test). It takes into account a comprehensive knowledge of macroeconomics, in all material respects. The maximum number of possible points is 70. Each student must obtain at least 35 points. In the overall assessment, the points of the seminars and examination are added. Students may request an oral verification.

The scale of the resulting classification:
(student may gain from exercise 30 points and max.70 points of the test, a total of 100 points)
A: 90-100 points
B: 80-89 points
C: 70-79 points
D: 60-69 points
E: 50-59 points
F: less than 50 points

Course curriculum

The subject content:
1. Introduction into macroeconomics – development of the macroeconomic theory.
2. Market, market mechanism, disequilibrium market, inefficiency, the types of market structures.
3. Aggregate supply, aggregate demand, growth and decrease of AD and AS, aggregate expenditures, slope of the AS curve.
4. The measurement of the economic output, national product (GDP, GNP) and national income.
5. The macroeconomic equilibrium, classical, Keynesian and Neokeynesian models.
6. The monetary theory, monetary aggregates, money market.
7. Labour market, unemployment, money market equilibrium, the rate of unemployment, types of unemployment.
8. Inflation, types of inflation, relationship between inflation and unemployment.
9. Economical growth, models of the economical growth, theory of the business cycle.
10. Fiscal policy – state budget, public finance, expansionary and restrictive fiscal policy.
11. Monetary policy – monetary goals and tools, expansionary and restrictive monetary policy.
12. Macroeconomics goals, effectivity of economic policy, magic n-square, the function of the state in market economy.
13. Theory of the international trade, external trade and monetary policy, free market, protectionism, development of exchange rates.

Syllabus of tutorials:
1. Introduction to the course
2. Market and market mechanism
3. Model AS-AD
4. Measurement of economic output
5. The two-sector keynesian model income-expenditure
6. The money market and the money multiplier
7. Labour market and changes in the market
8. Measurement of inflation
9. The causes and phases of the economic cycle, the business cycle of the Czech Republic
10. Types of fiscal policy and its applications
11. Types of monetary policy and the reasons for their application, the policy of the CNB
12. Balance of payments, exchange rates
13. Writing test

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The main objective of the course is to provide students with the knowledge of macroeconomics on the level required at higher education institutions of economic specialisation. Understanding of macroeconomic relations and connections, terms and necessary theoretical fundaments as well as understanding of possibilities and economic policy of the government.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Students’ attendance has not been checked.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

KUČEROVÁ, V. Makroekonomie 1. Brno: CERM, s.r.o., 2013. 126 s. ISBN 978-80-214-4798- 1. (CS)
SAMUELSON, P.A.; NORDHAUS, W.D. Ekonomie. 18.vyd. Praha: NS SVOBODA, 2010. 775 s. ISBN 80-205-0590-3. (CS)
HOLMAN,R. a kol. Ekonomie. 5. vydání. Praha: C. H. Beck, 2011. 720 s. ISBN 978-80-7400-006-5. (CS)
MANKIW, N. G. Principles of Macroeconomics. 7th Edition. Cengage Learning, 2015. (EN)
WU, J. C. and XIA, F. D. (2016), Measuring the Macroeconomic Impact of Monetary Policy at the Zero Lower Bound. Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, 48: 253–291. doi: 10.1111/jmcb.12300 (EN)
Scott R. Baker, Nicholas Bloom, Steven J. Davis; Measuring Economic Policy Uncertainty, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, Volume 131, Issue 4, 1 November 2016, Pages 1593–1636, https://doi.org/10.1093/qje/qjw024 (EN)
Pontus Rendahl; Fiscal Policy in an Unemployment Crisis, The Review of Economic Studies, Volume 83, Issue 3, 1 July 2016, Pages 1189–1224, https://doi.org/10.1093/restud/rdv058 (EN)
MANKIW, N. Gregory. Zásady ekonomie. Praha: Grada, 1999, 763 s. : il. ISBN 80-7169-891-1. (CS)

Recommended reading

JUREČKA, V. a kol. Makroekonomie. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada, 2010. 332 s. ISBN 978-80-247-3258-9.
SCHILLER, B. R. Makroekonomie dnes. 1. vyd. Brno: Computer Press, 2004. 412 s. ISBN 80-251-0169-X.
SOUKUP, J., POŠTA, V. a kol. Makroekonomie. 2. vyd. Praha: Management Press, 2010. 518 s. ISBN 978-80-7261-219-2.
HOLMAN, R. Makroekonomie – středně pokročilý kurz. 1. vyd. Praha: C.H. Beck, 2004. 424 s. ISBN 80-7179-764-2.
HOLMAN, R. a kol. Dějiny ekonomického myšlení. 2. vyd. Praha: C.H.Beck, 2001. 541 s. ISBN 80-7179-631-X.

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Topics of lectures are the following:
- Introduction to macroeconomics. Outline of development of macroeconomic theories
- Market, market mechanism. Uneven, ineffective, unequal and unstable markets, types of market structures.
- Aggregate supply, aggregate demand. Growth and fall of aggregate demand and supply, aggregate expenditures, gradient of aggregate supply curve.
- Measuring performance of economy, national product, GNP.
- Conception of macroeconomic equilibrium, models - classical, Keynesian, Neokeynesian compromise.
- Monetary aggregates, monetary theory, money multiplier, equilibrium changes on money markets.
- Labour market, unemployment. Equilibrium and labour market, unemployment rate, forms of unemployment.
- Inflation, types of inflation, inflation and unemployment.
- Economic growth, growth models, theories of economic cycle.
- Fiscal policy - state budget, public finance, built-in stabilisers, discrete measures, expansive and restrictive fiscal policy.
- Monetary policy. Tools and aims of monetary policy, expansive and restrictive monetary policy.
- Aims of macroeconomics, effectiveness of economic policy, magical n-squares, and function of state in the economy.
- Theory of international trade, external monetary and trade policy, free trade, protectionism. International money market, international monetary system, development of monetary rates, IMF, WB, EMS.
The seminars are focused on practising the lectured topics.

Guided consultation in combined form of studies

20 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Exercise

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Syllabus of tutorials:
1. Introduction to the course
2. Market and market mechanism
3. Model AS-AD
4. Measurement of economic output
5. The two-sector keynesian model income-expenditure
6. The money market and the money multiplier
7. Labour market and changes in the market
8. Measurement of inflation
9. The causes and phases of the economic cycle, the business cycle of the Czech Republic
10. Types of fiscal policy and its applications
11. Types of monetary policy and the reasons for their application, the policy of the CNB
12. Balance of payments, exchange rates
13. Credit hour written exam