Course detail

Macroeconomics

FP-MAK_1Acad. 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

5

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 is expected.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course contains of two-hour lectures that explain basic principles, problems and methodology of the discipline, and one-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 15 points out of 30 possible points awarded for practical seminars and fulfills a 75% participation in seminars. Points will be awarded for knowledge at seminars and final test, from which a student must obtain at least 10 points. 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.

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.

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

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

Control of students’ attendance and results is fully in competence of the teacher. The course-unit credit is conditional on elaboration, demonstration of knowledge and successful completion of a credit test.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

KUČEROVÁ, V. Makroekonomie 1. Brno: CERM, 2013. 126 s. ISBN: 978-80-214-4798- 1. (CS)
SAMUELSON, P.A. a NORDHAUS, W.D. Ekonomie. 2. vyd. Praha: Svoboda, 1995. 1011 s. ISBN 80-205-0494-X. (CS)
HOLMAN, R. a kol. Ekonomie. 1. vydání. Praha: C. H. Beck, 1999. 726 s. ISBN 80-7179-255-1. (CS)

Recommended reading

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

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Introduction to macroeconomics. Development of economic theory.
2. Market, market mechanism. Types of market structures.
3. Aggregate supply, aggregate demand. Model AS-AD. Growth and decline in AD and AS, aggregate spending, the slope of the AS curve.
4. Measurement of economic output, GDP, GNP, national income.
5. The concept of macroeconomic equilibrium models - classical, Keynesian, Neokeynesian compromise.
6. Monetary aggregates, monetary theory, money multiplier, equilibrium changes in the money market.
7. Labour market, unemployment. Equilibrium in the labour market, unemployment, unemployment forms.
8. Inflation, types of inflation, inflation and unemployment.
9. The theory of the business cycle and economic growth.
10. Fiscal policy - state budget, public finance, built-in stabilizers, discrete measures, expansive and restrictive fiscal policy.
11. Monetary policy. Tools and objectives of monetary policy, expansive and restrictive monetary policy.
12. Macroeconomic goals, the effectiveness of economic policy, magic polygons, functions of the state in the economy.
13. Theory of international trade, external trade and monetary policy, free trade, protectionism, exchange rate development.

Exercise

13 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

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