Macroeconomics Course Overview and Objectives

Course Description

The Macroeconomics course introduces students to the foundational concepts of macroeconomics, including models for determining equilibrium output, macroeconomic policies and tools, and their impact on economic goals. The course also examines how macro policies affect various entities within the economy.

Course Books and Reference Materials

• Textbook: N.G. Mankiw, Principles of Macroeconomics, Ninth Edition, Cengage Learning and FAHASA VN publisher (2019).

• Reference Books:

  • Paul A. Samuelson, William D. Nordhalls, Kinh tế học – Tập 2, NXB Thống Kê (2002).

  • David Begg, Stanley Fischer, Rudiger Dornbusch, Macroeconomics, Statistical Publisher (2010).

  • Trần Nguyễn Ngọc Anh Thư, Macroeconomics, Phương Đông Publisher (2019).

Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Course Objectives	Description of Objective	Course Learning Outcomes (CLO)	Level
CO1	Provides general knowledge about macro variables and macro regulatory tools in the economy.	CLO1: Analyze, evaluate and identify the impact of macro policies on economic goals. CLO2: Calculate basic macro variables and explain the correlation between these variables in the short and long term.	5
CO2	Helps learners analyze and compare different models for determining equilibrium output in the economy and macro policies.	Compare and evaluate models for determining equilibrium output in the economy as a basis for building and analyzing the situation of the economy.	4

Key Terms and Concepts

• Macroeconomics: The branch of economics that studies the behavior and performance of an economy as a whole, focusing on aggregate measures such as GDP, unemployment, and inflation.

• Equilibrium Output: The level of output where aggregate supply equals aggregate demand in the economy.

• Macro Policies: Economic policies, including fiscal and monetary policy, used by governments to influence the overall economy.

• Macro Variables: Key indicators such as GDP, inflation rate, unemployment rate, and interest rates that reflect the state of the economy.

Examples and Applications

• Example: Calculating the GDP of a country using the expenditure approach: $GDP = C + I + G + (X - M)$ where $C$ is consumption, $I$ is investment, $G$ is government spending, and $(X - M)$ is net exports.

• Application: Evaluating the impact of a change in monetary policy (e.g., lowering interest rates) on national output and employment.