Data on the course

Master’s Programme in Economics (Research track). Open also to doctoral students in economics.

Annually in the fourth period

After the course, the student should

• Understand and master the real business cycle model (RBC)
• Be able to augment the RBC model with other economic features and shocks
• Understand the asset pricing in general equilibrium models
• Understand incomplete markets models

The course consists of lectures (24 hours) and exercise sessions (8 hours), where solutions to the homework assignments are discussed. The lectures and exercise sessions are not mandatory. There is a written final exam based on the lecture material and the homework assignments. The homework assignments consist of analytical exercises. They familiarise the student with the theory and calculations typically required in applying and extending the models that have been studied in the lecture. They also involve the interpretation of model economies.

The course builds upon the contents of Advanced Macroeconomics 1, 2 and 3.

The course starts with an introduction to real business cycle model (RBC). It extends it to various directions such as open economy and asset pricing. Finally, the course introduces incomplete markets models.

In addition to the lecture material, selected parts of Recursive Macroeconomic Theory by Ljungqvist and Sargent, 3rd edition (2012, MIT Press; 2nd edition, 2004, available online); Applied Intertemporal Optimization by Wälde (2011, available online); Introduction to Modern Economic Growth by Acemoglu (2009) and Stephanie Schmitt-Grohe and Martin Uribe, Open Economy Macroeconomics (2017).

Course material is delivered through the course website. Problem sets are designed to support learning of the course material.

The grade on a scale from 0 (fail) to 5 is based on the points earned in the final exam (70%) and in the homework assignments (30%).