Introduction

=Lecture Notes=

Tues, Jan 18

 * Introduction to macroeconomic debates (don't worry if these ideas are unfamiliar - the goal of the course is to become conversant with the theoretical framework of macroeconomics so you can make sense of debates like this //by the end of the course//.)
 * Some representative views on what the government should be doing now:
 * More government spending and continued monetary expansion - [|Paul Krugman] ([|more in-depth defense of stimulus])
 * Stop monetary expansion (and possibly unemployment insurance) and stabilize (or stop changing) regulations - [|John Cochrane] ([|more in-depth critique of stimulus])
 * [Feel free to add your own.]
 * [|"Fear the Boom and Bust" a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem]
 * [|More background on the video]
 * Syllabus
 * Endogenous and exogenous variables (and review of supply and demand)
 * [|Chart breaking down GDP by Industry]

Thurs, Jan 20

 * SmartWork assignment due at start of lecture
 * For problem 2 (which is exercise 4 at the end of textbook chapter 2), it is helpful to look at Table 2.3 on page 28 for an example you can work from.
 * Links to more details on Measuring the Macroeconomy (for the curious)
 * http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/09/13/129830698/rich-and-lonely-a-haitian-s-view-of-the-u-s
 * Our textbook author recommends this from the Wall Street Journal: [|GDP Can Be a Poor Measure of Success]
 * http://www.gapminder.org/world/ (this is where the video we watched at the end of class is from - the program used to make those animated graphs is available for free online to play around with)

=Questions for the Lecturer= //Have a question from the textbook (or any relevant question) you'd like the lecturer to address in class? Put it here in advance so he is sure to get to it (and has time to prepare for it).//

=Other Links/Discussion= Below is a [|spreadsheet] that solves one of the SmartWork problems. You can experiment to better understand the different ways to calculate Real GDP by changing the **bold numbers**: media type="custom" key="8106740" include component="page" page="SpreadsheetInfo"