Studienzentrum Gerzensee
Week 1: Spring 2010
A. GENERAL INFORMATION
Two 1.5 hour lectures per day. Please note that these lectures use prepared
slides and a tablet PC to add figures, make corrections, further develop ideas,
etc. Hence, the handouts that you will see on the website contain blank pages
where I expect to add material.
Office
Hours
I will hold an office hour each day according to the
schedule below. I encourage students to talk to me about class material or
research work or any aspect of macroeconomics.
Teaching
assistant and study problem sessions
I am delighted that a BU PhD student, Michael Siemer
(www.michael-siemer.org.html), will accompany me to SZG this year. Michael will
assist our class in three ways: he will conduct daily study problem sessions
according to the schedule below, hold an office hour each day, and also hold a
post-dinner session one night on computing solutions to macroeconomic models.
Questions and answers for each day's study problems will
be posted on this website. In the daily study problem session, the linkage of
these problems to (i) the day's lecture and (ii) research in macroeconomics
will be discussed. Students will also have the opportunity to raise questions
about study problems and answers.
Schedule of course activities
The
following is the schedule of lectures, office hours for each day (Robert King
and Michael Siemer), and study problem sessions
|
Day |
Lec 1 |
Lec 2 |
RK OH |
MS OH |
SPS |
|
MO |
10:30-12:00 |
14:00-15:30 |
15:30-16:30 |
17:00-18:00 |
20:00-21:30 |
|
TU |
08:30-10:00 |
10:30-12:00 |
13:30-14:30 |
16:00-17:00 |
17:00-18:00 |
|
WE* |
08:30-10:00 |
10:30-12:00 |
13:30-14:30 |
16:00-17:00 |
17:00-18:00 |
|
TH |
08:30-10:00 |
10:30-12:00 |
13:30-14:30 |
16:00-17:00 |
17:00-18:00 |
|
FR |
08:30-10:00 |
10:30-12:00 |
|
|
|
* There will also be a computer lab session on Wednesday
evening following dinner (see discussion below).
B. LECTURE TOPICS AND LINKS TO
COURSE MATERIALS
|
Day 0:
Background reading and problems |
|
Day 1: Introduction to dynamic macroeconomics |
|
Day 2: Theory and applications of dynamic
programming |
|
Day
3: Linear dynamic systems and linear rational expectations models |
|
Day
4: A basic equilibrium macroeconomic model |
|
Day
5: Uncertainty and asset pricing |
|
Interweek Homework Problems |
Research in macroeconomics and other fields now makes extensive use of
model solution and simulation methods. MATLAB -- a product of the Mathworks -- provides a convenient means
of displaying the link between theoretical constructs, model solution and
simulation methods, and the results presented in macroeconomic research.
The MACROLAB component of this doctoral course allows the student (or, better,
a group of students working together) to parallel the course material on a
self-guided basis. The MACROLAB materials are not necessary for doing
excellent work in the course, but are provided for interested students.
Michael Siemer will also discuss solution of several macroeconomic models using DYNARE, which is a MATLAB based set of solution routines that are developed collaboratively by the macroeconomics community, on Wednesday evening.
D. RULES FOR INTERWEEK HOMEWORK
PROBLEMS
Students may work in groups of up to 3
students on the problems.
If a student question raises the need for clarification of an IHW question
or highlights a typo in the IHW, then such material will be posted as an
IHWupdate (linked here).
The IHW answers are due to Teodora Ruiz by the end of the day on Friday
March 12.
|
Professor Robert G. King |
|
