Macroeconomics
Econ 204A

Winter 2008 - Henning Bohn
UC Santa Barbara

Welcome to Econ 204A! Posted here are course information, reading list, and various supplemental materials.

Changes will be posted throughout the quarter. Please check before class.

Annoucements: [Last updated: 3/04/08]


• A course outline for Winter 2009 will be posted in late December.

Problem Sets:

Here is a collection of practice problems (pdf file): Problem Set Collection

Problem sets are normally due on Thursdays at the start of class. The section and problem numbers refer to the Problem Set Collection. Assignments & due dates are subject to change: Please listen to class announcements or check this page.

Problem Sets:
    (1)    Part 1, #1-2, #7-8. Due 1/17.
    (2)    Part 2, #1. Due 1/24.
    (3)    Part 2, #2-5.  Due 1/31.
    (4)    Part 3, #1, #2a, #3.  Due 2/7.
    (5)    Part 3, #2b-c, #4. Due 2/21.
    (6)    Part 3, #5, #8. Due 2/28.
    (7)    Part 4, #2a-c, #3, #7a-b. Due 3/6.
    (8)    Part 4, #1, #5, #6. Due 3/13.
[Clarification on problem set Part 4, #2a-b: The "savings function" refers to assets saved, not the savings rate. Perhaps notation a(wt,wt+1,rt+1) would have been better.]

Midterm: in class, Thursday, February 14.
Final:  as scheduled by the registrar, Wed. March 19, 4-7.

My office is open to graduate students at any time.
Official office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30-4:30.

E-mail: bohn@econ.ucsb.edu. Always use "Econ 204A" in the subject line.

This page and the resources listed are for the exclusive use of UCSB students enrolled in Econ 204A. If you run into technical glitches or errors on this page, please send me a message. Some links (notably to Jstor) can only be accessed from a UCSB server.

Course Outline:

Some overheads/lecture notes will be provided later, to be updated.
Required readings are exam-relevant even if not covered in class. The class covers more than the required reading, often extracted from a variety of other sources that are listed as recommended, optional, or for-reference. Items not required are not tested except as covered in class.
Location: (+) = Graduate office folder; RBR = reserve book room

Part 2. Exogenous Growth: The Solow Model

Classes #4-5: Main concepts.
Class #6: Applications.
Class #7: New Growth.
Part 3. Optimal Growth in Continuous Time

Class #8: Main concepts. Classes #9-10: Optimal Control. Class #11: Dynamics of Optimal Growth Class #12: MIDTERM, in class.
Midterm will cover Parts 1-3b. I start Part 3c before the midterm to give you more time to study.
Exams cover the topics discussed in class and in the required readings. That is, required readings are exam-relevant even if not covered in class. Other, non-required readings are not tested except as covered in class.

Classes #13-14: Dynamics of Optimal Growth and Applications to Fiscal Policy.
Class #15: Introduction to Money. The Sidrauski model.
Part 4. Overlapping Generations

Class #16: Main concepts.

Classes #17-18: Analysis and Applications to Fiscal Policy.
Part 5. Introduction to Optimal Growth in Discrete Time

Class #19: Main concepts (if there is time)    

Class #20: Wrap-up and Exam Review.
 


Please send any comments to bohn@econ.ucsb.edu