Winter 2016

EC 390 Intermediate Macroeconomics II: Dynamic Analysis

Contact Information
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
Phone:
Email:
Lecture:
URL:

Dr. Christos Shiamptanis

SBE 3261
Tuesdays and Thursdays 4:00pm-5:00pm
519-884-0710 extension 2301
cshiamptanis@wlu.ca (write EC390 in the subject box)
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30pm - 6:50pm, in P2007
mylearningspace.wlu.ca

Course Description
This course continues the analysis of macroeconomics begun in Economics 290. We will
extent the static model of national income determination with particular emphasis upon the
theories of aggregate consumption, investment, and the demand and supply of money.
Additionally, we will study the determinants of inflation and economic growth in a dynamic
setting. We will also evaluate how government policies can influence the economy.
In discussing these various economic models, we will regularly consider whether the
assumptions that underlie these models and the predictions that these models make are
consistent with the data. Some of the lectures will be descriptive, relying on plane geometry
and intermediate algebra (high school level); the ability to understand and use diagrams is
extremely desirable.
Prerequisites: EC290
Course Materials
The textbook required for this course is Macroeconomics by Blanchard and Johnson, 5th
Canadian edition, 2015, Pearson Education.
The iClicker will be used for optional in-class attendance quizzes in each lecture.
A MyLearningSpace site has been created for this course. To access the site, go to
mylearningspace.wlu.ca. After you log-in, click on EC-390-C-Intermediate Macroecon II. The
web-site includes the course outline and lecture notes. Students are encouraged to access this
site on a regular basis for important announcements about the course.
Course Evaluation
Item
Weight
Date
Attendance (iclickers)
5%*
Every class
Exam 1
25%
Saturday, February 6, 2016; 12:30pm -2:00pm
Exam 2
25%
Friday, March 11, 2016; 6:00pm -7:30pm
Final Exam
45%
TBA
* If the percent score of the clicker component is lower than the percent score of the
final exam, its weight will automatically be transferred to the final exam.
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Winter 2016
Attendance
Attendance is optional. Students can earn optional attendance marks through the use of
iclickers. In each class there will be a maximum of 5 marks available: 3 participation points for
answering 75% of the questions asked; 1 performance point for each correctly answered
question. Only the best 18 clicker scores count towards your final grade. They are structured
this way to allow for student absence or illness without needing to provide a note. There will
be no deferrals, extensions, or grade reweighting for these items. A grade of zero will be
applied for missed clicker scores. If the percent score of the clicker component is lower than the
percent score of the final exam, its weight will automatically be transferred to the final exam.
Graded class attendance will begin on January 12 and continue over the term. Past experience
indicates that there is positive correlation between attendance and success in the course.
Exams
There are two midterm exams, worth 25% each. Exam 1 will cover material from the
first day of classes. Exam 2 will be cumulative, but it will put more emphasis on material after
Exam 1. Both exams should be taken by all students at the scheduled date. The final exam is
worth 45% of your grade and is also cumulative. The final exam will be scheduled during the
University Final Examination period.
Examination policy
Students who miss Exam 1 or 2 will not be given a make-up exam. Instead, the exams
weight will be transferred to the final exam if both conditions are met:
1. The student notifies the instructor via e-mail before the date and time that the exam
will be missed.
2. The student submits valid documentation within 7 days of missed exam in person to
Ms. Helen Kaluzny in the Economics office (P3082).
Students who do not write the exam and fail to meet both criteria receive a zero grade for that
course component. Despite the severity of the issue, there are absolutely no exceptions to the
above policies.
Students who are unable to write the scheduled Final Exam for valid reasons must
submit a petition with supporting documentation to Ms. Lee Leeman in the SBE Petitions Office
(SBE1256). Note that the Petitions Committee will not grant appeals from students who write a
final exam and subsequently claim to have been ill or indisposed at the time of writing.
During all exams: digital dictionaries, cell phones and other electronic devices are not
allowed. Books, papers, knapsacks, briefcases, purses, hats, and coats stay at the front or side
of the lecture hall. The only items that you may have with you are pens, pencils, calculators,
and identification. If you do not follow these rules you may be charged with academic
dishonesty.

Winter 2016
Lecture Rules
Students should silence all cell phones before entering the lecture hall.
Electronic devices, specifically laptops and tablets may be used in this course for
educational purposes only (i.e., learning directed related to the course). If students use
them to surf the internet, then they will lose the privilege to use them again in the
future.
Accessible Learning:
Students with disabilities or special needs are advised to contact Lauriers Accessible
Learning Centre for information regarding its services and resources. Students are encouraged
to review the Calendar for information regarding all services available on campus.
Academic and Research Misconduct
You are reminded that the University will levy sanctions on students who are found to
have committed, or have attempted to commit, acts of academic or research misconduct. You
are expected to know what constitutes an academic offense, to avoid committing such
offenses, and to take responsibility for your academic actions. For information on categories of
offenses and types of penalty, please consult the relevant section of the Undergraduate
Academic Calendar. If you need clarification of aspects of University policy on Academic and
Research Misconduct, please consult your instructor.
Wilfrid Laurier University uses software that can check for plagiarism. Students may be
required to submit their written work in electronic form and have it checked for plagiarism.
Tentative Course Outline
Medium Run
Chapter 10: All Markets Together: The AS-AD Model, The Basics
Chapter 11: All Markets Together: The AS-AD Model, Liquidity Traps and Supply Shocks
Chapter 12: The Phillips Curve, the Natural Rate of Unemployment and Inflation
Chapter 13: Inflation, Economic Growth, and Money Growth
Chapter 14: Exchange Rates in the Medium Run: Adjustments, Crises, and Regimes
Long Run
Chapter 15: The Facts of Growth
Chapter 16: Saving, Capital Accumulation, and Output
Chapter 17: Technological Progress and Growth
Chapter 18: Economic Growth in the Open Economy
Expectations
Chapter 19: Expectations: The Basic Tools
Chapter 20: Financial Markets and Expectations
Chapter 21: Expectations, Consumption, and Investment
Chapter 22: Expectations, Output, and Policy
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Winter 2016
Back to Policy
Chapter 24: Monetary Policy: A summing up
Chapter 25: Fiscal Policy: A summing up
Note: Portions of some of the chapters may be skipped, and other material may be added.
This schedule will change as the semester proceeds. Updates will be provided in class.