ECON4310 – Macroeconomic Theory
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The focus in this course is on how economic aggregates evolve over time and on how this evolution is shaped by economic agents who are taking account of how their present decisions will affect their own future. Among the topics are:
- Saving and investment decisions.
- Labor supply decisions.
- Capital accumulation and the determination of real interest rates.
- Business cycle theories.
The course covers a range of models that are among the most widely used tools in macroeconomic thinking. It is meant as an introduction to macro theory at the masters’ level and provides a useful background for the other macro courses.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
You should know:
- the Solow model.
- theories of saving and investment.
- the basic neoclassical growth model.
- theories of business cycles.
Skills
You should be able to:
- solve dynamic optimization problems.
- use intertemporal equilibrium models to discuss qualitatively the effects over time of exogenous shocks to the economy.
Competence
You should:
- be able to read and understand project reports and journal articles that make use of the concepts and methods that are introduced in the course
- be able to make use of the course content in your own academic work, for example in analyses that are part of the master’s thesis
Admission to the course
Students admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.
Students not admitted to the Master’s programme in Economics or the Master’s programme in Economic Theory and Econometrics (Samfunns?konomisk analyse), can apply for admission to one of our study programmes, or apply for guest student status.
You can not attend this course if you have already passed specific ECON-courses at a higher level.
Formal prerequisite knowledge
You must fulfill one of these prerequisites:
- Bachelor`s degree in Economics, or equivalent.
- ECON3220 – Microeconomics 3 / ECON4220 – Microeconomics 3, or equivalent.
Recommended previous knowledge
- It is recommended to take the course either in parallel with or after ECON3120 – Mathematics 2: Calculus and Linear Algebra / ECON4120 – Mathematics 2: Calculus and Linear Algebra, or equivalent.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with S?K411.
- 10 credits overlap with SO?411.
- 10 credits overlap with ECON411.
- 10 credits overlap with ECON411.
Teaching
Lectures and seminars.
Compulsory tuition activities:
- A compulsory term paper.
If the compulsory term paper is not approved, you may be given a second attempt to hand in a new term paper/improve the term paper within a short deadline.
When the compulsory term paper is approved, the result will be registered. The term paper will be valid for 8 consecutive semesters.
See The Faculty of Social Sciences` rules regarding compulsory tuition activities.
Candidates who have passed the course before autumn 2016 and wish to re-take the exam need to get the term paper approved before they can re-take the exam.
Absence from compulsory tuition activities
If you are ill or have another valid reason for being absent from compulsory tuition activities, your absence may be approved or the compulsory activity may be postponed.
Examination
A 3-hour written school exam.
You must have passed the compulsory activities in order to sit for the exam.
Exam papers with comments from examiner
Examination support material
Students may use dictionaries at this exam. Dictionaries must be handed in before the examination. Please read regulations for dictionaries permitted at the examination.
Language of examination
The examination text is given in English, and you submit your response in English.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Resit an examination
If you are sick or have another valid reason for not attending the regular exam, we offer a postponed exam later in the same semester.
There are restrictions on resitting this exam. See further information about resitting an exam.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.