Teaching plan for the course unit

 

 
Catalā English Close imatge de maquetació

 

Print

 

General information

 

Course unit name: Macroeconomics

Course unit code: 364544

Academic year: 2025-2026

Coordinator: Ramon Tremosa Balcells

Department: Department of Economics

Credits: 6

Single program: S

 

 

Estimated learning time

Total number of hours 150

 

Face-to-face and/or online activities

60
 

-  Lecture with practical component

Face-to-face

  

45
 

-  Problem-solving class

Face-to-face

  

15

Supervised project

40

Independent learning

50

 

 

Competences / Learning outcomes to be gained during study

 

   -

CB2 - Capacity to apply knowledge and understanding in a manner that indicates a professional approach to the work or vocation, and have competences typically demonstrated through devising and sustaining arguments and solving problems within the field of study.
   -

CG9 - Capacity to interpret the evolution of the business environment and adaptations to change.
   -

CG5 - Ability to work in a team (capacity to collaborate with others and contribute to a common project, capacity to work in cross-disciplinary and multicultural teams).
   -

CG8 - Capacity to communicate in English and/or other foreign languages orally and in writing, comprehension skills, and mastery of specialized language.
   -

CG1 - Commitment to ethical practice (critical and self-critical skills and attitudes that comply with ethical and deontological principles).
   -

CG3 - Capacity for learning and responsibility (capacity for analysis, synthesis, to adopt global perspectove and to apply knowledge in practice).
   -

CE2 - Comprehensive understanding of the international economic, legal and socio-political framework, and ability to use this knowledge to oversee international business decisions.

Learning objectives

 

Referring to knowledge

— Acquire knowledge of the main macroeconomic variables.

— Understand development and economic growth in the long run.

— Understand economic fluctuations in the short run.

— Acquire knowledge of macroeconomic variables in the open economy.

— Be able to understand and analyse the main macroeconomic problems of current economy.

 

 

Teaching blocks

 

1. Introduction

1.1. What does macroeconomics study?

1.2. How do economists do it?

1.3. Data, models and economic policy

2. Data: definition, components, measurements and significance

2.1. GDP and economic growth measurement

2.2. CPI and the inflation rate

2.3. Unemployment

3. The economy in the long run: economic growth, interest rates, money growth and inflation

3.1. The importance of economic growth

3.2. Cross-national differences in income per capita

3.3. Proximate and fundamental determinants of economic growth: technology, human and physical capital, labour, culture, climate, institutions...

3.4. Saving and investment, financial system and determination of interest rates

3.5. Money supply and inflation

4. The economy in the short run: economic fluctuations (expansions, recessions)

4.1. Economic fluctuations

4.2. The monetary system

4.3. Aggregate demand and aggregate supply

4.5. The role of economic policies: influence of monetary and fiscal policy on aggregate demand

4.6. The open economy

4.7. Exchange rates and trade

5. Debates on economic policy

5.1. Should economic policy be active or passive?

5.2. Trade off between inflation and unemployment

5.3. Expectations in economics

5.4. Central bank independence

5.5. Bubbles, austerity, government debt

 

 

Teaching methods and general organization

 

The teaching methodology consists of three types of activities:

a) Lectures with a practical component, during which the lecturer presents the concepts of each topic and accompanying examples.

b) Problem-solving classes.

c) Independent study of materials set by the lecturer, including group work exercises.

 

 

Official assessment of learning outcomes

 

Continuous assessment consists of the following:

a) Two mid-term exams (test and exercises) during the semester, each covering half of the course content (worth 45% of the continuous assessment mark each). 

b) Problem-solving exercises (10% of the continuous assessment mark).

The continuous assessment mark will be the final grade for the subject for students who obtain a pass grade. A minimum mark of 3.5 out of 10 in both mid-term tests and a minimum mark of 4 in the mid-term exam are required to calculate the continuous assessment mark. Students who pass only one mid-term test sit a final exam on the failed part.

The final exam consists of two parts: multiple-choice questions and exercises. In order to pass the final exam a minimum mark of 3.5 in the multiple-choice questions is required.

 

Examination-based assessment

Students sit a final examination, worth 100% of the final grade.

The deadline for applying for the single assessment procedure is 30 March.

 

 

Reading and study resources

Check availability in Cercabib

Book

MANKIW, N. Gregory. Principles of economics. 7th ed.[rev.] Stamford, Conn.: Cengage Learning, 2020

Catāleg UB  Enllaç
Versiķ en línia  Enllaç