Overview
This course introduces the principal concepts, measurements, and models used to analyze national and global economies. Topics include the circular flow of income; national income accounting; gross domestic product and its limitations; real and nominal measures; economic growth and productivity; business cycles; unemployment and labor markets; inflation and price indexes; aggregate demand and aggregate supply; short-run fluctuations; long-run adjustment; consumption and saving; investment; the financial system; interest rates; money and banking; central bank functions; and monetary policy.
The course examines fiscal policy, including taxation, government spending, automatic stabilizers, public debt, deficits, policy effectiveness, and sustainability. International topics include exchange rates, balance of payments, trade, capital flows, and the macroeconomic effects of globalization. Students interpret economic indicators, apply basic macroeconomic diagrams and equations, distinguish positive and normative claims, evaluate policy responses, assess trade-offs among policy objectives, and connect macroeconomic models to current events while considering assumptions, measurement challenges, distributional effects, and uncertainty.
Learning Outcomes
- Explain the principal concepts and relationships underlying national income accounting, economic growth, business cycles, inflation, unemployment, and macroeconomic policy.
- Interpret macroeconomic indicators, including gross domestic product, price indexes, unemployment measures, interest rates, exchange rates, and balance-of-payments data.
- Apply aggregate demand and aggregate supply models, basic equations, and graphical analysis to short-run fluctuations and long-run adjustment.
- Distinguish positive from normative economic claims and evaluate the assumptions, limitations, and measurement challenges of macroeconomic models.
- Analyze the causes and consequences of inflation, unemployment, economic fluctuations, fiscal imbalances, and international capital and trade flows.
- Evaluate fiscal and monetary policy responses using evidence concerning effectiveness, sustainability, distributional effects, and policy trade-offs.
- Synthesize macroeconomic theory and current economic evidence to formulate clear, reasoned explanations of national and global economic events.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
| Seminar | 1 hour | Fortnightly | Second term |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Quiz | Online quizzes (5 × 2%) | 10.00% |
| Assignment | Macroeconomic indicator analysis | 15.00% |
| Test | Mid-semester test | 20.00% |
| Tutorial | Tutorial problem sets (5 × 2%) | 10.00% |
| Assignment | Policy evaluation brief | 15.00% |
| Exam | Final examination | 30.00% |
Prerequisites
- Requirement 14 NCEA Level 2 Mathematics credits, externally assessed
- Requirement 14 NCEA Level 2 English credits, externally assessed
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
