Universität Wien

040110 KU Macroeconomics and Inequality (MA) (2020W)

Track in Macroeconomic Policy

8.00 ECTS (4.00 SWS), SPL 4 - Wirtschaftswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 18 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

The class is set up around physical classroom teaching and features home-learning elements. There will be an online streaming opportunity if students cannot attend classroom teaching.

UPDATE: Starting November 3, the class will be held entirely online. Refer to Moodle for details.

  • Thursday 01.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 06.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 4 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Thursday 08.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 13.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 12 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Thursday 15.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 20.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Thursday 22.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 27.10. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Thursday 29.10. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 03.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Thursday 05.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 10.11. 15:00 - 16:30 Hörsaal 3 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Thursday 12.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 17.11. 15:00 - 16:30 PC-Seminarraum 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Untergeschoß
  • Thursday 19.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 24.11. 15:00 - 16:30 PC-Seminarraum 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Untergeschoß
  • Thursday 26.11. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 01.12. 15:00 - 16:30 PC-Seminarraum 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Untergeschoß
  • Thursday 03.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Thursday 10.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 15.12. 15:00 - 16:30 PC-Seminarraum 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Untergeschoß
  • Thursday 17.12. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 12.01. 15:00 - 16:30 PC-Seminarraum 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Untergeschoß
  • Thursday 14.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 19.01. 15:00 - 16:30 PC-Seminarraum 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Untergeschoß
  • Thursday 21.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock
  • Tuesday 26.01. 15:00 - 16:30 PC-Seminarraum 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Untergeschoß
  • Thursday 28.01. 16:45 - 18:15 Hörsaal 7 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 1.Stock

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course provides students with a macroeconomic perspective on important topics such as wealth and income inequality, pensions and retirement, education, taxation, and consumer debt. Differences between individuals (i.e. heterogeneity) play a central role in all these topics.

This course relies on state-of-the-art heterogeneous agent models (à la Bewley-Huggett-Aiyagari) which are one of the workhorse models in modern macro. Students will learn to analyze these models as well as to apply them to practical examples on the computer.

After introducing the basic methods, the course discusses interesting research papers in the different areas listed above. (Specific focus can be adapted to student preferences.)

The aim of this course is to develop a sound command of heterogeneous agent models that allows students to understand state-of-the-art research in the field. Students also start working on numerical applications in Matlab.

Assessment and permitted materials

Evaluation consists of
(30%) midterm take home exam
(30%) problem sets to be handed in
(30%) term project*
(10%) participation

* The term project can either be a research proposal or a numerical exercise in Matlab.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Students need to achieve at least 50% of all points to pass this course.

The course "Growth and Business Cycles" (or equivalent) is a prerequisite. The course "Dynamic Macroeconomics with Numerics" and some familiarity with Matlab are useful but not necessary.

Examination topics

Reading list

Research papers that are announced in class and on the syllabus.

Additional reading on methodology:
Stokey, N. and R. E. Lucas (with E. C. Prescott), 1996,
Recursive Methods in Economic Dynamics, Harvard University Press.
Ljungqvist, L., T. Sargent, 2018,
Recursive Methods in Macroeconomic Theory, MIT Press.

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Tu 15.06.2021 13:27