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Country Level Economics: Macroeconomic Variables and Markets

Approx. 17 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course provides an overview of country-level economics and the factors that drive economic growth and development.

Key Learning Points

Understand the role of institutions, geography, and policies in economic development
Learn about the different economic models and theories
Explore case studies of successful and unsuccessful economic development strategies

Learning Outcomes

Understand the key factors that drive economic growth
Analyze the role of institutions and policies in economic development
Evaluate different economic models and development strategies

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Basic understanding of economics
Familiarity with economic terminology

Course Difficulty Level

Intermediate

Course Format

Online Self-paced
Video Lectures
Quizzes and Assignments

Similar Courses

Microeconomics: The Power of Markets
Macroeconomics: The Power of Economic Principles

Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

William Easterly
Dambisa Moyo

Related Books

Description

This course discusses how macroeconomic variables affect individuals’ personal, professional, and public activities and lays the foundation for the analysis of the mechanisms that drive macroeconomic variables. It starts by introducing the key macroeconomic variables and explaining how they are defined and measured to interpret macroeconomic data properly.

Then, the course offers a perspective for separating out various parts of the economy driven by different processes and for combining those components to develop a richer view of the whole. In particular, it applies this approach to the analysis of the relationship of the trade deficit with the budget deficit and private savings, offering insights about some key determinants of the balance of payments. The third and fourth modules focus on the analyses of the foreign currency and money markets to provide fundamental models of the interest rate and exchange rate determination. They also discuss how these variables interact with each other and with the macroeconomic conditions, particularly monetary policy, and the expectations about the future trends in the economy. You will be able to: • Systematically assess the national and international economic environment in which you live and work • Analyze macroeconomic issues using key tools • Be a more effective professional in your line of activity. This course is part of Gies College of Business’ suite of online programs, including the iMBA and iMSM. Learn more about admission into these programs and explore how your Coursera work can be leveraged if accepted into a degree program at https://degrees.giesbusiness.illinois.edu/idegrees/.

Outline

Course Orientation
Welcome to Country Level Economics: Macroeconomic Variables and Markets!
Learn on Your Terms
Syllabus
About the Discussion Forums
Glossary
Learn More About Flexible Learning Paths
Updating Your Profile
Orientation Quiz

Module 1: Key Macroeconomic Indicators and Their Measurement
Module 1 Introduction
1-1.1. Introduction to Macroeconomic Indicators and the Sources of Macroeconomic Data
1-2.1. The Unemployment Rate: Definition and Measurement
1-3.1. GDP: Definition
1-3.2. GDP: Measurement
1-3.3. GDP: Improvements in Real GDP Measurement
1-4.1. The Price Level and Inflation: The Basics
1-4.2. Problems in Measuring the Cost of Living Inflation
GDP: Comparison Across Countries
Module 1 Overview
Module 1 Readings
Lesson 1-1 Practice Quiz
Lesson 1-2 Practice Quiz
Lesson 1-3 Practice Quiz
Lesson 1-4 Practice Quiz
Module 1 Quiz

Module 2: GDP Components, Twin Deficits, and Balance of Payments
Module 2 Introduction
2-1.1. Components of GDP
2-1.2. The Roles of Government and the Rest of the World in the Macroeconomy
2-2.1. The Fundamental Macroeconomic Identity and GDP Components
The Balance of Payments
Module 2 Overview
Module 2 Readings
Lesson 2-1 Practice Quiz
Lesson 2-2 Practice Quiz
Appendix 2-1 Practice Quiz
Module 2 Quiz

Module 3: The Foreign Exchange Market
Module 3 Introduction
3-1.1. The Foreign Exchange Market Basics
3-1.2. The Exchange Rate and Competitiveness
3-2.1. Spot and Forward Markets for Foreign Exchange
3-2.2. Current and Future Spot Markets for Foreign Exchange
Module 3 Overview
Module 3 Readings
Lesson 3-1 Practice Quiz
Lesson 3-2 Practice Quiz
Module 3 Quiz

Module 4: Money, Interest Rate, and the Exchange Rate
4-1.1. What Is Money, and What Role Does It Play in the Economy?
4-1.2. Money Supply
4-1.3. Money Demand
4-2.1. Money Market Equilibrium
4-2.2. Money, Inflation, and Interest Rate in the Short Run and the Long Run
Banks, Balance Sheets and Capital Adequacy Requirements
Gies Online Programs
Module 4 Overview
Module 4 Readings
Congratulations!
Get Your Course Certificate
Lesson 4-1 Practice Quiz
Lesson 4-2 Practice Quiz
Module 4 Quiz

Summary of User Reviews

Learn about country-level economics with Coursera's online course. Users have given positive feedback about the course, citing its comprehensive coverage of the topic. However, some have also mentioned that the course can be challenging at times.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Comprehensive coverage of the topic

Pros from User Reviews

High-quality course materials
Engaging and knowledgeable instructors
Good pacing and structure of the course
Great for beginners and those with some knowledge of economics

Cons from User Reviews

Challenging assignments and quizzes
Some users found the content too basic
Limited interaction with instructors and other students
No certificate of completion for the free version

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