Introduction Macroeconomics is the study of the structure and performance of national economies and of the government policies used to influence economic performance. Indicators of Structure: Consumption, Investment, Savings, Wages, Export-Import etc. Indicators of Performance: GDP, GDP Growth Rate, Unemployment Rate, Inflation Rate etc.

MACROECONOMICS Government Policies Fiscal Policy - Policies related to taxes and government expenditure. Monetary Policy – Policies related to money supply.

What Macroeconomists Do? Macroeconomic Forecasting - Prediction about macroeconomic variables Macroeconomic Analysis – Understanding and working out implications of current macroeconomic events. Macroeconomic Research – Developing and testing economic theories. Developing economic models.

Steps in Developing Theories/Models How reasonable and realistic the assumptions are? Can we use the model to study real problems? Can its predictions be empirically tested? Empirical validity of its predictions?

Two Schools of Thought The Classical Approach – Markets are efficient and price adjustments quickly bring about market equilibrium. The Keynesian Approach – Price adjustments are slow and market can remain in disequilibrium for a long period of time.