1. Macroeconomic Conflict and Consensus

2. Classical Economics Focused on long run only
Short run effects, like changes in output, were unimportant
Awareness of business cycle, but no consensus on how to respond to it

3. Keynesian Economics
Emphasized importance of short run effects of shifts
SRAS upward-sloping, not vertical
Legitimized macroeconomic policy activism, use of policy to smooth out the business cycle

4. Monetarism
Believed GDP would grow steadily if money supply grew steadily
Supported by Quantitative Theory of Money
MV=PQ
Wanted to see constant growth of money supply regardless of economic conditions

5. Inflation and Unemployment
Keynes believed macroeconomic policy could be used to maintain full employment in the long run
One implication of the natural rate hypothesis is that inflation will continue even in times of high unemployment
Stability, not low level, should be the goal

6. Political Business Cycle
Results of election tend to be tied to economic conditions in the six months prior to the election
Why monetary policy is preferred by many economists

7. New Classical Macroeconomics
Rational Expectations Theory – Individuals and businesses make decisions based on all available information
Real Business Cycle Theory – Slowdowns in productivity growth (attributed to pauses in technology progress) cause recessions

8. Modern Macroeconomic Consensus
General level of Consensus on Five Key Issues:
Monetary policy – Effective in shifting AD to reduce economic instability by affecting both price and output; only ineffective in case of liquidity trap
Fiscal policy – Effective in shifting AD; should not seek balanced budget, as budget surpluses and deficits act as a stabilizer

9. Modern Macroeconomic Consensus
General level of Consensus on Five Key Issues:
NAIRU – Almost universally accepted as true; limited ability of policy to keep unemployment below NAIRU, but can help stabilize near this level
Discretionary fiscal policy – Usually counterproductive due to lags; most favor monetary policy except in liquidity trap

10. Modern Macroeconomic Consensus
General level of Consensus on Five Key Issues:
Discretionary monetary policy – Still an area of contention, though there is agreement that central bank should be independent
Unconventional monetary policies exercised during 2008 Financial Crisis were very controversial.

11. 5 Key Questions of Macroeconomic Theory