1. Introduction to Macroeconomics Chapter 1. An Overview of Macroeconomics

2. An Overview of Macroeconomics 1. What is Macroeconomics 2. Macroeconomic Goals 3. Key Principles of Economics 4. Economic Theory in Practice

3. 1. What Is Macroeconomics? Microeconomics - study of behavior of individual economic agents. Macroeconomics - study of aggregate measures of the economy

4. 2. Macroeconomic Goals Low Unemployment Price Stability Economic Growth Complementary and Conflicting Goals

8. Complementary & Conflicting Goals Complementary Goals –Low unemployment and high economic growth Conflicting Goals –Low unemployment and low inflation

9. 3. Key Principles of Economics Limited Resources, Unlimited Wants, Scarcity, and Opportunity Cost Rational Self-Interest Relationship Between Opportunity Cost and Rational Self-Interest Decisions Are Made at the Margin

10. Production Process Inputs Nonhuman Resources –Natural Resources –Real Capital Human Resources Outputs Goods Services

11. Scarcity, Choice, and Opportunity Cost Limited Resources Unlimited Wants Scarcity - resources, goods and services are limited relative to the wants and desires for them Choice Opportunity Cost - the highest valued alternative foregone in making any choice

12. Rational Self-Interest Rational –Individuals are able to estimate benefits and costs (net benefit) of a particular action –They are able to compare the net benefits of alternative actions Self-Interest –Only engage in that activity if the net benefit is greater than zero –Engage in the activity that yields the greatest net benefit

13. 4. Economic Theory in Practice Economic Theory and Models Fallacy of Composition Normative vs. Positive Economics

14. What Makes a Good Model? Accurately explains history Makes reasonable predictions about the future

15. Keep Models Simple Occam’s Razor - eliminate complicating details that don’t significantly contribute to the model Ceteris Paribus - other things being equal

16. Fallacy of Composition You can’t generalize to the aggregate based on the expected behavior of a single person acting alone.

17. Positive vs. Normative Economics Positive Economics - explains what will happen under certain conditions Normative Economics - explains what should happen