Module descriptions

This page provides detailed information on the courses offered at the institute.

COMPULSORY MODULES

  • Bachelor Studies

    Foundation of Macroeconomics
     

    Content

    The course "Foundation of Macroeconomics" describes and explains basic macroeconomic concepts. Students learn how to model, analyze and evaluate macroeconomic phenomena and their implications for economic policy measures.

    Courses

    Foundations of Macroeconomics I [lecture + tutorial, 6 LP/ECTS]

    The module is offered each winter term. Students have to pass a written final exam worth 100% of the final mark to complete the module. The exam is offered at the end of each winter term and during the summer term.

     

    International Economics

    Content

    The course offers an intermediate treatment of issues in open-economy macroeconomics and international finance.

    Courses

    Außenwirtschaft [lecture+tutorial, 6 LP/ECTS]

    The module is offered each winter term. Students have to pass a written final exam worth 100% of the final mark to complete the module. The exam is offered at the end of each winter term and during the summer term.

  • Master Studies

    Macroeconomics

    Content

    The course Macroeconomics provides an introduction to advanced topics and methods of modern macroeconomic theory.

    The course covers topics in economic growth and New Keynesian macroeconomics. Theoretical as well as empirical methods are discussed.

    Courses

    Macroeconomics [lecture+tutorial, 6 LP/ECTS]

    The module is offered each winter term. Students have to pass a written final exam worth 100% of the final mark to complete the module. The exam is offered at the end of each winter term and during the summer term.
ELECTIVE MODULES

  • Bachelor Studies

    Trade Theory and Policy

    Content

    The module provides an overview of the structure and interdependencies in international factor and goods markets. The baseline models of international trade theory are introduced. Trade policy instruments are analyzed and their welfare implications are discussed.

    The various models and concepts are applied to current economic questions. This way students learn how to evaluate economic problems and develop solutions.

    Course

    Trade Theory and Policy [lecture and tutorial, 6 LP/ECTS]

    The module is offered each winter term. Students have to pass a written final exam worth 100% of the final mark to complete the module. The exam is offered at the end of each winter term and during the summer term.

     

    Selected Topics in International Economics

    Content

    The module offers the students the possibility to apply concepts of the open economy on current global economic issues and to acquire specific knowledge in the field of international economics.

    In the course of the seminar the students develop skills to analyze facts and understand scientific texts and put them into a general economic context. They gain experience in dealing with references and data research. In discussions the students sharpen their understanding of interdependencies and develop their ability in abstract thinking. In addition, they hone their presentation skills. In writing a seminar paper the students learn how to structure a longer text and argue in an academically consistent manner. The seminar is also a good preparation for writing the Bachelor thesis. 

    Course

    Selected Topics in International Economics [AVWL Seminar, 6 LP/ECTS]

    The module is offered each summer term. Students are asked to attend class on a regular basis. To pass the module they have to hand in a seminar paper (about 15 pages, 70% of the final mark) and give a presentation (40 minutes incl. discussion, 30% of the final mark). This class is exclusively offered in the summer term and there is no option to hand in any material during the winter term. Course enrollment must be carried out during the early registration phase at the examination office.

  • Master Studies

    International Macroeconomics

    Content

    This module provides an introduction to advanced modeling techniques for the analysis of open-economy macroeconomics. The theoretical foundation and empirical implications of the various models are introduced with a view to recent scientific publications in the field.

    Courses

    International Macroeconomics [lecture and tutorial, 6 LP/ECTS]

    The module is offered in the winter term. Participants should have some basic prior knowledge of international macroeconomics. To complete the module, students have to hand in problem sets and pass a written exam. The exam is offered at the end of each winter term and during the summer term (exam 70%, problem sets 30%).

     

    PhD Macroeconomics

    Content

    The module introduces the students to advanced theoretical and quantitative methods to analyze macroeconomic models and datasets which can applied in a doctoral research agenda and beyond. 

    The course consists of two parts:

    1. Theoretical Analysis of Dynamic Macroeconomics (Instructor: Prof. Kempa)
    2. Empirical Analysis of Macroeconomic Policy (Instructor: Adrian Schröder)

    The focus of the lecture's first part is the understanding and analysis of macroeconomic context in dynamic models. Students learn methods to solve said models' differential equation systems. The second part of the lecture focuses on how to estimate the effect of real and monetary shocks within the analysis of multivariate time series (coding with the statistical computing language R). 

    Course

    PhD Macroeconomics [lecture, 6 LP/ECTS]

    The module is offered in the summer term. Participants should have some basic prior knowledge in macroeconomics. To complete the module, students have to hand in two problem sets and write a final exam. The exam is offered at the end of each summer term and during the winter term. The final mark consists of the average mark over the problem sets and the exam (each counting one third). Note: The course is primarily geared towards PhD students and is more demanding compared to courses at the Master level. However, Master students may also attend and earn credits.