| Reading: Solow, R. M., 1956, A Contribution to the Theory of Economic Growth. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 70(1), 65–94 |
| Lecture handout: Growth Theory* |
Marginal Revolution have a series of excellent videos on the Solow model, starting here:
But I’m a Solow skeptic!
| Activity: Growth activity and Google Slides |
Policy impact
From time to time I decide to host a public webinar. They are typically based on content that I wouldn’t use in any of my formal courses, but I want to make sense of by presenting to an audience. The topics are often a result of a request or an offshoot from another lecture.
These events and are not intended to be sharp and insightful and I do not profess to have an original take or an important perspective. In most cases I am just trying to make sense of a topic, and am arranging what I’ve read about it. But if you like my lecture style and want the chance to sample some deeper but less rehearsed content then this might be for you.
Unlike my online teaching you do not need video or engagement. You can dip in and out and are welcome to leave when you need to. Consider it a drop in clinic. The format is simple: a 40 minute talk, and I’ll stick around for any questions.
Previous webinars:
I can remember the charm and wonder of how the early internet brought people together, and also how it gave large platforms for diverse, funny, and shocking content. At the same time as setting up my own websites I remember:
The two best internet fan sites, exhibiting a ying yang of female/male and Europe/American, and which I still visit regularly, are:
I also thought I’d use this page to collect various websites that I’ve found interesting or those that have been (momentarily) culturally relevant:
Finally, I joke to students that my website (this one) is the third best website in the world. They always want to know the top two. They are:
This web page contains resources related to this academic article:
Links:
Course introduction
This course places students in a decision-making context to gain a thorough understanding of international affairs. It considers the role of monetary and fiscal policy in a globalized content and equips students with an array of insightful case studies. The capacity to set and maintain economic policies that deliver a stable macroeconomic environment is more important than ever, and students will gain confidence in their ability to contribute to this field.
As countries attempt to deliver on their sustainability objectives and manage disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, familiarity with the basics of macroeconomic policy will become increasingly useful.
Course assessment
I have also provided links to relevant chapters of the course textbook, “Economics: A Complete Guide for Business“.
Session 1: Growth theory
Session 2: Money
Session 3: Banking crises
Session 4: Monetary policy
Session 5: Fiscal policy
Session 6: Dynamic AD-AS model
Session 7: International economics
Session 8: Currency crises
Session 9: Debt crises
Session 10: Presentations
Note:
Cases marked with a pound sign (£) are either available via Blackboard or through the library.
| Lecture handout: Macro Risk. Here is the quiz. |
To keep up to date with my thoughts on economic issues either follow me on X/Twitter or see Kaleidic Economics.
Recommended reading
Recommended audio
Don’t forget that macro risk is only one component of global risk!
Here is the 2025 AXA Future risks report:
| Lecture handout: Macro Policy Seminar |
The purpose of this session is to bring together the twin elements of Aggregate Demand (AD) management in a practical and action based format.
| Group activity: ECB Simulation, April 2025 |
You can read more details about the Bank of England’s MPC here. I used to regularly participate in the Shadow MPC. A useful resource may be the Kaleidic Dashboard.
| Group activity: Canadian Multiplier, April 2025 (used with “Fiscal Multiplier Worksheet“, March 2018) |
In the lecture I briefly mention the relevance of a specific Reinhart-Rogoff paper for the austerity debate. For more on that see here:
| Group activity: “Macro Policy Assignment“, November 2021 and complete the Macro Policy Assignment Form. |
The concepts discussed in this session should help students to understand the rationale for Georgia’s “Law on Economic Freedom”, which limited the government to the following (see Lawson and Powell, 2019, p. 114):
AI integration
Anthropic have an Economic Advisory Council which helps to create the Anthropic Economic Index.
Also:
Recommended podcast
To keep up to date with my thoughts on economic issues either follow me on X/Twitter or see Kaleidic Economics.
This course presents key economic models, concepts and tools that managers need to master to analyse, understand and predict trends affecting the corporate environment. We address the major contemporary macroeconomic issues with the objective to enhance the capability of each participant to imagine how they may affect their own business environment.
Course textbook:
Course handouts: download here
Schedule: download here
Instructions for the group report: download here
Practice final exam: access here
| Pre-class activities |
| All cases need to be read and prepared in advance. Textbook chapters are not mandatory but are highly recommended for students without a strong background in economics. I’ve also provided a few videos and quizzes which should be helpful.
To verify you have the maths skills necessary for this course, complete this quiz. |
| Day 1: Micro |
1. Incentives matter* (+)
2. Understanding cost* (+)
3. Auctions (+)
4. Market applications (+)
Extra activity: Aalsmeer – the Dutch flower auction |
| Day 2: Macro: closed economy |
5. Inflation*
6. Macro Policy*
7. Macro Risk*
8. Macro Policy Workshop (+) After class you should watch this video and pass this quiz. Extra activity: NGDP Masterclass |
| Day 3: Macro: wider issues |
9. International economics (+)
10. Macro Trends* (+) 11. & 12. Group preparation and presentations |
| Revision |
| An optional online version of this course, which may be helpful for revision, is available here. |
Note:
Cases marked with a pound sign (£) are available via the learning platform.
I believe that the term “neoliberalism” is a valid one, both as a concept and as an ideology. In other words, it can be used in a descriptive and neutral sense, and also the thing that it describes is (relatively) desirable. I am one of very few academics to hold both of these positions!
Indeed I am an early pioneer of using the term “neoliberal” in a non-pejorative way, with my co-authored book from 2009 “The Neoliberal Revolution in Eastern Europe“. Since then, it has become more common, and I continue to research neoliberal ideas and neoliberalism as a distinct political and economic philosophy.
Here is an old interview about the book:
Some recent academic publications that focus on neoliberalism include:
I have also published a couple of formal book reviews:
I have also taken seriously a potential consequence of neoliberalism: state capitalism. See:
And I have used Medium to publish some notes about books that discuss neoliberalism:
Here is my webpage about The Museum of Neoliberalism.
Here is a selection of seminars that I routinely deliver in person:
Previous seminars include:
