Macro Trends

Macroeconomics can be a daunting subject matter but it is too important to be left to specialists. All senior managers need to be able to understand and interpret the macroeconomy, and reflect on the factors that cause it to change. This page gathers material that equips participants with a foundation in the models and frameworks needed to make sense of our context and policy responses, and develop an awareness of several key risks. They will help you to become familiar with with global growth forecasts and identify the key challenges facing policymakers.

And the best part is that the lecture is live!


Lecture handout: Macro Trends. Here is the quiz.

My attempt to provide some theoretical background to core macro concepts is my video on “The emoji equation of exchange“. See here for a quiz.

You can find the latest global growth forecasts from the institutions mentioned in the lecture here:

What you should be reading:

Newspapers: The Economist Financial Times The Guardian (international edition)

Business press: Harvard Business Review • McKinsey QuarterlyKnowledge@Wharton 

Suggested podcasts:

  • Planet Money by NPR – short introductions to key topics
  • Macro Musings, by David Beckworth at the Mercatus Center – interviews with relevant academic and policy experts

Where to look for good charts:


What I’ve been reading:

What I’ve been writing:

Background resources:

  • The best way to keep on top of macroeconomic trends are to subscribe to the Financial Times or The Economist.
  • An Inflation Primer” Patrick Horan, Mercatus Center Policy Brief, July 2022 – a good background primer on inflation
  • Evans, A.J., 2020, “Economics: A Complete Guide for Business” London Publishing Partnership – my managerial economics textbook is intended to provide a thorough but readable overview of the most important elements of macroeconomics

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