ECON 451(S) The Macroeconomics of National Saving
This seminar provides a detailed examination of topics related to the macroeconomics of
national saving (which is the sum of household, corporate, and government saving). Topics
include theoretical and empirical analyses of the effects of budget deficits on economic
growth; general-equilibrium effects of taxation and government spending; the efficacy of
tax-favored saving vehicles, such as 401(k) plans, in promoting national saving and welfare;
the effects of national saving on capital accumulation and labor supply; and the intergenerational consequences of deficits and debt. The emphasis in this seminar will be on quantifying the importance of these topics using a combination of econometrics and numerical models. Students will have an opportunity to apply these methods in a required end-of-term research paper.
Format: seminar. Requirements: midterm, final, class participation and research paper.
Prerequisites: Economics 251, 252, and 255. Enrollment limit: 19 (expected: 19). Preference
will be given to senior Economics majors.
Hour: LOVE