ECON 451(F) 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.