This is an archived course. A more recent version may be available at ocw.mit.edu.

Calendar

In the topics below, "HBS" stands for the Harvard Business School case studies that were discussed in class.

LEC # TOPICS KEY DATES
Basic Tools of Economic Management
1 Overview  
2 HBS: The German Hyperinflation of 1923  
3

HBS: The Great Depression: Causes and Impact

HBS: A Keynesian Cure for The Depression

Fiscal Multiplier

The Disinflation Spiral

 
4

HBS: The Reagan Plan

ISLM Notes

 
Development Strategies
5 HBS: Japan: The Miracle Years  
6

HBS: Singapore

HBS: Accounting for Productivity Growth

Problem set 1 due
7

HBS: Chile: The Latin American Tiger?

HBS: Note on Exchange Rate Determination

 
Emerging Market Crises
8

HBS: World to Mexico: Get a Grip

HBS: The 1994-95 Mexican Peso Crisis

Final project progress report 1 due
9 HBS: Menem and the Populist Tradition in Argentina  
10 BBNN Notes and Review  
11

Articles

Eichengreen, B. "Understanding Asia's Crisis"

Eichengreen, B. "How Economists Understand Crisis?"

Problem set 2 due
Financial Crises and Contagion
12 HBS: Malaysia: Capital and Control  
13 Midterm (In Class, Closed Book) Midterm
Transition Economies and Africa
14 HBS: Russia - 1994  
15

HBS: China: Facing the 21st Century

HBS: Transition to a Market Economy

 
16 HBS: Uganda and the Washington Consensus Final project progress report 2 due
Trade Issues
17

Strategic Trade Policy

HBS: Collision Course in Commercial Aircraft

 
18

The Debate on Globalization

Does trade with Low Wage Countries Hurt American Workers?

Integration of Trade and Disintegration of Production in the Global Economy

Integration of Trade and Disintegration of Production in the Global Economy

Comparative Advantages

Problem set 3 due
Challenges of the Developed Economies
19 HBS: Unemployment in France: Priority Number One Final project progress report 3 due
20 HBS: European Monetary Union  
21 HBS: Social Security Reform  
22 HBS: Japan: Free, Fair and Global?  
23 International Financial Architecture  
24 HBS: The United States in 2001 Final project due