One requirement of this course is for you to write a briefing paper on the macroeconomy of a country of your choice, other than the United States. You do not need to pick a particular “type”of country: every country has a macroeconomic history and faces current macroeconomic issues.
The paper is to be between 3,500 and 4,000 words. It is to be written in non-technical language suitable for a policy-maker. The paper must include an Excel-prepared chart based on the World Banks’s World Development Indicators (WDI) or other relevant source for your country.
The briefing paper is to include sections on recent macroeconomic history, exchange rate regime and management (check the IMF classification), balance of payments issues (check IMF balance of payments statistics), inflation issues, unemployment issues, and monetary policy. Potential World Development Indicators to include in your chart include: GDP at market prices (constant 2005 US$); Current account balance (BoP, current US$); Current account balance (% of GDP); Net financial account (BOP, current US$); Reserves and related items (BOP, current US$); Unemployment, total (% of total labor force) (national estimate); Central government debt, total (% of GDP); External debt stocks (% of GNI); Short term debt (% of total reserves); GDP deflator (base year varies by country); Gross capital formation (% of GDP); Gross savings (% of GDP).
