BCO1214 MACROECONOMICS Task brief & rubrics
REPORT
Description:
Choose ONE of the topics detailed below to write a report
Weight: This task is worth 45% of your overall grade for this subject.
The session of Week 13 will be an extra tutoring session: you will be able ask the professor for last advice on your project.
Assignment Launch: Week 10.
Submission: Week 13 – Via Moodle (Turnitin). Submission will be accepted all Week 13: From the 4th to the 10th of May at 23:59hrs (Barcelona’s time).
Formalities:
The minimum amount of words to be used is 1500 and the maximm is 2200
You may want to include images/graphics etc. (for example from their website) to make your reasoning and argumention more visual and explicative
Font: Arial. Size: 12,5pts. Line spacing: 1,5. Text align: Justified.
Appendices and References, do not count towards the final wordcount but are strongly recommended (referencing websites, articles, books etc.)
CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWINT TOPICS
Topic 1: Eurozone and Macroeconomic goals
Write a report that assess the role of the Eurozone institutions to achieve macroeconomic goals.
The report should include the following sections:
Cover Page: Title, Course, Name of Student
Table of Contents
Section 1. (25%) The Eurogroup is debating EU-wide unemployment insurance scheme.
o Define the different types of unemployment and discuss which one is the target of such a measure.
o Analyze the possible effects of this measure using the concepts delivered in class.
Section 2. (25%) Monetary authorities.
o In the Eurozone, which institution oversees monetary policy, and which one controls fiscal policy?
The main goal of the European Central Bank is controlling the inflation. Why it is so important? To answer this question:
o define aggregate demand and aggregate supply in the long-run and short-run (use graphs), and
o explain the main effects of rising prices in the economy using the concepts delivered in class.
Section 3. (25%) During the 2008 crisis, the Eurozone countries applied different strategies to prevent a fall of aggregate demand.
o Provide two examples of fiscal policies in face of an economic crisis and discuss their positive and negative effects on aggregate demand. Use the concepts of
“multiplier effect” and “crowding-out effect” delivered in class.
Section 4. (25%) There is evidence of an increasing protectionism in global trade (US and China trade war), which might cause a fall in global trade.
o Explain what the expected impact of the fall in international trade on the Eurozone economy might be. Use the AD/AS model and the concepts delivered in unit
8. This section must include a written explanation and charts.
Bibliography
Topic 2: The role of Eurozone during the coronavirus crisis
Write a report that assess whether the Eurozone countries have so far responded adequately to the economic challenges that have arisen during the coronavirus crisis.
The report should include the following sections:
Cover Page: Title, Course, Name of Student
Table of Contents
Section 1. (25%) The Eurogroup is debating EU-wide unemployment insurance scheme to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus crisis.
o Define the different types of unemployment and discuss which one is the target of such a measure.
o Analyze the possible effects of this measure using the concepts delivered in class.
Section 2. (25%) The Eurogroup is discussing issuing Bons to cushion the economic downturn.
o In the Eurozone, which institution oversees monetary policy, and which one controls fiscal policy?
The main goal of the European Central Bank is controlling the inflation. Why it is so important? To answer this question:
o define aggregate demand and aggregate supply in the long-run and short-run (use graphs), and
o explain the main effects of rising prices in the economy using the concepts delivered in class.
Section 3 (25%) Fiscal and monetary policies
o Provide information on fiscal and monetary policies that are being (or are planned to be) implemented as a response to the coronavirus crisis to prevent a fall of
aggregate demand.
o Provide two examples of fiscal policies in face of an economic crisis and discuss their positive and negative effects on aggregate demand. Use the concepts of
“multiplier effect” and crowding-out effect” delivered in class. This section must include a written explanation.
Section 4. (25%) Coronavirus crisis will certainly cause a fall of global trade.
o Explain what the expected impact of the fall in international trade on the Eurozone economy might be. Use the AD/AS model and the concepts delivered in unit
8. This section must include a written explanation and charts.
Bibliography
Outcomes: This task assesses the following learning outcomes:
• understand the forces determining macroeconomic variables such as national output, inflation, unemployment, and interest rates.
• apply macroeconomic terminology and assess macroeconomic policy suggestions.
• evaluate real life situations with a practical application of the acquired tools and knowledge.
RECOMMENDED SOURCES:
Data: Eurostat https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/home
Information: European Commission https://ec.europa.eu/info/index_en
Rubrics
Exceptional
90-100
Good
80-89
Fair
70-79
Marginal fail
60-69
Knowledge and
Identification of
the main Issues
20%
Identifies and demonstrates a
sophisticated understanding of
the main issues / problems in
the case study
Identifies and demonstrates an
accomplished understanding of
most of the issues/problems.
Identifies and demonstrates
acceptable understanding of
some of the issues/problems in
the case study
Does not identify or
demonstrate an acceptable
understanding of the
issues/problems in the case
study
Application
30%
Student applies fully relevant
knowledge to the situation
provided
Student applies mostly relevant
knowledge to the situation
provided
Student applies some relevant
knowledge to the situation
provided. Some minor
misunderstandings may be
evident.
Student applies little relevant
knowledge to the situation
provided. Misunderstandings are
evident.
Evaluation
30%
Student assembles a coherent
response to the question,
providing a range of support
and justification that leads to a
well-reasoned conclusion
Student assembles a good
response to the question,
providing support and
justification that lead to a wellreasoned conclusion
Student assembles a fair
response to the question,
providing some support and
justification that lead to a wellreasoned conclusion. Minor
misunderstandings may be
evident
Student’s response to the
question lacks coherence.
Limited support and justification
are provided that may or may
not be well linked to the
conclusion
Communication
20%
Student communicates ideas
extremely clearly and
concisely. Compliance with the
guidelines on font, size, line
spacing and text align will also
be taken into account.
Student communicates ideas
clearly and concisely.
Compliance with the guidelines
on font, size, line spacing and
text align will also be taken into
account.
Student communicates ideas
fairly clearly and concisely.
Compliance with the guidelines
on font, size, line spacing and
text align will also be taken into
account.
Student attempts to
communicate ideas clearly and
concisely, with some problems.
Student does not follow the
guidelines on font, size, line
spacing and text alig
