Aims
The principal aim of this module is to provide students with an understanding of the causes of business cycles. It will also examine the basis on which counter cyclical macroeconomic policy is suggested and conducted. In so doing it will examine the contribution of the major schools of macroeconomics to the policy debate. The cause of economic growth will also be examined.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students will possess:

• a taxonomy of the business cycle;

• an understanding of the development of business cycle theory;

• a feel for the difficulties involved in forecasting the business cycle;

• an overview of the development of macroeconomic theory;

• an understanding of the policy implications of various macroeconomic schools of thought;

• the causes of economic growth.

More specifically by taking this module students will enhance several transferable skills. Attendance at lectures should help note taking. Essay writing will enhance writing as well as time management skills and problem solving. The group presentations should also enhance teamwork, communiction and presentational skills and reinforce further time management skills. The inclusion of web sites and encouragement to use the library fully should help to enhance basic IT and research skills.