Author Description

This textbook surveys the current state of macroeconomics analyzing and comparing alternative approaches to the subject.The book is divided into six parts. The first is introductory and gives the general background necessary for a deeper understanding of the recent debates under discussion. It focuses on schools of thought which have been prominent in macroeconomics over the last two decades.The second part looks at the rational expectations controversy which is still a crucial battleground in macroeconomics. The third part examines another issue which has been at the centre of macroeconomic debate since the early 70s: the explanation and control of economic fluctuations.The fourth part explores two important topics with particular attention to empirical evidence: wage-determination and inflation. The nexus between data and macroeconomic theory raises many methodological problems, some of which are discussed in part five.The final part is a critical appraisal of the conceptual links among the chapters of this volume.