you may choose three (3) of the following questions in written essay form. Your essay must be typed.
Each of your three essay answers should contain a thesis, which is the central point of the essay. The essays should be organized around the thesis, with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Your essays should have a coherent structure and be organized logically. Your essays should include support from outside sources, which should be cited at the end of your essay. Your essays should be free from spelling errors and grammatical errors. Your essays should contain your own original thought, and should not be copied, in either the exact wording, or the sentence structure, from another essay. It ought to go without saying that you may not use the same essay you have written in another course, nor can you apply the same essay to both microeconomics and macroeconomics.
Essay Questions for Macroeconomics
- Write an essay in which you explain what is meant by reductionism and how it appears in macroeconomic theory. Explain what is overdetermination and how this concept plays a role in economic theory. Between these two paradigms (reductionism and overdetermination), better fits with your understanding of the world and why?
- Keynes argues that the two main problems with capitalism are, first, the problem of inadequate aggregate demand, and second, the problem of inequality. How is this similar to Marxism and how is it different?
- Write an essay in which you explain the major criticisms of the fractional reserve system and its management by central banks. How do these critics differ from the traditional Keynesian view? Which of these positions do you find more convincing and why?
- In the Keynesian view, how is debt to be used as a tool of countercyclical fiscal policy?
- In your view, is the United States becoming more economically equal, more unequal, or neither? Provide evidence to support your view. What should be done, in your view?
- How does the current way the economy is structured incentivize the destruction of the environment? How would you change this?
