Identifies six significant themes for teaching intermediate macroeconomics at the college level. Included are the need for a unifying approach, adaptability of course content, emphasis on formalism, coordination within the economics curriculum, stimulation of student learning, and needs for assessment. Discusses additional options for…

Recommends teaching intermediate macroeconomics as a two-part sequence, with the first component based on a benchmark model that reflects accepted theory and applications to policy. Maintains that current intermediate economics courses cover too much material. Argues for spreading this material over several elective courses. (MJP)

Identifies four microeconomic concepts students should learn before entering the study of intermediate macroeconomics. Included are relative prices, general versus partial equilibrium, constrained optimization, and the nature of production concepts. Recommends making intermediate microeconomics a prerequisite for intermediate macroeconomics. (MJP)

Presents a framework for including the optimal level of national saving and its disposition between investment in the domestic capital stock and the accumulation of overseas assets, in intermediate macroeconomics teaching. Uses the IS-LM model to enhance students' comprehension of the issues involved in the optimal level of saving. (MJP)

Criticizes the beginning of period version of the IS-LM model found in most textbooks. Argues that this model fails to capture the effects of the issuance of financial assets to finance current investment spending by firms and current deficit spending by the government. Recommends an end-of- period model. (MJP)

Traces the development of macroeconomic theory from John Maynard Keynes to modern endogenous growth theory. Maintains that a combination of interest in growth theory and related policy questions will play a prominent role in macroeconomics in the future. Recommends narrowing the gap between graduate school and undergraduate economics instruction.…

Argues that incorporating research into teaching intermediate macroeconomics can present challenging material to students thereby increasing their critical and evaluative thinking. Recommends sacrificing advanced textbook topics, historical perspectives on theories and policies, and current debates in favor of theoretical insights and empirical…

Articulates some of the primary benefits derived from using specific cases to teach macroeconomics. Cases contain information, not only diverse and interesting, but relevant to the business environment where many graduates will be working. Specifically, they convey information about qualitative trade-offs and complex environments. (MJP)