Macroeconomics (2nd Edition)

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Summary: SW's Macroeconomics is the best macro book on the market!
Review: After reading this book no one will ever complain that macroeconomics lacks micro foundations. This book first explains the microeconomics of intertemporal goods and labor markets and goes on to create an intertemporal general equilibrium economy (with two periods for simple exposition). Then Wiliamson shows how growth theory and business cycle theories are applied in this general equilibrium economy. This is by far the most fun and understandible way to teach undergraduates about growth and business cycles at the intermediate level.

Williamson also lays out "stylized facts" of the business cycle, including comovements, and he critiques different business cycle theories based on whether they can replicate those comovements in the data. This book comes closer than any other intermediate text to replicating how modern macroeconomics is done.

Ch 8 which explains Solow and endogenous growth models is by far the most understandible and educational of any text on the market, since Williamson does the models in discrete time rather than continuous time. If you're a professor that wants to teach undergraduates growth theory and/or growth dynamics SO THAT THEY REALLY UNDERSTAND THEM DEEPLY and ENJOY THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE, this is the book to assign.

Rating:
Summary: Best book on the modern approach to macroeconomics
Review: Barro had no challenger since his 1st edition came out more than 20 years ago. Someone finally came up with a better proposal. I most say that for me it is the best book on the subject at an intermediate level. Everyone shall have it.

Rating:
Summary: A very good read
Review: I agree with the other reviewer, Macroeconomics by Williamson is a very well written text. It incorporates a large variety of topics in the general framework very well. Much of what I could say would only be redundent as the other reviewer pointed out the highs for this text. The book is very appropriate for a intermediate undergraduate course.