ECO 4195 The Art and Science of Monetary Policy-Making in Canada

The Department of Economics offers several challenging academic programs and is home to a vibrant group of professors whose research touches on a wide range of issues.

The Art and Science of Monetary Policy-Making in Canada

The course is offered during the Fall 2022 session on Mondays (2:30 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.) and Thursdays (4:00 p.m. – 5:20 p.m.)

The course provides an experiential learning perspective on how monetary policy is conducted at the Bank of Canada. Students will prepare to play the role of advisors to the Bank’s Governing Council and participate in the Governor’s Challenge, a nation-wide university competition. By the end of the course, students will enhance their knowledge of advanced macroeconomic theory and develop a greater understanding of the Canadian economy. Students will also improve their analytical, teamwork, presentation and public speaking skills.

The course will start with an introduction to the monetary policy decision-making process in Canada. Students will learn about the organizational structure of the Bank of Canada, the objectives and tools of Canada’s monetary policy, the key channels through which monetary policy affects Canada’s economy, and the influence of economic data on policy-making. Students will then apply their skills and knowledge in a simulated decision-making environment. They will analyze and forecast Canadian and international macroeconomic conditions to devise a policy recommendation. The recommendation will explain whether the Bank should raise the Bank’s key interest rate, lower it or leave it unchanged, in order to keep inflation low and stable.

A team of students from the course will present their policy recommendation to a panel of Bank of Canada’s judges during the first round of the Governor’s Challenge in November. If successful, the team will be invited to take part in the final round at the Bank's office in Ottawa.

The course can be repeated several times.

Contact information: Professor Lilia Karnizova ([email protected])