<h2><a href="http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/recursive-macroeconomic-theory-2"><em>Recursive Macroeconomic Theory</em></a></h2>

<p>By Lars Ljungqvist and Thomas J. Sargent</p>

<p>Assuming you want rigor, it's better to try this <em>graduate</em>-level textbook early and pick later things you need to understand it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-01-11T15:16:21.127Z
What a book this is. Certainly not the easiest path to glory, but that's certainly how you master concepts.
Matteo Bulgarelli
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-26T17:14:26.427Z
2014-12-26T17:14:26.427Z
Anton Tarasenko
<h2><a href="http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8764.html"><em>Introduction to Modern Economic Growth</em></a></h2>

<p>By Daron Acemoglu</p>

<p>As with Ljungqvist and Sargent, I believe it's better to overshoot undergrad econ than to look for simple texts. Despite the title, this introductory graduate textbook by Acemoglu prepares the reader for macro. The book presents the neoclassical growth model and its various enhancements (which you'll see elsewhere later). Thorough and clear exposition, math appendix, many exercises for self-learning.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-26T17:25:12.897Z
2014-12-26T17:25:12.897Z
Anton Tarasenko
<p><a href="http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073511374/index.html" rel="noreferrer"><em>Advanced Macroeconomics</em></a> by David Romer, now in its fourth edition. Link contains TOC and a sample chapter.</p>

<p>The presentation consists of formal theory models, but with lots of intuition too, followed by light empirical applications.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-26T09:57:44.067Z
This book, on the new-keynesian model, if I remember corretly, takes many liberties which are not allowed, all to be more intuitive...
An old man in the sea.
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-26T16:23:35.677Z
The New Keynesian topics are only ~2.5 chapters, and those have been much improved since the previous edition.
dimitriy
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-24T21:32:08.727Z
2014-12-25T19:36:53.207Z
2014-12-25T19:36:53.207Z
dimitriy
<p><a href="https://global.oup.com/academic/product/macroeconomic-theory-9780195387711?cc=us&amp;lang=en&amp;" rel="nofollow">Macroeconomic Theory - Benassy</a></p>

<p>All of the books suggested are great.  I also like Macroeconomic Theory by Benassy as it's not too difficult to follow and is on the level of Romer.  Great reference for looking up certain models or getting some intuition on theory.  This is my go to when looking up a basic model and then I'll reference Romer for more insight.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-26T17:59:33.833Z
2015-05-18T01:36:55.020Z
2015-05-18T01:36:55.020Z
Amstell
<p>In my university, lecturers of Advanced Macroeconomics at the undergraduate level use the following books:</p>

<ul>
<li><em><a href="http://global.oup.com/uk/orc/busecon/economics/carlin_soskice/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Macroeconomics: Institutions, Instability, and the Financial
System</a></em> by Wendy Carlin and David Soskice (2015).</li>
<li><em><a href="https://global.oup.com/ukhe/product/macroeconomics-9780198776222?cc=gb&amp;lang=en&amp;" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Macroeconomics: Imperfections, Institutions, and Policies</a></em> by Wendy Carlin and David Soskice (2005).</li>
</ul>

<p>These are references for the following series of topics:</p>

<p>1 - Monetary Policy</p>

<p>2 - Sticky Price Models</p>

<p>3 - Macroeconomics at the Zero Lower Bound</p>

<p>4 - Open Economy</p>

<p>5 - Economic Growth</p>

<p>6 - Inter-temporal Macro</p>

<p>7 - Debt and Fiscal Policy</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-09T09:19:40.960Z
2017-10-09T09:19:40.960Z
luchonacho
<p>I like <a href="https://www.amazon.co.uk/Introducing-Advanced-Macroeconomics-Education-Economics/dp/0077117867" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Introducing Advanced Macroeconomics: Growth and Business Cycles</a> by Sorensen and Whitta-Jacobsen. An accessible UG book. </p>

<p>Another very accesible text is <a href="https://press.princeton.edu/titles/9743.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Macroeconomic Theory</a> by Wickens. It is a gradulate level book, but is suitable for advanced UG courses in Economics.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-10-09T18:09:23.843Z
2017-10-11T14:50:42.493Z
2017-10-11T14:50:42.493Z
london
<p>I find that many contemporary macroeconomics textbooks are too <em>applied</em>, filled with examples, case studies and intuitive illustrations, often at the expense of quantitative rigour and therefore the depth of the understanding they convey. </p>

<p>Is there a canonical, quantitative textbook for central macroeconomic concepts and models? This should be preferably readable at an advanced undergraduate level.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-12-24T20:54:17.343Z
Lets try to stick with the meta guide line: One suggestion per answer, s.t. we can vote on books individually.
FooBar
<macroeconomics><reference-request>
Textbook for macroeconomics (advanced undergrad)
Constantin
# Textbook for macroeconomics (advanced undergrad)

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-12-24)

I find that many contemporary macroeconomics textbooks are too *applied*, filled with examples, case studies and intuitive illustrations, often at the expense of quantitative rigour and therefore the depth of the understanding they convey.

Is there a canonical, quantitative textbook for central macroeconomic concepts and models? This should be preferably readable at an advanced undergraduate level.

**Tags:** macroeconomics, reference-request

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Lets try to stick with the meta guide line: One suggestion per answer, s.t. we can vote on books individually.  

---

## 6 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2014-12-24. Score: 12

[*Advanced Macroeconomics*](http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0073511374/index.html) by David Romer, now in its fourth edition. Link contains TOC and a sample chapter.

The presentation consists of formal theory models, but with lots of intuition too, followed by light empirical applications.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: This book, on the new-keynesian model, if I remember corretly, takes many liberties which are not allowed, all to be more intuitive...  
> **username_4**: The New Keynesian topics are only ~2.5 chapters, and those have been much improved since the previous edition.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-12-26. Score: 9

## [*Recursive Macroeconomic Theory*](http://mitpress.mit.edu/books/recursive-macroeconomic-theory-2)

By Lars Ljungqvist and Thomas J. Sargent

Assuming you want rigor, it's better to try this *graduate*-level textbook early and pick later things you need to understand it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: What a book this is. Certainly not the easiest path to glory, but that's certainly how you master concepts.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-12-26. Score: 6

## [*Introduction to Modern Economic Growth*](http://press.princeton.edu/titles/8764.html)

By Daron Acemoglu

As with Ljungqvist and Sargent, I believe it's better to overshoot undergrad econ than to look for simple texts. Despite the title, this introductory graduate textbook by Acemoglu prepares the reader for macro. The book presents the neoclassical growth model and its various enhancements (which you'll see elsewhere later). Thorough and clear exposition, math appendix, many exercises for self-learning.


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-12-26. Score: 5

[Macroeconomic Theory - Benassy](https://global.oup.com/academic/product/macroeconomic-theory-9780195387711?cc=us&lang=en&)

All of the books suggested are great. I also like Macroeconomic Theory by Benassy as it's not too difficult to follow and is on the level of Romer. Great reference for looking up certain models or getting some intuition on theory. This is my go to when looking up a basic model and then I'll reference Romer for more insight.


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2017-10-09. Score: 2

In my university, lecturers of Advanced Macroeconomics at the undergraduate level use the following books:

* *[Macroeconomics: Institutions, Instability, and the Financial
  System](http://global.oup.com/uk/orc/busecon/economics/carlin_soskice/)* by Wendy Carlin and David Soskice (2015).
* *[Macroeconomics: Imperfections, Institutions, and Policies](https://global.oup.com/ukhe/product/macroeconomics-9780198776222?cc=gb&lang=en&)* by Wendy Carlin and David Soskice (2005).

These are references for the following series of topics:

1 - Monetary Policy

2 - Sticky Price Models

3 - Macroeconomics at the Zero Lower Bound

4 - Open Economy

5 - Economic Growth

6 - Inter-temporal Macro

7 - Debt and Fiscal Policy


---

### Answer by username_8 on 2017-10-09. Score: 1

I like [Introducing Advanced Macroeconomics: Growth and Business Cycles](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Introducing-Advanced-Macroeconomics-Education-Economics/dp/0077117867) by Sorensen and Whitta-Jacobsen. An accessible UG book.

Another very accesible text is [Macroeconomic Theory](https://press.princeton.edu/titles/9743.html) by Wickens. It is a gradulate level book, but is suitable for advanced UG courses in Economics.


---

