Focuses on issues relevant to understanding the world economy: modeling and forecasting of exchange rates, modeling the sustainability of external imbalances, determining the importance of international capital flows and implementing monetary-policy rules. Examines empirical studies in each of these areas by looking at their assumptions, weaknesses and strengths and considering whether there are alternative methods of addressing a given issue. Students learn to develop an independent opinion of how theoretical ideas are applied to policy questions by asking: How much? Does it matter? How do you know?