Special Topics

Spring 2026

Honors Macroeconomics 

Professor Gustavo Rojas-Matute

HONR 2044:10 - 3 Credits

CRN: 43151

WF 2:20PM - 3:35PM

Equivalent Courses: HONR 2047; ECON 1012

Fulfills:

• CCAS: Social Sciences
• ESIA: Humanities
• SEAS: Humanities

Course Description: Macroeconomic conditions affect everyone’s lives.  Many important social and political issues are framed by their macroeconomic consequences.  In this course, students will learn how changes in macroeconomic conditions affect them, as well as learning what determines whether a country’s economic performance is good or bad. We will also cover the economic consequences of important current issues like inequality, student debt relief, inflation, and the international trade deficit. Course prerequisites: ECON 1011.

Bio: Professor Gustavo Rojas-Matute, Ph.D., MPP, is an Assistant Director-Economist at Moody’s Analytics and adjunct professor of economics at American University and George Washington University. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from American University, a master’s in public policy from IESA, and a master’s in political management from GWU. His research focuses on monetary economics, macroeconomic forecasting, and price-setting behavior, with recent work exploring the role of official information and expectation heterogeneity in inflation dynamics.

Professor Rojas-Matute brings over 15 years of experience to this course. He has received multiple awards for forecasting accuracy and research excellence, including the Naidel Award for Outstanding Thesis Research and the International Institute of Forecasters’ Best Student Paper Award. Outside academia, Gustavo is also a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer and founder of Momentum Coaching, promoting science-based fitness for adults 40+.