Foundations of International Macroeconomics

by Maurice Obstfeld and Kenneth Rogoff

Notation Guide (PDF file)

Unconventional or ill-considered notation can make an otherwise very clear research paper difficult to read. One of the most frustrating problems in trying to absorb new research in international finance is the dizzying range of alternative notation conventions. These notations are sometimes inconsistent even within a given sub-area, and they are often incompatible across different sub-areas .(For examples, see our discussion in the preface). We believe that the standard developed for our book offers a useful synthesis, preserving the important conventions while eliminating glaring inconsistencies.

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krogoff@harvard.edu