Macroeconomics for a Sustainable Planet

Macroeconomics for a Sustainable Planet, offered by SDG Academy through edX, is an intermediate-level online course designed to reframe traditional macroeconomics in the context of sustainable development and globalization. Led by Jeffrey Sachs and Felipe Larraín, the course examines major macroeconomic issues such as unemployment, inflation, trade barriers, and fiscal deficits through their wider social and environmental implications. It is designed for learners who want to understand how economic policy can support both human well-being and long-term planetary stability.

Core Content

The curriculum explores traditional macroeconomic principles and tools, updated for the age of sustainable development. According to the syllabus, it covers GDP and well-being, output determination and employment, labor markets, money and central banking, exchange rate themes, and financial markets and crises. SDG Academy also frames the course around building a new toolkit for the 21st-century macroeconomist, with attention to sustainable investment principles, changing labor markets, and newer economic thinking that accounts for social and environmental impact.

Key Skills

Participants will develop the ability to understand macroeconomic issues through a sustainable development lens and assess how policy choices affect both society and the environment. The course helps learners build a broader perspective on economic growth, globalization, labor markets, financial systems, and macroeconomic management while strengthening their ability to connect economic tools with sustainability outcomes. Its emphasis is on applying macroeconomic thinking to real global challenges rather than studying theory in isolation.

Target Learners

This course is designed for graduate students and advanced undergraduate students studying international development, economics, or sustainable development, as well as economists and sustainable development practitioners who need to understand the economic models that support and depend on sustainable development. SDG Academy also notes that it is relevant for private-sector actors, including those working in the financial sector. Based on the current edX positioning, the course is best classified as intermediate level.

Learning Format

Hosted through edX and SDG Academy, the course is delivered in a self-paced online format and can be accessed at any time. SDG Academy lists 13 modules, with an estimated effort of two to four hours per module. The learning experience includes pre-recorded lectures, readings, quizzes, a final exam, and a discussion forum. Learners who successfully complete the course are eligible to purchase a verified certificate signed by the instructors.

Additional Benefits

The course offers strong value for learners who want a more current and globally relevant understanding of macroeconomics. Its leadership by internationally recognized economists, combined with its focus on sustainable development and interdependence, gives it both academic depth and policy relevance. For learners interested in economics, development, finance, and sustainability, it provides a useful foundation for thinking about how macroeconomic systems can support a more equitable and environmentally responsible future.

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