Money & Banking

The course focuses on the connections between money (the Federal Reserve) and financial markets with financial institutions as their main actors (banks, mutual funds, hedge funds, insurance companies, the shadow banking system) in the modern market economy. Upon completion of this course you will have a thorough understanding of the role of money and banks in the broader economy and of the unique role of banks in the financial system.

In this course, you will gain a macroeconomic perspective on capital markets and the banking system by learning how interest rates and exchange rates are determined and manipulated, and how to interpret and predict implications of monetary policy conducted by the Federal Reserve. You will also comprehend financial market inefficiencies (such as asymmetry of information) and notions of behavioral finance. You will analyze the performance of government, markets, and institutions in the context of economic problems. Topics will include unconventional monetary policy tools during financial crises, the future of banking and new developments in the financial system such as cryptocurrencies.

Throughout the course you will have the opportunity to widen your horizons on a chosen topic with a project based on real-life context (country, company, market), such as offshore banking regulations in tax heavens countries, or how banking can benefit from blockchain technology.