- Macroeconomic Risk and International Finance
This course covers essential concepts and the basic theory underlying international macroeconomics and finance. Topics include: basic macroeconomic aggregates and key macro-financial indicators; central banking and monetary policy; exchange rates and the foreign exchange market; expectations, interest rates and capital flows; international financial markets and the macroeconomic linkages of open economies; monetary and fiscal policy in open economies; and macroeconomic policy in open economies. Interactive exchanges will be highly encouraged, especially as students engage in role-playing scenarios where they assume the role of economic advisors to a Prime Minister or President. They will be tasked with providing policy briefings and delivering in-class presentations, offering their expert recommendations. Basic algebra and graphical analysis will be used in this class. This course is reserved for students in the MAGR program.
- International Economics II
Covers the basic theory underlying international macroeconomics. Topics include international financial markets and the macroeconomics of open economies; balance of payments and the trade balance; exchange rates and the foreign exchange market; expectations, interest rates and capital flows; monetary and fiscal policy in open economies; exchange rate regimes; and macroeconomic policy in open economies. Basic algebra will be used in this class. This course is a prerequisite to most upper-level economics courses.
Prerequisites: Students may not register for this class if they have already received credit for SA.100.302[C]
- Economics of Conflict
This course will teach you two things. First, you will learn how to effectively frame, implement, and present a policy report or brief. In other terms, you will learn how to convince the decision-maker that your solution is the solution. Second, you will apply these insights to the complex topic of conflicts, elaborating and presenting proposals for solutions to past and current conflict situations.
We will review together the theory and real-world evidence surrounding the question: why do agents fight? We’ll analyse conflict at every level, i.e. nations, ethnic groups, religions, villages, and gangs, discussing the common roots behind apparently different types of violent events. Then, we will study what we can do about this, making practical proposals to answer the question: how can we decrease violence? We will start with game theory - the science of strategy - and introduce economics, comparative politics, international relations, and other fields. To answer this question, you will work in groups and train on how to effectively convey your analysis in a non-technical way to policymakers and public executives. You will engage in role-playing scenarios where you will assume the role of economic advisors (to a Prime Minister, a President, a UN decision-maker, etc.) and be asked to provide evidence-based and effective recommendations.
