University of Toronto: Financial Economics: Asset Pricing (ECO358)
ECO358 offers an introduction to economics of financial assets and financial markets. Topics we will discuss are: individual inter-temporal choice, expected utility theory, portfolio choice, security valuation, models of asset pricing, market efficiency, and the term structure of interest rates. We will also provide an introduction to futures and options. This course aims to offer essential materials for an understanding of the role and operation of financial markets. You should expect a combination of math-based theory and practical problems.
University of Toronto: Principles of Macroeconomics (ECO102)
This is an introductory course in basic macroeconomic principles. Our focus is on the operation of the economy in the aggregate, and how the actions of individuals and firms interact to determine the economy-wide level of economic performance including the level of output, unemployment and inflation. In this context, we will analyze the important role of government and government policy in the macro economy. We will also cover issues relating to exchange rates and international trade.
This course is designed to expose you to the facts, theories and models of the discipline of macroeconomics. It is also designed to develop your analytical skills, to help you to think for yourself, and to learn to apply the principles and techniques of economics to new problems and situations.
Goethe University Frankfurt: Economics of Labor Market Institutions (ELMI)
Ranked 2nd in student evaluations in 2016, 2018 and 2019.
Elective in Bachelor Economics and Business Administration
This course offers an introduction to modern labor market economics. On the one hand, the course offers analytical tools how to assess the efficiency of the labor market. On the other hand, the course gives an overview of "real-world" economics by showing differences in labor markets between countries. In some countries there are strict rules about the hiring and firing of workers. In some countries unions are well organized and influential, in others union membership is low. Some countries have high minimum wages, others have no minimum wage at all. Not only do institutions differ by country, the labor market outcomes in terms of unemployment, participation, job creation, wage distribution differ as well. We will study the empirical evidence, economic models and policy issues.
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Goethe University Frankfurt: Animal Spirits and Behavioral Economics (ASBE)
Elective in Master of Money and Finance (MMF) and Master of International Economics and Economic Policy (MIEEP)
In this course we will introduce a few departures of the rational model of economic decision making. Behavioral economics adds insights from psychology to economic models. We will study a couple of behavioral biases, and apply these concepts to some economic questions. The focus is on topics that are traditionally macroeconomic in nature: central banking, unemployment, inflation, and saving. We will use the book "Animal Spirits", by Akerlof and Shiller (2009). In addition we will discuss the research on which the book is based. The first six lectures will be devoted to introducing several findings from behavioral economics. In the last eight classes we will discuss relevant policy questions.
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Goethe University Frankfurt: Applied Econometrics: Limited Dependent Variables (APEC)
Elective in Master of Money and Finance (MMF) and Master of International Economics and Economic Policy (MIEEP)
Many interesting economic outcomes are not continuous. Variables can be binary (e.g. to save or not to save), represent multiple choices (which retirement savings plan to choose), or are limited by nature, or observation (in a typical cross-section, many households have zero savings). Ordinary least squares often is not the right method to analyze limited dependent variables. This course will provide a hands-on instruction of techniques, with empirical examples and learning by doing in the computer lab. The methods you will learn are used in marketing, labor economics, public economics, household finance and industrial organization among others. Many examples we will study in detail are in the field of household finance: for example portfolio decisions, stock market participation, mortgage choice, and retirement savings.
Every second week there will be a tutorial in the computer lab, where Stata will be instructed to apply the techniques learned in class. The homework will be Stata-exercises. Some basic knowledge of econometrics, statistical testing and Stata is needed to follow the course.
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