FM436     
Financial Economics

This information is for the 2023/24 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Ian Martin and Prof David Webb

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MRes/PhD in Accounting (EoA) (Economics of Accounting Track) , MRes/PhD in Finance, MSc in Finance and Economics and MSc in Finance and Economics (Work Placement Pathway). This course is not available as an outside option.

Pre-requisites

Mathematical background at the level of the September Courses in Mathematics and Financial Economics Preparatory Course is assumed.

Course content

Financial Economics provides students with an in-depth introduction to the theories of asset pricing and corporate finance. The course analyses investors’ behaviour, market equilibrium, the pricing of securities, the valuation of real assets, and capital structure choice. Topics in asset pricing will encompass portfolio choice, complete and incomplete markets, mean-variance portfolio theory and equilibrium asset pricing, pricing with no arbitrage, Black-Scholes and other contingent claims pricing models, and the behaviour of financial markets during crises. Topics in corporate finance will encompass valuation methods and financing decisions in the presence of taxation, agency frictions, and asymmetric information.

Teaching

60 hours of lectures in the AT.

This course is taught in the interactive lecturing format. There is no distinction between lectures and classes/seminars; there are “sessions” only, and the pedagogical approach in each session is interactive.

Formative coursework

Problem sets, covered in classes.

Indicative reading

Readings will be based on teaching notes and journal articles.

Assessment

In-class assessment (100%) in the ST.

(Duration: 3 hours, reading time: 15 minutes)

Key facts

Department: Finance

Total students 2022/23: 56

Average class size 2022/23: 56

Controlled access 2022/23: Yes

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Problem solving
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Specialist skills