FM200      Half Unit
Financial Systems and Crises

This information is for the 2024/25 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Dimitrios Vayanos

Availability

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Finance. This course is not available as an outside option nor to General Course students.

This course does not permit auditing students.

Course content

The course FM200 Financial Systems and Crises covers financial markets and institutions, and their interaction with the real economy. The course emphasizes particularly banks and credit markets, and their role in generating economic growth as well as financial crises. Basic economic theories and models developed to understand these phenomena are covered, and the theoretical analysis is complemented with a historical perspective.

The first part of the course, taught over weeks 1-6 of Autumn Term, presents theories of debt and banks; reviews key historical developments pertaining to banks and financial crises until the middle of the 20th century; and presents theories of credit booms and busts in the macroeconomy.

The second part of the course, taught over weeks 7-10 of Autumn Term, reviews key historical developments pertaining to banks and financial crises from the middle of the 20th century until now; reviews how money markets work and how central banks conduct monetary policy; presents the theory and practice of bank regulation; and reviews the international monetary system.

Teaching

33 hours of seminars 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

Students will be expected to produce a number of problem sets in the AT.

Indicative reading

1. Brunnermeier, Markus and Ricardo Reis, 2023, A Crash Course on Crises: Macroeconomic Concepts for Run-Ups, Collapses and Recoveries, Princeton University Press.

2. Gorton, Gary, 2012, Misunderstanding Financial Crises: Why We Don’t See Them Coming, Oxford University Press.

3. Tirole, Jean, 2006, The Theory of Corporate Finance, Princeton University Press.

Assessment

Continuous assessment (100%) in the AT.

Key facts

Department: Finance

Total students 2023/24: 71

Average class size 2023/24: 71

Capped 2023/24: No

Value: Half 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 information skills
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Commercial awareness