London School of Economics

Henry Kissinger might be the most controversial American statesman of the 20th century. More than 40 years since he left office, he remains the focus of intense popular and scholarly debate concerning the uses of American power during the Cold War. This course explores these controversies in the study of "America and the World" in the 1970s. The course begins by examining how Kissinger’s ideas about foreign policy evolved during his early life in wartime Germany and his career as a foreign policy intellectual at Harvard University. The majority of the course is then concerned with the central controversies of Kissinger’s time in office as national security adviser and secretary of state between 1969 and 1976. Each week students will examine Kissinger’s role in shaping and implementing American foreign policy in a particular theater of the global Cold War, focusing on the major crises and conflicts of the decade. Students read and reflect on extracts from Kissinger’s memoirs as a primary source, in conjunction with the latest historical research on that topic. 

This introductory course combines practical guidance and academic theory to provide students with a thorough grounding in the use of financial statements for investment analysis and banking. It addresses the key aspects of accounting relevant to equity analysts, mergers & acquisition (M&A) bankers, asset managers, and other capital market participants. The delivery of the course is based around short technical sessions reinforced with numerical exercises, practical case studies, press articles, and video extracts.  Additionally, the course involves guest speakers (in person or pre-recorded), such as a sell-side analyst and an investment banker, to help students understand the various financial services roles as well as the relevance of accounting information.

Decision making is a central aspect of any business activity. The ability to understand how decisions are made, and to predict, guide, and improve those decisions is an invaluable part of every change maker's toolbox. In this course, students develop this ability, and they are introduced to insights from behavioral science and decision analytics and its application to management and policy making.

The course provides an analysis of the economic relationships between countries, covering both trade and monetary issues. The first half of the course deals with international trade theory and policy. Students explore important topics such as why countries trade with each other and the effect of international trade on welfare and income distribution. Students also analyze the role of firm heterogeneity in international trade and the links between globalization and inequality. The second half of the course considers international macroeconomics. Covering key topics such as the balance of payments accounts, open economy income identities, the liquidity trap, and the effect of currency valuations, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the current policy environment and its impact on international trade relations.

This course provides the basic knowledge of econometrics that is essential equipment for any serious economist or social scientist, to a level where the participant would be competent to continue with the study of the subject in a graduate program.