Economics

This course gives students the conceptual basis and the necessary tools for understanding modern microeconomics at an intermediate level. Students learn about the application of consumer theory, the theory of the firm, general equilibrium and welfare, game theory, oligopolistic markets, and information economics. By applying these theoretical frameworks students tackle important questions such as how firms respond to market stimuli, both in the short and the long run, as well as how game theory can be used to study strategic interactions between decision makers.

This course introduces concepts of economic analysis and provides an overview of the economic system. It examines how individual agents (consumers and producers) relate to each other and how their interactions in the market give rise to economic aggregates at the macro level (production of goods and services, price levels, distribution of income). Emphasis is placed on consumer choice (demand) and producer supply in an institutional framework (laws and governments) conditioning their decisions and facilitating exchange relations.

This course is part of the LM degree program and is intended for advanced level students. Enrollment is by consent of the instructor. This course discusses topics including climate change: the physical basis and impacts; carbon emission drivers, abatement strategies, and investment needs; transition dynamics and socio-economic impacts; climate-related macro-financial risks, and physical/financial asset stranding; mitigation policies: carbon pricing and permit markets; sustainable finance policy-making, and central banks and financial supervisors; climate economic modelling: the DICE model, IAMS, and CGE models; neoclassical transition modelling approaches; complexity-driven transition modelling approaches; and production and financial networks.

This course introduces fundamental knowledge of urban and regional economics and examines how economic theory can be used to analyze the benefits of cities, and to diagnose its problems. It discusses theories of the formation of cities, agglomeration economies, and urban growth. The course also examines how economic activities are organized within a city, with particular attention on Shanghai.  

This course focuses on public policy and public finance, especially on their basic system and historical and theoretical backgrounds. Through cases of various nation states and international organizations, the course discusses the main issues of public policy and public finance, especially regarding their actors, leadership, resources and strategies.  The course pays special attention to the relationship between nation states and international organizations in terms of public policy coordination and fiscal adjustments. Recent topics such as performance measurement, policy evaluation and performance-based project budgeting are also discussed in the course.