Economics

The first half of this course gives students an integrated view of three important asset classes: fixed income securities, stocks, and derivatives. Through rigorous engagement with the course material, students learn key concepts of risk, return, diversification, portfolio theory, market efficiency theory, and the Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM). Students also learn about derivative instruments like forwards, futures, options and swaps, and their practical application in trading. The second half of the course focuses on corporate finance and allows students to build strategic thinking skills in this area. Students learn how firms analyze and decide which investment opportunities they should pursue, as well as the different options for raising the necessary funds to finance those investments.

This course provides an account of the main features, performance, and associated policy issues of the Irish Economy. The course begins with an overview of the evolution of the Irish economy from the 20th century through to the present day. The objectives of Irish economic policy are then defined. The role of the government in achieving these objectives and the various policy issues which arise in their attainment is then considered as students examine some of these areas: regulation and competition policy, labor market and migration, distribution and poverty, manufacturing and internationally-traded services, and education.

This course provides a foundation of the principles of international finance and trade. It examines contemporary development and basic theory, the characteristics and internal structure of financial and trade operations under the open economy, and the evolution of international finance and trade in the era of globalization, including opportunities and challenges. The course covers the international monetary system: evolution and trends; balance of payments: pattern, theory and policy; foreign exchange market: structure, efficiency and derivatives; exchange rate theory: main basic theory; international capital flows: evolution, motivation, effects and management; international financial markets: composition, innovation and effects; international financial crisis: types, evolution and risk management; regional monetary integration and international policy coordination: choices under globalization; contemporary China's trade and finance: development, openness and international influence.

This course is part of the Laurea Magistrale program. The course is intended for advanced level students only. Enrollment is by consent of the instructor. At the end of the course, the student has a working knowledge of the basic tools and results of the classical microeconomic theory for perfectly competitive environments. In particular, the class focuses on: classical consumer theory: utility maximization and expenditure minimization; choice under uncertainty and insurance decisions; production theory, profit maximization, and cost functions; welfare analysis of perfectly competitive markets. Specific Topics covered: consumer behavior, consumer choice and demand; preference relations, rationality, and utility functions; the budget set; demand functions; indirect utility; utility maximization, expenditure minimization, and duality; individual and aggregated demand functions; welfare evaluation of economic changes; choice under uncertainty; expected utility theory; risk aversion and risk premium; the insurance decision; risk spreading, risk pooling, and diversification; production sets; profit maximization, cost minimization, and duality; aggregation; efficient production; partial equilibrium analysis; Pareto optimality and competitive equilibria; the fundamental welfare theorems in partial equilibrium; welfare analysis in partial equilibrium; pure exchange; Pareto optimality in general equilibrium; general economic equilibrium with production; the fundamental welfare theorems in general equilibrium.

The class presents a historical analysis of economic events and changes. Students examine the evolution in the quality of life; Western industrialization; convergence in various historical periods; the evolution of international economics; and institutions and development. Other topics include: modern economic growth; institutions and markets; population and natural resources; contemporary business; globalization; technological change and growth. NOTE: course is the same as ECON/HIST 103, but taught in English.

This course focuses on business modeling, data analytics, and the integration of accounting systems with other information systems in the organization. It emphasizes business risk as well as information technology risk and the controls. Students learn the basic skills for data analytics, relational database modeling skills using unified modeling language, SQL queries, pivot tables, elements of XBRL taxonomy, and data visualization tools.