Economics

This course examines a systematic analysis of the theory of international trade and trade policy. Initially differences between countries are emphasized as the source of trade and the gains from trade. Models that are examined include the Classical-Ricardian model, the Heckscher-Ohlin model and the Specific-Factors model. Next economics of scale and imperfect competition are introduced as sources of trade and gains from trade. The course concludes with an examination of empirical studies aimed at testing trade theories. The analysis of trade policy begins with a discussion of the instruments of trade policy, in particular, tariffs and quotas and their effect on welfare. This discussion is then extended to the case of imperfect competition and strategic trade policy.

The course equips students with a critical understanding of the major issues facing the European economy. The course provides a blend of descriptive information, theory, and empirical analysis. The emphasis is on economic issues but these issues are studied in their political, institutional, and historical context. Theoretical analysis forms an essential part of the course and requires knowledge of intermediate micro- and macroeconomics. Attention is devoted to some policy areas in which EU co-ordination has progressed furthest: internal market, regional policy, factor mobility, agriculture, and competition policy. The course is suitable for any student who has taken Economics and all Visiting Students who have acquired an equivalent level of Economics training.

This course is an introduction to the theoretical and practical functioning of urban real estate markets using concepts from urban economics, finance, and real estate economics. A major component of the course is the case study in which students value a mixed-use commercial real estate property using the knowledge and techniques they have learned.

This course presents basic analytical methods in trade and discusses current trade issues. It starts off by closely following textbook studies of trade theory, followed by a study of trade policies. After completing the relevant part of the textbook, some articles are selected for discussion including: tariffs, nontariff barriers and arguments for protection; commercial policy; preferential trade arrangements history and practice; international trade and economic growth; imperfect competition and strategic trade policy and especially those on trade and industrial organization.

This course introduces asset pricing and investment, beginning with asset pricing theory, empirical problems and the latest theory developed to solve these problems. Specifically, the course explores mean-variance analysis, expected earnings, beta models, and factor structures, such as classic CAPM, APT and the recently developed fama-French five-factor model and q-theoretical four-factor model. The course also covers the stock and derivatives markets, as well as personal and institutional investment. It involves many computational problems. The computing language R will be used. MatLab, and other programs such as Python, C, SAS or STATA can also be used.

This course builds upon the concepts studied in INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS A and introduces business strategies. The course covers cost calculations, market structures, firms' decision making, supply chains and such other topics. 

Prerequisite: INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS A.

This course offers a study of knowledge management, defined as the systematic, explicit, and deliberate acquisition, storage, and application of organizational knowledge, aimed at maximizing organizations' return on knowledge assets. The course discusses topics including the acquisition, selection, generation, internalization, and externalization of knowledge; how knowledge can be used effectively in specific environments; the role of information technology; and the challenges associated with the implementation of knowledge management. The course focuses on a fundamental question, “how can we manage knowledge?” The course addresses this question through the use of academic and business press readings and a diverse set of company cases. Students are evaluated by their participation and a written exam.