Economics

The course provides an overview of the main developments in monetary and financial history from 800 to the 18th century, taking the students from the simple beginnings of medieval European monetary history to the emergence of the complex financial arrangements characterizing the modern world. Historical developments in major European and non-European countries (England, Spain, Italy, France, Germany) are discussed and compared. The course introduces students to the main concepts of money and finance (commodity money, inflation and deflation, financial development, financial integration, monetary policy etc.).

This course provides students with an understanding of the basic concepts used in the preparation of financial information and will introduce them to the forms of financial statements that managers need to be familiar with. In addition, the course introduces students to appropriate forms of finance and the means of raising money to fund enterprises, the financial planning this entails, and forms of feedback and accountability to actual and potential fund providers.

This course considers the major economic problems of developing countries. It discusses alternative explanations of underdevelopment and theories of development; major domestic and international aspects of development including population growth, capital accumulation, and international economic relations; and sustainable development.

This course analyzes the economic issues related to the process of European integration through a theoretical and a policy perspective. Through the study of economic integration theories and the main European Union (EU) policies, students are able to acquire a critical perspective of the basic issues leading to the development of the European Institutions and the different historical phases of the European Union, ultimately giving birth to the Economic and Monetary Union. The course is composed of three parts. The first part of the course is devoted to the study of the theory of economic integration, considering the market of goods (customs unions, free trade areas), of factors of production (common markets) and the coordination of economic policies (economic union). A link is made between the theoretical instruments and the actual evolution of the European integration process. The second part explores the main European policies (common objectives, instruments, and financial means), their evolution over time and the corresponding mechanisms of governance. The third part of the course is centered on the Economic and Monetary Union and its effects for the European economy. 

This course examines the approaches and policies adopted by Middle Eastern countries in the pursuit of economic and social development, and the theories developed by scholars to explain the region’s political economies and its problems with development. The course includes details on the historical trajectories of Middle Eastern economies and political systems, from the post-independence state-led period, through the impacts of the 1970s oil boom, attempts at economic liberalization, the impacts of globalization and technological change, and the aftermath of the post-2011 Arab uprisings. Using case studies from the Arab world as well as Israel and Iran, the course introduces key theories of political economy as they have been applied to the Middle East including: modernization theory, dependency theory, rentier state theory, liberalism and neoliberalism, and Islamic economic ideas. Economic development in the region has been tortuous and uneven, hobbled as much by non-economic factors as by economic ones. 

This course offers an introduction to the financial decisions of firms, in particular capital budgeting; the financial decisions of households; the role of the financial system in the economy and the flow of funds; and causes and consequences of the recent financial crises.

This course provides the basis for understanding the current trends in international trade, including the growth of unilateralism and protectionist pressures and the crisis of the world trading system. 

Students explore cutting-edge research on climate politics and critically analyze various theoretical concepts and models, assess the advantages and drawbacks of different empirical approaches, and draw connections to core debates in international political economy and political science. Students gain familiarity with the frontier of climate politics scholarship, learn how to constructively critique academic work, and develop skills in designing and executing rigorous political economy research.

The course explores the major theoretical models of Political Economy and the available empirical evidence. Sample topics include social choice theory and preference aggregation; comparative electoral systems; political economy of income redistribution; turnout in elections; strategic and sincere voting; political parties; debates and communication; political agency models; citizen-candidate models; and empirical studies of political selection, representation and policy outcomes, bureaucracy, gender and politics, and conflict. Empirical studies will be mostly focused on developing countries.

This course introduces game theory and its useful applications. The course presents how to identify the common abuse of game theory and to avoid incorrect use of its terminology. The course covers basic concepts and techniques in game theory and applies these concepts and techniques to the analysis of different types of games. Topics include Nash equilibrium, sequential games, simultaneous games, sequential-simultaneous games, prisoners' dilemma, strategic moves, evolutionary games, collective action, uncertainty and information, and consolidation.