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ECON2050 – Money and Finance

2024 – Session 1, Online-scheduled-In person assessment

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Reza FathollahZadeh Aghdam
reza.aghdam@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
ECON1021 or ECON110 or AFIN1002 or AFIN102
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
For Online
Unit description Unit description

This unit examines the evolution of money and finance from ancient times to the present. It provides students with an understanding of the nature of money, the role and characteristics of financial markets, and the instruments and institutions that affect them. The central theme is that innovation in money and finance has been as important as other types of innovation in shaping the modern world. Topics may include the nature of money, interest rate determination and the yield curve, central banking and the actions of monetary authorities, the innovations of behavioural finance and crypto-currencies, analyses of money markets, bond markets, equity and derivatives markets.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Identify, define and analyse contemporary issues in money and finance.
  • ULO2: Demonstrate a capacity to work independently, including the ability to research, form arguments and write professionally proficient short-discussion pieces.
  • ULO3: Critique the academic literature, examining alternative and creative ways of thinking about financial markets in business and policy environments.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Weekly Online Discussion 20% No Weekly
Online Test 30% No Week 7
Final Examination 50% No Exam Week

Weekly Online Discussion

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 20%

 

Every week, students are required to post their response to the discussion question in iLearn.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a capacity to work independently, including the ability to research, form arguments and write professionally proficient short-discussion pieces.
  • Critique the academic literature, examining alternative and creative ways of thinking about financial markets in business and policy environments.

Online Test

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 16 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 30%

 

One-hour test will be held in week 7

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, define and analyse contemporary issues in money and finance.

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Exam Week
Weighting: 50%

 

A two-hour exam, consisting of true/false, short-answer, and essay-type questions, will be held during the University Examination Period.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify, define and analyse contemporary issues in money and finance.
  • Critique the academic literature, examining alternative and creative ways of thinking about financial markets in business and policy environments.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

This course is in hybrid mode. Alongside weekly Face-to-Face lectures, there will be a live Zoom class for enrolled students to attend the class remotely and participate in debates and questions regarding the lecture topics. These classes are scheduled at the same time every Thursday at 13:00-14:00. The Zoom link will be posted accordingly. There will be at least one or a maximum of two face-to-face (Thursday at 14:00-15:00, &15:00-16:00) and Online Seminars (Thursday at 18:00-19:00, & 19:00-20:00) for discussion and tutorials. The number of sessions will depend on enrollment.

All materials for the unit, such as pre-recorded lectures, lecture notes, readings, and discussion questions, will be available to students on the unit iLearn site at http://ilearn.mq.edu.au. Students are strongly encouraged to check the unit iLearn page weekly for announcements, the unit schedule, additional readings, assessment information, and discussion questions.

Recommended Textbooks and Materials

The selected textbook for Econ2050 is The Economics of Money, Banking and Financial Markets, 13th Global Edition, by Frederic Mishkin. However, only a selection of chapters of this textbook will be covered, while the following texts and Materials are also recommended:

(i) Kidwell, D. et al. 2019, Financial Markets, Institutions and Money (4th ed), Australian Edition, John Wiley & Sons Australia.

(ii) Madura, J. 2018, Financial Markets and Institutions (12th ed.), Cengage Learning,

(iii) Niall Ferguson (2008) 'The Ascent of Money', Allen Lane (Penguin), London.

This book provides an overview of the history of money and finance (Topic 2, see below). What makes this different from most books recommended for courses such as this is that it is also great fun to read with an evolutionary/historical approach – full of drama, violence, scandal, passion, crime, and so on – in short, all the things that drive money and finance. It takes its story up to mid-2008. A television series on the book was also made in 2008, and it is available on YouTube simply by searching 'The Ascent of Money' and 'Niall Ferguson'.

(iv) Felix Martin (2014) "Money: The Unauthorized Biography--From Coinage to Cryptocurrencies'. Here is the review of the book from the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/books/review/money-by-felix-martin.html

(v) Mervyn King (2016) 'The end of Alchemy: Money, Banking and the future of the Global Economy'. Here is the review of the book from the New York Times: http://www.nybooks.com/ articles/2016/07/14/money-brave-new-uncertainty-mervyn-king/

(vi) Glyn Davies (2016) 'A History of money from ancient times to the present day', 4th. Ed. Revised by Duncan Connors, Cardiff: University of Wales Press.

Other useful resources:

www.wsj.com

www.ft.com

www.bloomberg.com

www.theeconomist.com (note that you can get access to the Economist via the University subscription - go to the library and search The Economist)

www.rba.gov.au

Useful Podcast channels:

Money talk from the Economist

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/money-talks-from-the-economist/id420929545

Macro Voices

https://www.macrovoices.com/podcasts-collection/macrovoices-podcasts

Technology Used and Required

iLearn; i-Lecture

Unit Schedule

Week

Lecture

 

W1, 22/02/2024

Topic 1: Introduction

This topic provides an overview of money and why we must study cash and finance. It also touches upon An Overview of financial systems, financial institutions, and all the topics to be discussed throughout this course (A selection of headings from Chapters 1 & 2).

 

W2, 29/02/2024

Topic 2: The Evolution of Money in Theory and Practice

We will first investigate the functions and attributes of money in modern society. From there, we will then go back in time to examine how money and finance have evolved through time since 5000 BCE.

This topic examines how money has evolved. The journey starts from barter and explores commodity money, precious metals, fiat currencies, and modern cryptocurrencies. We will look into the functions and attributes of money in ancient and contemporary societies. We will also discuss money aggregates in the macroeconomy (Chapter 3, 'Ascent of Money', and other sources).

 

W3, 07/03/2024

Topic 2 (cont.)

W4, 14/03/2024

Topic 3: Interest Rates  

This topic examines yield to maturity in four different types of bonds and distinguishes between yield to maturity (current yield), rate of return, and rate of capital gain. Further, we discuss nominal versus actual interest rates (Chapter 4).

W5, 21/03/2024

Topic 4: Central Banking & Money Supply

In this topic, we look at key players in the money creation process, also known as the fractional reserve system. We will use principles of accrual accounting to make this explanation possible. We will explore the notions of monetary base and money multiplier. We then explain the crucial roles and functions of Reserve Banks (or central banks) in controlling the money supply. The importance of central bank independence and the implementation of monetary policy will also be discussed (Chapter 15).

 

W6, 28/03/2024

Topic 5: Money Demand and Markets

Following Topic 4, which explains the shape of money supply, this topic focuses on explaining the shapes of money demand from the short-run and long-run perspectives. The Classical Quantitative Theory of Money, the Keynesian approach, and Portfolio's theory of money will be well exposed (Chapter 20).
W7, 04/04/2024

Online Test 1 (30%)

Time allowed: 60 minutes.  

Test coverage: Weeks 1 to 5 lectures (i.e., Topics 1 to 4 inclusive)

W8, 11/04/2024

Topic 6: Bond Markets

This will examine the market for debt securities or bonds. More specifically, we will look at the history of bonds and the importance of bonds' demand and supply in determining interest rates. During this process, we also explain the interconnectedness between the bond and money markets (Chapter 5).

 

W9, 02/05/2024

Topic 7: Stock Markets

This topic will look at another capital market: equity or stock. First, we'll calculate the price of common stock. We then recognise the impact of new information on stock prices. This will be followed by contrasting adaptive and rational expectations (Chapter 7).

 

W10, 09/05/2024

Topic 8: Tools of Monetary Policy

We will look at markets for reserves between commercial banks, where the federal fund rates are determined. We will also discuss open market operation, discount rate, and required reserve ratio policy instruments pre and post-GFC (Chapter 16).

W11, 16/05/2024

Topic 9: The Conduct of Monetary Policies: Strategy & Tactics

This topic examines the goals of monetary policy and then considers one of the critical strategies for conducting monetary policy: inflation targeting. We, first, will define the importance of a nominal anchor. Then, we identify six goals for monetary policymakers to pursue. In an international comparison, we distinguish between hierarchical and dual mandates. We then compare the advantages and disadvantages of each for inflationary targeting (Chapter 17).

 

W12, 23/05/2024

Topic 10: Derivatives and Options Markets

In this topic, first, we will look at some basics, highlighting that derivatives began in a way for people in the real economy to manage risks (i.e., hedging). Then, we will get into some specific types of derivative markets, including forwards, futures, and options. Then, we will look at swaps, credit default swaps, and some lessons from the GFC (Chapter 13).

 

W13, 30/05/2024

Topic 11: Summary: Future of Money and Finance
   

 

 

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Unit information based on version 2024.05 of the Handbook