MBA Online

ECON6032
International Trade and Finance
General Information
The first part of the course covers the pure theory of international trade. Topics include: strategic trade theories and trade policies, comparative advantage, factor-price equalization, gains from trade, tariff and quota, factor mobility, and multi-lateral trade agreements. The second part of the course covers the theory of international finance. Topics include: the balance of payments, exchange rate regimes, currency crises, and the international capital market.
Extra Information
This course is not open to students who have taken ECON6008.

ECON6015
Public Economics
Bergin, Jim
General Information
This course covers the positive and normative analyses of the public sector in relation to efficiency and equity. It provides a better understanding of the making of public policy under asymmetric information and limited commitment, and the role of incentives in public administration. Topics include: market failure, welfare criteria, public goods and externalities, social choice and voting, income distribution, public pricing and investment, cost-benefit analysis and project appraisal, and the regulation of public enterprises.

ECON6042
Mathematical Economics
General Information
This course presents both static and dynamic general equilibrium based on optimization to study interrelated macroeconomic issues. In particular, Pontryagin optimal control theory and Bellman certainty and stochastic dynamic programming models will be covered. Such control theory and recursive multi-stage optimization methodology will be applied to important macro topics such as economic growth and employment.
ECON6052
Selected Topics in Macroeconomics
Ngai, Rachel
General Information
This is a special course that deals with various topics of macroeconomics. Topics covered may vary form year to year, depending on the research interests of the instructor.

ECON6034
Competition, Regulation and Business Strategy
General Information
Most governments in developed and developing economies attempt to maintain competition environment in the market place or to use regulatory measures to achieve economic efficiency. This course studies the economics of competition and regulations, through the application of competition law on business, the regulation of natural monopolies, the practices of competition law and regulatory institutions. The topics covered help to understand why some business practices affect the competition; how governments regulate the market safeguarding the competition and efficiency; and how business strategies should be formulated in the regulated environment.
ECON6037
Economic Forecasting
General Information
This course introduces basic techniques of forecasting, based on economic and structural time series models. ARIMA and regression models with trend, season, and cycle components will be considered. The hands-on experience in applying the techniques to real-world problems is emphasized. Topics include: basics of linear regression, modeling and forecasting trend and seasonality, basics of ARIMA models, forecasting cycles, forecasting with regression models, evaluating and combining forecasts, unit roots, stochastic trends, ARIMA models, and volatility models.

ECON6033
Corporate Finance
General Information
This course focuses on financial decisions in the modern corporation. The basic topics to be covered include: capital budgeting, cost of capital, capital structure, dividend policy, public offerings, and incentives and contacting problems. There will also be some treatment of mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. The course objective is to integrate these various topics into standard theories of risk and return, and the valuation of assets in order to provide a theoretical framework for considering corporate finance problems and issues, with an understanding of how it applies to the real world.

The Chinese Economy
General Information
This course reviews the economic transformation of the People’s Republic of China and its implications. China’s experiences are subjected to theoretical and empirical analysis by using modern economic methods. The course covers structural and institutional changes as well as current debates on reform and policy. Topics include: history, geography, population, rural reform, industrialisation, urbanisation, enterprise reform, foreign trade and investment, financial system, and regional development.

ECON6017
Financial Economics
General Information
This course is a survey of capital and investment theories, which are the basis of the analysis of finance. Topics include: Fisher’s separation theorem, investment theory and some investment econometrics, expected utility theory, portfolio selection, and other applications, intertemporal models with uncertainty and transaction costs.
ECON6031

ECON6010
Monetary Policy: Theory and Practice
General Information
This course traces the evolution of central banks over the last 200 years from primitive financial clearing-houses to promoters of macroeconomic stability and growth as a natural progression as policy-makers sought to combat various challenges to macroeconomic stability, such as inflation and systemic financial risk. The course will discuss different monetary policy regimes, including currency boards and inflation targeting, and the inherent trade-offs between them, focusing especially on the importance of credibility and expectations. Optimal monetary policy design and the monetary transmission mechanism will also be covered.

ECON6005
Econometric Theory
General Information
This course prepares students for empirical research. The emphasis is on the specification, estimation, and evaluation of multivariate econometric models. Topics include: regression models, maximum likelihood, generalized method of moments, hypothesis testing, time series models, error components models, instrumental variables, and measurement error. Note: Students may be required to pass a mathematics test in order to take the course.

ECON6053
Selected Topics in Financial Economics
General Information
This is a special course that deals with various topics of financial economics. Topics covered may vary from year to year, depending on the research interests of the instructor.