MBA Online

ICS , Graduate School of International Corporate Strategy

[Term 1] Special Topics: Japanese Culture (R. Davies) (2008/Term 1&2 (Fall&Winter))

Japanese Culture is an elective course for ICS students who are new to Japan, although it is required for scholarship students in the Young Leaders’ Program (YLP). Classes will be held mainly on Saturday mornings, and if necessary, occasional meetings may also be scheduled on Friday afternoons or weekday evenings, for a total of seven sessions.

This course was originally designed for YLP students, but recently, other international students at ICS have also been welcomed to participate. In addition, a small number of Japanese students are invited to take the course for credit each year. They act a valuable resource on Japanese culture for the other students and provide logistical support for the instructors.
Course Structure

Japanese Culture is a two-credit course which is field-oriented and designed to act as a bridge for non-Japanese students in adapting to their new life in Japan and at ICS. The first sessions are practical in orientation and provide participants with useful information and resources for everyday living in Tokyo, including transportation, shopping, cooking, restaurants, entertainment, and so forth. The sessions in the second half of the course endeavor to give students an experience of some of the more important and aspects of Japanese culture, presented by masters in fields such as traditional Japanese dance, the Tea Ceremony, and Zen meditation techniques.
Teaching Method

Reading materials for field sessions and other activities will be provided in advance. No further homework is required.

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.

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.

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.

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.

MFIN7016
Real Options and Dynamic Corporate Finance
6
Wong, Keith K.P.
General Information
This course provides a synthesis of modern corporate finance and real option analysis (ROA). ROA explicitly takes into account the flexibility of managerial decisions at the future date in response to the arrival of new information. Using the framework of ROA, this course examines the dynamic aspects of various corporate financial decisions. Topics include capital budgeting, capital structure, managerial compensation, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, and bankruptcy and reorganization. Basic mathematical tools of game theory, stochastic calculus, dynamic programming, and contingent claims analysis are introduced and extensively used. This course also puts special emphasis on the prevalence of agency conflicts and information asymmetries.

FINA0301 C.D Derivatives

Semester : 1
For Student of Year : 2 & 3

To provide a comprehensive analysis of the properties of options and futures and to offer a theoretical framework within which all derivatives can be valued and hedged. Topics covered: simple arbitrage relationships for forward and futures contracts, hedging and basis risk, stock index futures, swaps, trading strategies involving options, valuation of options using a binomial model and the Black-Scholes formula, stock indices, currencies and futures, and exotic options.
Course Outline :

Extra Information

Prerequisite: For students admitted to 1st year of study in 2005-06 or before: BUSI0016/FINA1002 Introduction to finance. For students admitted to 1st year of study in 2006-07 or after: FINA1003 Corporate finance.

Mutually exclusive courses: ISME3010 Financial engineering, MATH2906 Financial calculus, STAT1802 Financial Mathematics, STAT2808 Derivatives markets and STAT3308 Financial engineering

FINA0804 Fixed income securities

Semester : 1 & 2
For Student of Year : 2 & 3

Lecturer : Gao, X.

An integrated analysis of the market institutions, theory and empirical evidence in the area of fixed-income markets. Topics covered: Treasury markets, bond mathematics, arbitrage-free models of the term structure, corporate-debt pricing, convertible bonds, primary mortgage markets and securitization, immunization and portfolio insurance, valuation of futures and options on bonds, embedded options, and interest rate risk management.

Extra Information

Prerequisite: For students admitted to 1st year of study in 2005-06 or before: BUSI0016/FINA1002 Introduction to finance and FINA0301 Derivatives securities. For students admitted to 1st year of study in 2006-07 or after: FINA1003 Corporate finance and FINA0301 Derivative securities or FINA0301 Derivatives.

ECON0109 Topics in macroeconomics

Semester : 2
For Student of Year : 2 & 3

This course provides students with an up-to-date account of the theory and practice of modern macroeconomics. The following areas that have shaped modern macroeconomic research will be covered: real business cycle theory, endogenous growth theory, and new Keynesian theories of labour markets, asset markets and stick prices. Other selected topics on fiscal and monetary policy will also be discussed.

Extra Information

Prerequisites: ECON2101 Microeconomic theory or ECON2113 Microeconomic analysis, and ECON2102 Macroeconomic theory or ECON2114 Macroeconomic analysis

Faculty of Business and Economics at The University of Hong Kong
ECON0402 Industrial organisation

Semester : 1
For Student of Year : 2 & 3

This course studies the pricing and output decisions of firms and the performance of the market under various market structures. Topics include theories of oligopoly; product differentiation; the effects of imperfect and asymmetric information; the examination of pricing practices such as price discrimination, tie-in selling, and resale price maintenance; collusion and anti-competitive behaviours, and public policies related to the promotion or restriction of competition.