This course addresses the main global macroeconomic risks faced by businesses and governments in the present post-financial crisis era. Some of the questions that we examine include: What are the risks of future financial crises and what are the consequences of new financial regulation? Are the large government debts in the industrialized world going to be problematic over the longer term? What are the main risks with the path of current monetary policies in different nations? How are technological innovation and globalization structurally changing the labor market? And how should companies, government, and workers respond? How is the growth of emerging economies changing energy and other commodity markets and how is this impacting the environment? Is the US dollar declining in importance as the world’s reserve currency?

 

The class will address these topics as a conversation through which the two faculty members will highlight the linkages between theory and practice. Since the course draws heavily from current events, it is critical for students to stay informed about current macroeconomic news, and active class participation throughout the term is very important and highly encouraged.