Instructional goals
Understanding the main relationships between money, credit and the economy. Institutional analysis of central banks and financial regulatory authorities.
Prerequisites
Microeconomics and Macroeconomics, Statistics and Mathematics.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding skills
Students at the end of the Course will have proved their understanding of the main rationales for the existence of the money in economic systems, the criteria that determine the action of central banks, the main topics of the relationship between monetary policy and financial intermediation, the impact of monetary policy on the real economy according to the different transmission channels. The acquired information set is a fundamental support for the understanding and deepening of the studies of all higher-ranking economic and financial subjects.
Applying knowledge
At the end of the Course, Students will be able to recognise the main interdependencies between economic and monetary variables, both at the microeconomic and banking level, as well as at the macroeconomic level.
Ability to draw conclusions
Students will be able to identify the most appropriate models, among those presented in the course, to describe even complex monetary phenomena in their relationship with the economy. Students will also be able to interpret the technical literature on the topics addressed in the course.
Communication skills
Students will be able to describe the economic and financial problems discussed in the course from an analytical point of view, with the opportunity to refer to the scientific literature proposed in the course. Students will also be able to interact in operational contexts related to economic and financial phenomena, being able to develop analyses through the identification of causality links and the most appropriate methodologies to interpret them.
Ability to learn
At the end of the Course students will be acknowledged of the theoretical and technical references underlying the interactions between the use of money in the economy and monetary policy. This will enable them to tackle studies in the economic and financial sectors at more advanced levels. The Course will provide students with the basis for learning what will be proposed in the courses of master's degree in pure economics, as well as in international finance.
Course Contents
The course investigates the functions of money, the role played by financial intermediaries and monetary policy management and transmission in modern economies, with emphasis on comparing the actions of the FED and the ECB.
Reference Books
[1] Di Giorgio G., Lezioni di economia monetaria, Cedam, Padova, (ch. 1-5)
[2] Di Giorgio G., A. Pandimiglio e S. Nisticò, Problemi di Economia e Politica Monetaria, Cedam, Padova.
[3] Teacher’s notes.
Articles recommended by the teacher.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, problem sets, discussions.
Assessment Method
The student will be evaluated on the basis of the individual scores achieved on.
- Written partial mid-term (about 50% of the final grade) through which to assess the knowledge and understanding of teaching and the autonomy of judgment as far as the basic foundational topics of the course are concerned.
- final written exam through which to assess the knowledge and understanding of teaching and the autonomy of judgment as far as the advanced topics of the course are concerned. The written test consists of a mix of theoretical questions (either open-ended questions or multiple choice questions) and exercises, with which students should demonstrate the achievement of the necessary knowledge of the theoretical notions of the course, knowing how to apply them in specific cases by demonstrating that he has achieved the method of study and the learning ability necessary to continue the study of the subject autonomously.
The failure to achieve at least the score of 18/30 will result in failure to pass the exam.
Correct answers to all multiple-choice questions, an excellent level of preparation in all open questions and the correct execution of all the exercises will result in a score of 30/30 cum laude.
Thesis assignment criteria
Sincere interest for the treated topics and consistent study profile.
Week 1
Course general information. Topics in microeconomics.
Week 2
Systems of payment and overlapping generations model.
Week 3
Portfolio choice and money demand.
Week 4
Money demand theories.
Week 5
Final, intermediate and operational targets of monetary policy. Central bank governance.
Week 6
Money markets; money multipliers; endogenous money supply.
Week 7
Delegated monitoring.
A bank-run model.
Week 8
Credit rationing.
Financial structure neutrality.
Week 9
Banking regulation. Transmission channels of monetary policy.
Week 10
Structural portfolio approach.
Interest rate channel.
Week 11
Exchange rate transmission channel.
Week 12
Credit channel of monetary policy. Asset-price channel of monetary policy.