FINANCIAL MARKETS AND INSTITUTIONS
Learning outcomes of the course unit
The course aims to illustrate the structural characteristics of a financial system, supplying the conceptual framework in order to understand the role of financial institutions in the economic system. At the end of the course the students will acquire:
1)the knowledge necessary to understand the features and the development of the financial system in general, the aims and scope of financial supervision, the role and the economics of financial intermediaries, the characteristics of financial needs and of financial instruments;
2)the ability to apply knowledge in order to evaluate financial instruments used for investments, financial needs, payments and risk management;
3)the ability to judge the suitability of a financial system to the real problems of the economic system, even in the social and ethical point of view, and to choose the right instruments to satisfy financial needs;
4)the ability to use a fair technical language;
5)learning skills through problem solving method.
Students are suggested to attend first year lessons before attending this course.
Course contents summary
The course analyzes the role and the efficiency conditions of a financial system in order to evaluate the structure and the evolution of Italian financial system. In this perspective are analyzed financial needs, instruments, markets, institutions, authorities and supervision policies of the financial system.
1) The structure and role of the financial system; 2) The demand for financial services; 3) Valuation of financial instruments; 4) The payment system; 5) 2 Financial balances and financial intermediation; 6) Financial markets and the conditions of financial market efficiency; 7) Market imperfections and the role of financial institutions 8) The characteristics and the role of banks; 9) Non-banking financial institutions; 10) Insurance companies; 11) Supervising the financial system: objectives and authorities; 12) The tools for supervision of the financial system.
"Economia degli intermediari finanziari" per i corsi di Paola Schwizer, Elisa Bocchialini, Lucia Poletti, McGraw-Hill Education Create, 2017, ISBN: 9781307076455.
Slides and any other additional material are on Elly:
Knowledge and understanding: traditional lessons. The main topics of the course will be pointed out during lessons.
Applying knowledge and understanding: exercises
Making judgments: students will be induced to judge strength and weakness of each financial instrument and intermediation model.
Learning skills: every topic will be discussed beginning from the illustration of the problem and then analyzing the given solution.
Communication skills: the meaning of each term used by the financial community will be explained.
Assessment methods and criteria
The knowledge of the main topics of the course will be assessed through 6 multiple-choice questions worth 2 marks each and 1 open question worth 6 marks. The knowledge of the other topics of the course will be assessed through one open question worth 6 marks.
The ability to apply knowledge will be assessed through 3 exercises for 2 marks each.
Communication skills, making judgments and learning skills will be assessed analyzing the answers to the 2 open questions cited above.
On student's choice, the final exam could be replaced by intemediate exams during the course, based on the same marking scheme. Dates and rooms for intermediate exams will be communicated in advance during the course and on Elly.
The course material is on Elly:
Students of "Corso di laurea in Scienze Politiche e delle Relazioni Internazionali" can write an email to firstname.lastname@example.org to agree upon the program. Considering the different background, the exam is structured as follows: 3 true/false/why questions (4 marks each) and 2 open questions (9 marks each). In any case, directions and study material are always available on Elly, on the course platform, in a specific section.