EC245-6-SP-CO:
International Financial Institutions and Policy
2024/25
Economics
Colchester Campus
Spring
Undergraduate: Level 6
Current
Monday 13 January 2025
Friday 21 March 2025
15
25 April 2024
Requisites for this module
EC100 or EC111
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
This module studies international financial institutions such as the IMF, the Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank and the European Stability Mechanism. The focus is on the reasons for their existence, their policies and the effects of their policies on the international monetary system.
The module focuses on the period since the Second World War, especially the period of instability following the collapse of the Bretton Woods System. The 1980s Latin American debt crisis, the 1997-8 East Asian Financial crisis, the 2007-9 subprime crisis and the recent problems of the eurozone are covered in detail. The role of institutions in shaping the policy response to these crises, and how crises have reshaped the institutions, are studied.
The aim of this module is:
- For students to develop a critical understanding of the role played by international institutions in shaping the international monetary system and policies to deal with financial and currency crisis at international level.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the institutional framework within which international financial relations are organised.
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between aspirations of national economic policy and the constraints of the international environment.
- Demonstrate comprehensive insights into the roles of the developed and the developing countries in managing the financial institutions of the world economy.
Transferable Skills
The module will encourage independent enquiry, communication skills and will contribute to professional working ability. It will thus develop students’ academic skills and enhance their employability.
Indicative Syllabus Information
- Introduction to international macroeconomics
- Current accounts
- Exchange rate regimes
- International capital flows
- The international monetary system
- Bretton Woods and the IMF
- The European Monetary System and the Euro
- Design of public policies
This module will be delivered via:
- Two lecture hours per week, in one term
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
Exam |
Main exam: In-Person, Open Book, 120 minutes during Summer (Main Period)
|
Exam |
Reassessment Main exam: In-Person, Open Book, 120 minutes during September (Reassessment Period)
|
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
No
No
Yes
No external examiner information available for this module.
Available via Moodle
No lecture recording information available for this module.
Economics
* Please note: due to differing publication schedules, items marked with an asterisk (*) base their information upon the previous academic year.
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