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Introduction to Finance

Introduction to Finance. Economics 71a: Spring 2007 Lecture notes 1. Course Syllabus . Contacts Prerequisites and other courses Who should take this course Readings Exams/grading Topics. Contacts. Professor Blake LeBaron blebaron@brandeis.edu www.brandeis.edu/~blebaron

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Introduction to Finance

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  1. Introduction to Finance Economics 71a: Spring 2007 Lecture notes 1

  2. Course Syllabus • Contacts • Prerequisites and other courses • Who should take this course • Readings • Exams/grading • Topics

  3. Contacts • Professor Blake LeBaron • blebaron@brandeis.edu • www.brandeis.edu/~blebaron • www.brandeis.edu/~blebaron/classes/econ71a • Sachar 204, 736-2258 • Office Hours (or by appointment) • Monday/Wednesday 11-12 • TA:Gillian Kagin • gkagin07@brandeis.edu

  4. Prerequisites and Other Courses • Prerequisites • Econ 2a (Principles of economics) • Math (basic algebra) • Statistics • means, expected values • variances • correlations

  5. What is the course about? • What function do financial markets serve? • How do investors make decisions? • How do firms make decisions? • How should you approach finance and policy decisions in the future?

  6. Who should take this course? • Primarily intended for noneconomics majors • Good for those who want basic finance information and • Those interested in finance, but not really sure

  7. What other finance courses are there? • 171a: Financial Economics • 174a: Corporate Finance • 172b: Money and Banking • 161a: International Finance • Notes for econ majors • Econ71a can only be taken before Econ171a • Econ71a cannot be taken in the same semester as Econ171a

  8. Readings • Main books • H. B. Mayo, Basic Finance: An Introduction to Financial Institutions, Investments, and Management • Malkiel, A Random Walk Down Wall St. • Other readings • Internet links • Handouts (email)

  9. Exams and Grading • Two quizzes (30%) • Wednesday, Feb 14th (1/2 class) • Wednesday, April 18th (1/2 class) • Midterm exam (30%) • Wednesday, March 14th (in class) • Final exam (30%) • Tuesday, May 8th 1:30-4:30pm (K Block) • Problem sets (10 %)

  10. Topics • Go to web

  11. Readings • Reading for next week • Mayo, chapters 1, 2 and 3

  12. What is Finance? • Moving scarce resources over time and states of nature • Examples: • Time • Car loan • States of nature: • Car insurance

  13. Why Study Finance? • Manage your own funds • Manage a business’ funds • Fruitful career opportunities • Informed policy choices • Intellectual curiosity • Economist testing ground

  14. Why is it Getting Complicated? • Traditional players • Investment banks • Banks • Brokerages houses • Investment advisors • Insurance companies • Nontraditional players • Quicken • Google • Microsoft

  15. What Other Things are Changing? • Internet • Globalization • Self-reliance

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