MFIN 8850 Global Macro and the Financial System
The course is designed for graduate students with interests in applied finance, economics, and history - especially students who are planning to work in financial markets, financial policy, or economic or financial research. Students should have an interest in current issues in international finance and policy, and enjoy empirical approaches - but no advanced quantitative background is required. This course focuses on a long-run view of the international financial system: we place the post-2008, post-pandemic financial environment in global macro, in asset markets, and in the banking system into very long-run context in order to assess current secular trends in markets and the macroeconomy, including trends and " cycles" in inflation, growth, asset valuations, and financial crises. Students will first be introduced to the general contours of the international financial system up to 2022 - before turning to the major trends in banking and sovereign crises, monetary policy, asset pricing, and globalization. We put specific emphasis on discussing international financial themes that currently occupy policymakers, practitioners, and academics in a global " high inflation, low interest rate regime", in the context of longer-run historical markets data. We also analyze a wide range of past " shocks" and " crises" in global macro and finance over time to learn how to evaluate risks. Among other issues, we will focus on the following current debates:1914, 1981 - and 2022? Major turning points in asset markets. Long-run financial crisis patterns and interventions. Historical shifts in the global reserve currency. Long-run trends in inequality, globalization, and wealth distribution. STEM-designated
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.24 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.41 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 5
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2026 | Paul Schmelzing | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 34 of 38 |
| Spring 2025 | Paul Schmelzing | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 1–3 hrs/week | 22 of 24 |
| Summer 2024 | Marvin Loh | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 7–9 hrs/week | 27 of 36 |
| Spring 2024 | Paul Schmelzing | 4.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4–6 hrs/week | 42 of 45 |
| Spring 2023 | Paul Schmelzing | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.7 | 3.9 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4–6 hrs/week | 35 of 37 |