Contemporary Topics in Globalization and Finance

What effect did the global financial crisis of 2008 have on government policies, healthcare and social welfare? How is globalization impacting our economic and financing systems? What is a casheless economy and where are we headed with bitcoin? Learn and discuss about how global changes affect societal, governmental and economic structures across countries and how they play out in terms of modern day consumerism.

Two recent global phenomena have influenced the thinking and actions of policymakers, organizations and society at large. One is the global financial crisis of 2008 which has shaken our faith in governments, central banks, regulators, and financial institutions. The second is the accelerating rate of technological advances that has increased connectivity across countries, blurred the boundaries between the physical and the virtual, and provided alternatives to many well-established practices. Both of these phenomena have influenced many aspects of our lives and have consequently given rise to widespread debate concerning global versus local, free market versus regulation, and issues of fairness and equality in areas such as access to finance, taxation, work and retirement. This course aims to address this debate and to examine the socio-economic and financial implications of globalization and change. We will explore the meaning of a globalized, well-connected, technologically changing world and study its manifestation in financial markets, trade, and organizations. The impact of the forces of globalization and technology varies across countries and cultures, an issue we will also explore and discuss.