Weber State University
Department of Economics

Dr. Doris Geide-Stevenson

ECON 3200  - Money and Banking

Spring 2012

Course Description:

Special focus of this course will be to understand and analyze the financial crises of 2008 with its domestic and global implications. In presenting a detailed description and analysis of the U.S. financial system (institutions, markets and instruments), this course aims at understanding the features of a well-functioning financial system before analyzing the crisis. Both micro- and macroeconomic theory approaches will be used to explain the changing structure and the role of financial markets in the economy. A basic understanding of choices made under uncertainty and the concept of asymmetric information will be used to analyze the microeconomic structure of various financial markets. In exploring the effects of Federal Reserve (monetary) policy on financial markets and the economy (output, employment and price level), the course will draw on and expand previously developed macroeconomic theory, in particular the aggregate demand/aggregate supply framework. While the financial system of the U.S. will be the focus of the class, we will also touch on some international topics.