Financial Geography (FIN126)

This course follows Capitals of Capital: The Rise and Fall of International Financial Centres 1780-2009 (Cambridge University Press) by Youssef Cassis and investigates how the regional and global network of cities occupies a crucial position in understanding the development of financial markets. Our historical narrative is such that we primarily focus on the banking sector in Europe, while we constantly draw a comparison with the current situation. As a theoretical framework, Financial History allows us to flexibly examine the roles played by states, institutions, firms, and individuals, and to analyse the game-theoretical interaction among them. The knowledge (including methodology) obtained in this course shall be complementary to any modules offered within politics, economics, and finance.

• Utilise historical narratives to explain various mechanisms within the financial markets.
• Define and understand the network theories of international financial centres.
• Demonstrate game-theoretical interaction among various financial actors within a context of social responsibility.
• Illustrate the complexity of contemporary financial markets with different incentives generated by each institutional setting.
• Prepare the audience to engage in constrictive dialogues while highlighting the above complexity.