Learning objectives
The course aims at providing basic knowledge and skills on the structural characteristics of a financial system, financial markets and instruments, supplying the conceptual and technical framework which allows individuals to understand the role of financial markets and institutions in the economic system and to carry out basic financial transactions. At the end of the course the students will acquire:
1) the knowledge necessary to understand the features and the development of the financial system in general, the aims and scope of financial supervision, the role and the economics of financial intermediaries, the characteristics of financial needs and of financial instruments;
2) the ability to apply knowledge in order to evaluate financial instruments used for investments, financial needs, payments and risk management;
3) the ability to judge the suitability of a financial system to the real problems of the economic system, even in the social and ethical point of view, and to choose the right instruments to satisfy financial needs;
4) the ability to use a fair technical language;
5) learning skills through problem solving method.
Prerequisites
None. Students are suggested to attend first year lessons before attending this course.
Course unit content
The basic features of the structure and operation of financial systems: markets, institutions and instruments.
Full programme
Part I – Foundations of financial intermediation
1. Introduction
2. Theories of financial intermediation
3. Financial markets
Part II – Financial intermediaries
4. Credit intermediaries
5. Risks of financial intermediation
6. Insurance companies
Part III – Financial instruments
7. The demand for payment instruments
8. Payment instruments and operations
9. Cross-border payment transactions
10. The demand for investment services
11. The demand for financing instruments
12. Bank and postal deposits
13. Italian government bonds
14. Corporate bonds
15. Equity securities
16. Mutual funds and SICAV
17. Short-term lending facilities
18. Factoring
19. Medium and long-term lending facilities
20. Consumer loans
21. Insurance services
Bibliography
Poletti L., Schwizer P., Bocchialini E., ECONOMIA DEGLI INTERMEDIARI FINANZIARI
Università degli Studi di Parma
C.d.L. Economia e Management
ECONOMICS
McGraw Hill Education CREATE, 2017
Teaching methods
Knowledge and understanding: traditional lessons. The main topics of the course will be pointed out during lessons.
Applying knowledge and understanding: exercises
Making judgments: students will be induced to judge strength and weakness of each financial instrument and intermediation model.
Learning skills: every topic will be discussed beginning from the illustration of the problem and then analyzing the given solution.
Communication skills: the meaning of each term used by the financial community will be explained.
Assessment methods and criteria
Written examination
The Knowledge of the main topics of the course will be find out by 6 multiple-choice questions each evaluated 2 marks and 1 open question evaluated up to 6 marks. The knowledge of the other topics of the course will be find out by 3 multiple-choice questions and one open question evaluated up to 6 marks.
Applying knowledge will be find out by 3 exercises each evaluated up to 2 marks
Communication skills, making judgments and learning skills will be find out by analyzing the answers to the 2 open questions cited above.The exam also will consider incurring intermediate tests during the course.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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