The backbone of the course is a series of original scientific papers written by renowned economists on money and the financial sector. Early on students are introduced to reading original research papers which opens up a challenging but fascinating intellectual universe for their own independent studies. Smart use of computer and web resources is encouraged.
The course combines elements of distance learning and in-class teaching for those students staying in Vienna as the general situation permits. Students compelled to continue distance-learning in fall 2020 can also participate in the course.
- Students will work through papers assigned over the course of the semester.
- Audio slides on those papers (i.e. PowerPoint slides with comments by the course instructor) help to understand the material.
- In-class meetings with reduced class size on a rotating schedule and online sessions are flexibly set up to allow for direct interaction with the instructor, augmenting the material covered in the papers and providing opportunities for discussion.
- For students in full distance learning mode online meetings replace in-class meetings.
- Students write essays on home assignments related to the papers and collect points for participating in the discussions at the meetings.