Global Business Environment
B01.2303.11
Fall
2005

Professor
Nouriel Roubini
Office: KMC 7-83
Phone: (212) 998-0886
E-Mail: nroubini@stern.nyu.edu

Overview of the Course (ObjectivesTexbook
and Materials RequirementsAssignments Office Hours and Tutorials Rules
Important Dates Suggested
Grade Distribution)
Reading
List
"MBA
Lectures in Macroeconomics" by Roubini and Backus
Handouts
Used in Class
Roubini Global Economics (RGE)
Monitor
Web Site
Links
to Macroeconomic Data and Information
Hypertext
Glossary of Business Cycle Indicators
Business
Cycle Indicators
Assignments
Interactive
Charts
and Graphs of Macroeconomic Series
Overview
Objectives
Review and analysis of current global macroeconomic issues and events
with an emphasis on the international aspects of macroeconomics,
including: interest rates and
exchange rates; causes of trade and current account deficits; emerging
market economies financial crises; causes of currency,
banking and financial crises; and the globalization
of financial markets. These topics are integrated into a theoretical
framework
that introduces international factors from the start. Examples from the
US, Europe, Japan and emerging market economies are used to enhance
knowledge
of the world economy and skills in solving practical problems. Lectures
are complemented with group projects.
This year we will make intensive use of the WEB and Internet
resources
as a learning tool in the course.
Textbook and Materials
Textbook:
On-line lectures notes: Nouriel Roubini and David Backus MBA
Lectures in Macroeconomics, New York University, 2000.
and/or:
David Miles and Andrew Scott, Macroeconomics and the Global
Business Environment, Wiley Publishers, second edition, 2004.
We will also use the following materials in the course:
Readings and Case Studies (Singapore, Mexico) Package
The Miles-Scott textbook will be available in the bookstore. The Roubini
and Backus "MBA Lectures in Macroeconomics" are available on-line
at
the course home page; a printed version can be bought at the bokstore.
Note that the on-line version includes the links to other WEB materials
that are missing in the printed version. The readings and case
studies package will
be available in the bookstore. Let me also recommend very strongly The
Economist, the best single source of international business
news
and commentary. A subscription
to the print edition of The Economist also gives you full access to the
Web edition of the magazine. The on-line WEB version of the Financial
Times is partly available for free to registered users.
Requirements
Grades will be based on four assignments and the final
examination according to the formula:
Assignments |
30 percent |
Mid-Term Exam
|
30 percent
|
Final Exam |
40 percent |
Class participation will be rewarded as part of the 30% of the grade
that goes to the assignments.
Assignments (click here
to download the assignments).
There are four assignments. The
assignments
should be done as part of a group.
Office Hours and Tutorials
My office hours are Wednesday 4.00-5.30pm, or by appointment. I can
also
be reached through e-mail at nroubini@stern.nyu.edu
There will also be a Teaching Fellow for each section of the course,
who you will find very helpful.
He is Noe Valenzuela and his email is noe.valenzuela@stern.nyu.edu.
His office hours will be announced in class and by email.
Rules
- Late assignments will not be accepted without prior arrangement.
If
necessary,
you can fax them to me at (212) 995-4218 or e-mail them to me.
- Material handed out in class will not be available in the next
class.
You
can get copies of old handouts from classmates and during office hours.
Most class materials will also be available on-line in the home page
for
the course.
- Excuses. Your rule of thumb should be: Would I try this on my
boss ? If
not, please don’t try it on me; i.e. use excuses judiciously.
Blog/Discussion group
I have setup a
blog/discussion
group where we can discuss the topics of the course outside of the
classroom. I invite all the students in the class to actively
participate
in this online discussion forum. Part of the final grade will depend on
class and blog participation. We can share together ideas and
information
about interesting new articles on the WEB, discuss current policy
issues
and elaborate on materials presented in class.
Important Dates (TBA)
Assignment # 1 due in class: October 18th
Assignment # 2 due in class: November 8th
Mid-Term Exam in class: November 15th
Assignment # 3 due in class: November 29th
Assignment # 4 due in class: December 13th
Final Examination in class: December 20th
Suggested Grade Distribution
Although sections may vary somewhat, the Economics Department suggests
a grade distribution of
A/A- |
25-30% |
B’s |
55-65% |
C & below |
5% |
This distribution is intended to make standards comparable across
sections,
as required by the school.
Other Links and Information:
- The Stern School
of
Business Economics Department
- Nouriel
Roubini's
Home Page: http://www.stern.nyu.edu/~nroubini