“The purpose of economics is not to acquire a set of readymade answers to economic questions,

but to learn how to avoid being deceived by economists." Joan Robinson, 1955

ECO 322 Money and Banking-W

spring 2018 (33670) MWF 10 – 10:50 SAC 5.102

Brian M. Trinque, Ph.D. Office hours: TTh, 2:30 - 5, or by appointment

trinque@austin.utexas.edu BRB 2.102B (475-8557)

Course description
This course is a writing workshop and seminar focusing on financial systems, national
and global. The principal objective of the course is to enable your engagement with the
scholarly literature on banking and finance – that is, to learn how to learn from relevant experts.
Other course objectives include deepening your understanding of financial systems, exercising
your talents in information retrieval and processing, and sharpening your writing skills.
Topics addressed during class meetings (apart from practical tips on accessing the
literature and composing a coherent term paper) will emphasize financial innovation. During the
last third of the semester, most class meetings will consist of presentations by students of their
work-in-progress.

Materials & Communication

There is no required text. Required readings and additional reference materials will be
available on Canvas.
If you have a learning, sensory, or psychiatric disability, please let me know early in the
semester so your learning needs can be appropriately met.
Graded assignments will be returned in class. Thereafter, such documents will be in my
office for you to collect at your convenience (and are stored for approximately four years).
Retrieving the graded documents is the only way to know your grade. I do not post grades nor
discuss grades via phone or email. Final course grades become available on line when and as the
Registrar posts them.

Work flow
Writing Flag courses are designed to give students experience with writing in an
academic discipline. In this class, you can expect to write regularly during the semester,
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complete substantial writing projects, and receive feedback from your instructor to help you
improve your writing. You will also have the opportunity to revise one or more assignments,
and to read and discuss your peers' work. Your grade in this course will depend principally on
your success in accessing, understanding, and communicating (in writing) a scholarly debate or
issue of relevance to financial systems.
All assignments must be submitted in physical copy by the specified due dates (see table
on page 3). All materials are to be turned in during regular class meetings. If you miss class on
a due date, bring/send the items due before the class meets, if possible. Late submissions are
never "approved," but submitting something, when you can, is better than nothing. Detailed
guidelines and procedures are provided in the Writing Guidelines. Failure to comply with any of
the stated procedures may result in a grade penalty.
You will select a scholarly article to serve as the basis of your writing throughout the
semester. The PROPOSAL STATEMENT (due 26 January) will allow me to assess and advise.
Having agreed on a suitable article, you will produce a PRACTICE REPORT (due 16 February).
Based on an evaluation you will receive before spring break, you may decide to submit a
PRACTICE REDO. The REDO option expires on 23 March.
On 26 March, all students will be assigned to a "discussant group." DISCUSSANT

COMMENTS will be due on 6 April, and attendance on the dates scheduled for your group-
members' in-class presentations is mandatory.
You will write an in-class essay each Monday, 22 January through 5 March. These
essays will encourage and assess your understanding of lectures and related readings, and enable
feedback on the effectiveness of your writing. Each essay will be scored between zero and four
points; the average of essay scores will determine 20% of your course grade.
The in-class presentation is optional, but strongly recommended. The presentation
deepens your understanding of your chosen research topic and contributes to your classmates’
knowledge. My intention is that everyone who does the presentation will receive an “A” for that
10% portion of the course grade. If you choose to not do the presentation, the grade weight on
the in-class essays is raised from 20% to 30%.

Expected Learning Outcomes

Successful completion of this course will enable you to
Money and Banking - W (spring 2018) 3

a) identify several types of financial intermediary.

b) describe various methods and aspects of financial intermediation, including
derivative instruments and strategies.
c) explain how the financial sector affects the performance of entire economies.
d) discuss the history of financial innovation.
e) discuss the sources of financial instability, as well as consequences and responses.
f) access, understand, and communicate (in writing) a scholarly debate or issue of
relevance to financial systems.

93 to 100 A
90 to 92 A-
87 to 89 B+
83 to 86 B
80 to 82 B-
Conversion of score to letter grade 75 to 79 C+
will occur as follows: 65 to 74 C
60 to 64 C-
50 to 59 D
0 to 49 F

Assignments and Grading

GRADE
ASSIGNMENT DUE DATE WEIGHT

PROPOSAL STATEMENT 26 January 5%

(see “Writing Guidelines”)
PRACTICE REPORT 16 February 15%
(minimum 5 full pages)
DISCUSSANT COMMENTS 6 April 10%
(per rubric)
DISCUSSANT ATTENDANCE per presentation schedule 10%
(at in-class presentations)
IN-CLASS PRESENTATION (optional) per individual sign-up 10%

FINAL DRAFT (minimum 15 full pages) 4 May 30%

IN-CLASS ESSAYS
Mondays, 22 Jan. – 5 March 20%

THERE ARE NO EXAMS