BUS 3121 - Manias, Panics, and Crashes

This course is a historical introduction to the causes, mechanisms, and consequences of financial crises, from tulip bulbs in the 17th century Netherlands to eh subprime mortgages in the 21st century U.S. It will discuss in this context alternative economic views on how markets work and the role of the government in stabilizing the economy. it will introduce basic economic concepts, including resource allocation, rationality, herd behavior, uncertainty, risk, speculation, and regulation.