Principles Of Financial Economics

Financial economics, and the calculations of time and uncertainty derived from it, are playing an increasingly important role in non-finance areas, such as monetary and environmental economics. In this 2001 book, Professors Le Roy and Werner supply a rigorous yet accessible graduate-level introduction to this subfield of microeconomic theory and general equilibrium theory. Since students often find the link between financial economics and equilibrium theory hard to grasp, they devote less attention to purely financial topics such as calculation of derivatives, while aiming to make the connection explicit and clear in each stage of the exposition. Emphasis is placed on detailed study of two-date models, because almost all of the key ideas in financial economics can be developed in the two-date setting. In addition to rigorous analysis, substantial sections of discussion and examples are included to make the ideas readily understandable.

Financial economics, and the calculations of time and uncertainty derived from it, are playing an increasingly important role in non-finance areas, such as monetary and environmental economics. In this 2001 book, Professors Le Roy and Werner supply a rigorous yet accessible graduate-level introduction to this subfield of microeconomic theory and general equilibrium theory. Since students often find the link between financial economics and equilibrium theory hard to grasp, they devote less attention to purely financial topics such as calculation of derivatives, while aiming to make the connection explicit and clear in each stage of the exposition. Emphasis is placed on detailed study of two-date models, because almost all of the key ideas in financial economics can be developed in the two-date setting. In addition to rigorous analysis, substantial sections of discussion and examples are included to make the ideas readily understandable.

This second edition provides a rigorous yet accessible graduate-level introduction to financial economics. Since students often find the link between financial economics and equilibrium theory hard to grasp, less attention is given to purely financial topics, such as valuation of derivatives, and more emphasis is placed on making the connection with equilibrium theory explicit and clear. This book also provides a detailed study of two-date models because almost all of the key ideas in financial economics can be developed in the two-date setting. Substantial discussions and examples are included to make the ideas readily understandable. Several chapters in this new edition have been reordered and revised to deal with portfolio restrictions sequentially and more clearly, and an extended discussion on portfolio choice and optimal allocation of risk is available. The most important additions are new chapters on infinite-time security markets, exploring, among other topics, the possibility of price bubbles.

This second edition includes new chapters on infinite-time security markets and more focus on portfolio choice and risk allocations.

“An Outline of Financial Economics” presents a systematic treatment of the theory and methodology of finance and economics. The book follows an analytical and geometric methodology, explaining technical terms and mathematical operations in clear, non-technical language, and providing intuitive explanations of the mathematical results. The text begins with a discussion of financial instruments, which form the basis of finance theory, and goes on to analyze bonds – which are regarded as fixed income securities – in a simple framework, and to discuss the valuation of stocks and cash flows in detail. Highly relevant topics such as attitudes toward risk, uncertainty, the financial structure of a firm, stochastic dominance, portfolio management, option pricing and conditions for non-arbitrage are analyzed explicitly. Because of its wide coverage and analytical, articulate and authoritative presentation, “An Outline of Financial Economics” will be an indispensable book for finance researchers and undergraduate and graduate students in fields such as economics, finance, econometrics, statistics and mathematics.

A rigorous but practical introduction to the economic, financial, and political principles underlying commodity markets. Commodities have become one of the fastest growing asset classes of the last decade and the object of increasing attention from investors, scholars, and policy makers. Yet existing treatments of the topic are either too theoretical, ignoring practical realities, or largely narrative and nonrigorous. This book bridges the gap, striking a balance between theory and practice. It offers a solid foundation in the economic, financial, and political principles underlying commodities markets. The book, which grows out of courses taught by the author at Columbia and Johns Hopkins, can be used by graduate students in economics, finance, and public policy, or as a conceptual reference for practitioners. After an introduction to basic concepts and a review of the various types of commodities—energy, metals, agricultural products—the book delves into the economic and financial dynamics of commodity markets, with a particular focus on energy. The text covers fundamental demand and supply for resources, the mechanics behind commodity financial markets, and how they motivate investment decisions around both physical and financial portfolio exposure to commodities, and the evolving political and regulatory landscape for commodity markets. Additional special topics include geopolitics, financial regulation, and electricity markets. The book is divided into thematic modules that progress in complexity. Text boxes offer additional, related material, and numerous charts and graphs provide further insight into important concepts.

Whilst many undergraduate finance textbooks are largely descriptive in nature, the economic analysis in most graduate texts is too advanced for latter year undergraduates. This book bridges the gap between these two extremes, offering a textbook that studies economic activity in financial markets, focusing on how consumers determine future consumption and on the role of financial securities. Areas covered in include: an examination of the role of finance in the economy using basic economic principles, eventually progressing to introductory graduate analysis a microeconomic study of capital asset pricing when there is risk, inflation, taxes and asymmetric information an emphasis on economic intuition using geometry to explain formal analysis an extended treatment of corporate finance and the evaluation of public policy.

Financial Economics, by Frank Fabozzi, Ted Neave, and Gaofu Zhou, presents an introduction to basic financial ideas through a strong grounding in microeconomic theory. This calculus based text explores the theoretical framework for analyzing the decisions by individuals and managers of firms, an area which is coming to both financial economics and microeconomics. It also explores the interplay of these decisions on the prices of financial assets. The authors provide rigorous coverage aimed at assisting the undergraduate and masters-level students to better understand the principles and practical application of financial economic theory. In addition, the book serves as a supplemental reference for doctoral students in economics and finance, as well as for practitioners who are interested in knowing more about the theory and intuition behind many coming practices in finance. In short, the book focuses on economic principles and on putting these principles to work in the various fields of finance - financial management, investment management, risk management, and asset and derivatives pricing.