Financial Writing and Analysis
3.0
creditsAverage Course Rating
There is an immense chasm between economic and financial commentary in academic discussions and that provided by private sector analysts and the press. Some of the difference is merely semantic, but much of the difference has real substance. Academic and nonacademic commentators tend to simply write off the other as being clueless in some way. Sorting out which bits of each style of analysis are most valuable and synthesizing them into a coherent commentary is a rare and valuable skill. This is a hands-on course with a goal of building skills reading and writing commentary in financial economics. The course begins critically studying commentary regarding prominent topics in the news over the recent months and then moves to writing "explainer" pieces for publication on the Center for Financial Economics blog. Students will work in teams both analyzing commentary, and writing and critiquing the work of fellow students.