International Finance and International Economic Policy
The International Finance and International Economic Policy (IFEP) Concentration provides students with a theoretical foundation in international economics, finance, and political economy, along with unique empirical and historical perspectives, to equip them to become future policymakers, advisors, analysts, and investment professionals in developed and emerging economies.
IFEP offers a robust framework for examining and interpreting economic and financial events in the global economy. The IFEP curriculum combines tools from economics, finance, and statistics to help students understand the complex relationships among the economy, financial markets, and policymaking circles in developed and emerging economies so that they can better analyze and shape international and macroeconomic policies.
IFEP students go on to work in public and private sectors after gaining expertise in one of the Concentration’s three focus areas — Finance and Capital Markets, International Trade and Economic Policy, and Macroeconomics and Central Banking. In addition to its academic rigor, IFEP also provides students with connections to business leaders through academic panels, lectures, and discussions, and gives them tools to create a network of colleagues through frequent community-building social events.
The IFEP faculty includes leading scholars, policymakers, and public intellectuals internationally recognized as experts in crucial fields such as international trade, finance, monetary theory and policy, and political economy. Other courses are taught by prominent practitioners with experience in devising macroeconomic policies, overseeing new financial instruments, and forging trade policy.
Who It’s For
This program is designed for students interested in careers that formulate or analyze policies in the areas of macroeconomics, finance, and international trade. Typically, IFEP students have strong quantitative skills and are comfortable with theoretical and empirical reasoning.
Curriculum and Courses
IFEP provides a framework to examine and interpret observed economic and financial events in the global economy by combining the tools of international economics, finance, and statistics. After a common core course, students specialize in one of three focus areas:
The International Finance and Capital Markets focus area combines the analytical instruments of finance and applied financial modeling with a deep understanding of the contemporary macro-financial landscape and capital markets in developed and emerging countries. Students must complete 15 credits, including International Finance and Monetary Theory, International Capital Markets, and either Corporate Finance or Economics of Finance. Students must also complete one course focused on emerging markets, selected from an approved list, and one elective course.
The International Trade and Policy focus area applies the tools of international economics, political economy, and econometrics to understand the role of individual states’ economic policies on the global economy. Students must complete 15 credits, including International Finance and Monetary Theory, International Trade, and International Political Economy. Students must complete an econometrics course and an elective.
The Macroeconomics and Central Banking focus area provides the building blocks for state-of-the-art macroeconomic policies by studying the goals, tools, and governance structure for effective fiscal, monetary, and macroprudential policies. Students must complete 15 credits, including Theory and Principles of Financial Regulation, International Finance and Monetary Theory, International Capital Markets, Unconventional Monetary Policy, and the combined sequence of Financial Stability Monitoring and Macroprudential Policy. Students also take Time Series and one approved elective course.
Optional Minors Available
– International Finance and Capital Markets
– International Economics and Policy
– Macroeconomics and Central Banking
Student Career Paths
The career paths of IFEP graduates are very diverse. Some graduates work at senior positions in investment and commercial banks, hedge funds, private equity funds, impact investment funds, and ratings agencies. Others work at research institutions, management and economic consulting firms, corporations, and think tanks. Our students may go on to join central banks, ministries of finance or treasuries, trade agencies, government agencies responsible for domestic and international economic matters, or international organizations such as the World Bank, the IMF, the International Finance Corporation, or the United Nations.
Related Degree Programs
Designed for students looking to facilitate and lead international cooperation, the MIA equips students to understand international political and legal institutions, and develop the skills of conflict resolution, diplomacy, and inter-cultural competency necessary to achieve change on the worldwide stage.
Developed for students looking to lead the policymaking process, the MPA provides a data-rich analytical education, equipping students to understand policy challenges and to develop, implement, and evaluate policy solutions. The MPA is STEM-designated so that students in all policy domains will be eligible to apply for OPT extensions where relevant.
Contact Us
Alan Taylor
Professor of International and Public Affairs; Concentration Co-Director
IAB Room 1313 | [email protected]
Andrea Bubula
Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of International and Public Affairs; Concentration Co-Director
IAB Room 1312 | [email protected]
Ariel Yelen
Concentration Manager
IAB Room 1323A | [email protected]