| Unit name | Microeconomics of Banking |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ACFIM0045 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Tobias Dieler |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Accounting and Finance - Business School |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The objective of this module is to familiarize students with the banking industry and provide them with the analytical skills to critically assess banking from both a regulator’s perspective and a banker’s perspective. The unit is driven by theoretical models of banking. They help to guide the understanding of why banks exist in the first place and their role in modern economies. Moreover, students are confronted with data of the banking industry and press coverage of important events affecting the industry. Where necessary historical background for current features of banks is provided.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
Microeconomics of Banking introduces students to the most important technical terms in banking, to initial data analysis of the banking industry and it provides the intellectual framework for why banks exist. Finally, it also categorises different types of banking. This broad and at the same time rigorous overview of the banking industry lays the foundation for the programme’s core units in TB2, in particular for “Principles of Financial Intermediation” and “Banking Regulation and Financial Stability”.
An overview of content
We cover the following topics:
How is a bank different from a real firm? What are the different types of banking? Which services do banks provide to its customers and to the economy as a whole? The role of information in banking.; What is the role of central banks? How can banks be regulated to maximize social welfare? What is the risk/negative externality of an insolvent bank? What are recent developments?
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students learn to work with data. Students learn to work in groups. Students learn how to critically assess the banking industry and current developments therein. Students learn to present in an academic environment.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the unit, students will be able to:
How you will learn
Teaching takes place in a combination of lectures and tutorials. Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
There is formative assessment during tutorials and exchange with the tutor.
The formative assessment takes place in the 4 remaining tutorials. Students are provided assignments ahead of the tutorial. While working on the assignments, students are in permanent exchange with each other and with the teachers. Due to the four additional assignments over the course of the unit, students receive continuous feedback on their understanding of the material and their aptitude to critically assess institutions in banking.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
This unit is assessed by group coursework 40% and exam 60%.
Group coursework (40%): Over the course of the unit, students will be given two assignments of three analytical exercises each to work on in groups. The assignments will draw on the description of institutional features of the banking industry and theory from the lectures. The objective is to enable students to use the theory introduced in lectures to apply them to the most common and latest phenomena in banking (ILO1, ILO2, ILO3 and ILO4). On each assignment, the group receives one mark which is valid for all students of the group. Sample solutions to the assignments will be made available right after the due date of the assignment. This provides students with a direct feedback about their current standing in terms of the course material as the course progresses. Furthermore, students will have the opportunity to discuss their assignments with a tutor in the tutorial which provides them with additional specific feedback. The group coursework is in the format of 10-minute presentations.
Exam (60%): The 2-hour exam will be similar in format to the assignments. It will be a cross section of themes covered in the assignments (ILO1, ILO2, ILO3 and ILO4). The purpose of the exam is solely to evaluate the individual student’s performance which is difficult to ascertain from group assignments.
When assessment does not go to plan
The re-sit for the group coursework is an individual coursework (1000 words) and the re-sit for the exam is an exam.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ACFIM0045).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
