Fin Tech

3 credits · Graduate

This is a non-traditional finance course that focuses on who gets "rents" in existing finance markets and the barriers to entry that can be overcome by technology. The course covers (i) the basics of the payment system and how it is changing, (ii) how other stores of value embedded in mobile technology are used, in both high- and low-income countries, (iii) changes in other financial sectors including advice, banking and insurance, and (iv) the potential of cryptocurrencies and the possibilities for disruption inherent in an open, consensus ledger (e.g., the BlockChain). Students will learn to make analytical judgments about the benefit that technology can bring to financial intermediaries.