Course Detail

Portfolio Choice and Asset Pricing (35901)

Course Description by Faculty

  • Nagel, Stefan
  • Content

    This PhD-level course covers current research on investor portfolio choice and as- set pricing in financial markets. After reviewing some basic analytical frameworks, much of the time in this course is spent on material from the current research frontier, with a particular focus on identifying open questions and further research opportunities. Topics include retail investor trading; cryptocurrency and DeFi; formation of investor expectations; implications of climate risk; inflation and sovereign risk.

    The material is covered in a rigorous analytical manner, but with a focus on big picture issues rather than technical and methodological details. The course can be accessible to highly motivated MBA students with a strong quantitative background who are deeply interested in advanced topics in investments.

    Format

    • Lectures

    • Discussion

    • Group Projects

    • Group Presentations

  • Prerequisites
    The prerequisites for the course are a good fundamental background in economics, statistics, linear algebra, and some finance, taken here or elsewhere. PhD students can register without my approval. To get approval to register, MBA students must first send me an e-mail describing their background. I reserve the right to exclude students who do not seem to be adequately prepared. Graduate Non-Booth students require instructor consent.
  • Materials
    Resources

    • Canvas Site Available

  • Grades
    Grades

    • Graded homework assignments

    • Graded attendance/participation

    • Allow Provisional Grades (For joint degree and non-Booth students only)

    • Early Final Grades (For joint degree and non-Booth students only)

    Restrictions

    • No auditors

    • No pass/fail grades

  • Syllabus
  • Spring 2023Section: 35901-50M 8:30AM-11:30AMHarper Center3SW - Seminar RoomIn-Person Only
Description and/or course criteria last updated: June 8 2022