Understanding Financial Markets

Schedule: 

Session One: June 25
Financial Markets: The Fundamentals 
Karen Hallows, Ph.D.  
Professor of Finance
George Mason University School of Management

Session Two:  June 26
Playing the Stocks: A Market Simulation
David Porter, Ph.D. 
Professor of Economics
ICES, George Mason University 

Session Three:  June 27
Accounting and Confidence in the Markets 
Sarah Nutter, Ph.D.
Professor of Accounting
George Mason University School of Management 

Far from being the Age of Aquarius, the new millennium has turned out to be a bear—especially for financial markets.    News of stock market bubbles, corporate accounting scandals, and continued military conflict has weakened many peoples’ faith in the ability of financial markets to secure our nation’s savings.

Since most Americans are now investors, policymakers are under great pressure to ensure that financial markets are transparent, accountable, and most importantly, growing.  But how can public policy improve financial markets?  What rules could the markets themselves adopt?  How can we restore confidence in financial reporting and corporate oversight? 

The Mercatus Center at George Mason University has developed a three-part course designed to address and explore some of these concerns.  Participants will gain a greater understanding of how our financial system works and will be in a better position to analyze policies affecting financial markets.