Assignment
The project should be at least 12-15 double-spaced pages, including graphs and tables, but not including a title page and works cited. Be sure there are appropriate internal citations and that the paper is well edited.
Some Possible Project Topics:
a.) Choose several global companies and compare how they hedge currency risk.
b.) Which countries are the most competitive in the global economy? Which are the least competitive? How do countries at the bottom move up to the middle ranking?
c.) What are the key indicators of a currency/sovereign debt/banking crisis? Which countries are most vulnerable to a crisis?
d.) What are the economic growth prospects for Africa?
e.) Will the new regulations affecting large global banks (Basel III) prevent another global financial crisis, or will they just drain banks of profits?
f.) Estimate some econometric models for a couple major and emerging currencies using the methodology described in Chapter 6.
g.) Discuss the logic behind currency carry trades, and analyze a couple current opportunities.
h.) Define the attributes of an Optimum Currency Area and determine if the Eurozone is one.
i.) Define and discuss the policies that fall under "dollarization." Discuss some examples of countries that have dollarized. Has it been beneficial? Provide some examples of how specific companies have been affected.
j.) Compare capital structures of companies in the same global industry across countries. Pick a couple industries and several companies from each industry.
k.) Discuss microfinance and how it might be used to diminish poverty in the developing world. Emphasize actual transactions and policies that have been implemented.
l.) The "shadow" banking system: its significance for global finance and the challenges faced by regulators.