FYS 183 Financial Crises and Panics
Financial crises have occurred regularly throughout history and continue to occur today. The course will focus on several notable financial crises and market panics dating back to the 17th century and their causes, events, and consequences. Students will discover common themes between past and current events and explore the prerequisites and favorable conditions for a financial crisis. In addition, they will critically analyze the present conditions and make conclusions about the likelihood of similar events happening in the near future. Students will also examine the role and effectiveness of government intervention during The Great Recession. We will take a trip (tentative) to the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve to learn about the Federal Reserve System, responsible for conducting monetary policy; we will also consider how financial crises are portrayed in the popular media by examining and analyzing films such as Inside Job, The Big Short, and Margin Call.