Antoine Bommier: Catalogue data in Spring Semester 2019

Name	Prof. Dr. Antoine Bommier
Field	Integrative Risk Management and Economics
Address	Integratives Risikomanag. und Ök. ETH Zürich, SEC E 7 Scheuchzerstrasse 7 8092 Zürich SWITZERLAND
Telephone	+41 44 632 38 10
E-mail	abommier@ethz.ch
Department	Management, Technology, and Economics
Relationship	Full Professor

Number	Title	ECTS	Hours	Lecturers
363-0515-00L	Decisions and Markets	3 credits	2V	A. Bommier
Abstract	This course provides an introduction to microeconomics. The course is open to students who have completed an undergraduate course in economics principles and an undergraduate course in multivariate calculus. The course emphasizes the conceptual foundations of microeconomics and contains concrete examples of their application.
Learning objective	Microeconomics is an element of nearly every subfield in economic analysis today. Model building in economics relies on a number of fundamental frameworks, many of which are introduced for the first time in intermediate microeconomics. The purpose of this course is to provide MTEC master students with an introduction to graduate-level microeconomics, particularly for students considering further graduate work in economics, business administration or management science. The course provides the fundamental concepts and tools for graduate courses in economics offered at ETH and UZH.
Content	The lectures will cover consumer choice, producer theory, markets and market failure. The course will include concrete examples of the use of choice theory in applied economics.
Lecture notes	The course is mostly based on the textbook by R. Serrano and A. Feldman: "A short Course in Intermediate Economics with Calculus" (Cambridge University Press, 2013) Another textbook of interest is "Intermediate Microeconomics: A Modern Approach" by H. Varian (Norton, 2009).
Literature	Exercises are available in the textbook by R. Serrano and A. Feldman on which the lecture is based ("A short Course in Intermediate Economics with Calculus", Cambridge University Press, 2013). More exercises can be found in the book "Workouts in Intermediate Microeconomics" by T. Bergstrom and H. Varian (Norton, 2010).
363-1000-00L	Financial Economics	3 credits	2V	A. Bommier
Abstract	This is a theoretical course on the economics of financial decision making, at the crossroads between Microeconomics and Finance. It discusses portfolio choice theory, risk sharing, market equilibrium and asset pricing.
Learning objective	The objective is to make students familiar with the economics of financial decision making and develop their intuition regarding the determination of asset prices, the notions of optimal risk sharing. However this is not a practical formation for traders. Moreover, the lecture doesn't cover topics such as market irrationality or systemic risk.
Content	The following topics will be discussed: Introduction to finance and investment planning; Option valuation; Arbitrage; Choice under uncertainty; Portfolio Choice; Risk sharing and insurance; Market equilibrium under symmetric information.
Literature	Suggesting readings: 1) "Investments", by Z. Bodie, A. Kane and A. Marcus, for the introductory part of the course (see chapters 20 and 21 in particular). 2) "Finance and the Economics of Uncertainty" by G. Demange and G. Laroque, Blackwell, 2006. 3) "The Economics of Risk and Time", by C. Gollier, and Other readings: - "Intermediate Financial Theory" by J.-P. Danthine and J.B. Donaldson. - Ingersoll, J., E., Theory of Financial Decision Making, Rowman and Littlefield Publishers. - Leroy S and J. Werner, Principles of Financial Economics, Cambridge University Press, 2001
Prerequisites / Notice	Basic mathematical skills needed (calculus, linear algebra, convex analysis). Students must be able to solve simple optimization problems (e.g. Lagrangian methods). Some knowledge in microeconomics would help but is not compulsory. The bases will be covered in class.
363-1100-00L	Risk Case Study Challenge Limited number of participants. Please apply for this course via the official website (www.riskcenter.ethz.ch). Once your application is confirmed, registration in myStudies is possible.	3 credits	2S	B. J. Bergmann, A. Bommier, S. Feuerriegel
Abstract	This seminar provides master students at ETH with the challenging opportunity of working on a real risk modelling and risk management case in close collaboration with a Risk Center Partner Company. For the Spring 2019 Edition the Partner will be Zurich Insurance Group.
Learning objective	Students work on a real risk-related case of a business relevant topic provided by experts from Risk Center partners. While gaining substantial insights into the risk modeling and management of the industry, students explore the case or problem on their own, working in teams, and develop possible solutions. The cases allow students to use logical problem solving skills with emphasis on evidence and application and involve the integration of scientific knowledge. Typically, the risk-related cases can be complex, cover ambiguities, and may be addressed in more than one way. During the seminar students visit the partners’ headquarters, conduct interviews with members of the management team as well as internal and external experts, and present their results.
Content	Get a basic understanding of o The insurance and reinsurance business o Risk management and risk modelling o The role of operational risk management Get in contact with industry experts and conduct interviews on the topic. Conduct a small empirical study and present findings to the company
Prerequisites / Notice	Please apply for this course via the official website (www.riskcenter.ethz.ch/education/lectures/risk-case-study-challenge-.html). Apply no later than February 15, 2019. The number of participants is limited to 14.
364-0531-00L	CER-ETH Research Seminar	0 credits	2S	H. Gersbach, A. Bommier, L. Bretschger
Abstract	Research Seminar of Center of Economic Research CER-ETH
Learning objective	Survey of the currently leading research in economics, especially in the CER-ETH research fields.
Content	Presentations of current and recent research results in the CER-ETH research fields, usually by international guest speakers.
Prerequisites / Notice	Please note the special announcements.
364-1058-00L	Risk Center Seminar Series Number of participants limited to 50.	0 credits	2S	A. Bommier, D. Basin, D. N. Bresch, L.‑E. Cederman, P. Cheridito, H. Gersbach, H. R. Heinimann, M. Larsson, G. Sansavini, F. Schweitzer, D. Sornette, B. Stojadinovic, B. Sudret, U. A. Weidmann, S. Wiemer, M. Zeilinger, R. Zenklusen
Abstract	This course is a mixture between a seminar primarily for PhD and postdoc students and a colloquium involving invited speakers. It consists of presentations and subsequent discussions in the area of modeling and governing complex socio-economic systems, and managing risks and crises. Students and other guests are welcome.
Learning objective	Participants should learn to get an overview of the state of the art in the field, to present it in a well understandable way to an interdisciplinary scientific audience, to develop novel mathematical models and approaches for open problems, to analyze them with computers or other means, and to defend their results in response to critical questions. In essence, participants should improve their scientific skills and learn to work scientifically on an internationally competitive level.
Content	This course is a mixture between a seminar primarily for PhD and postdoc students and a colloquium involving invited speakers. It consists of presentations and subsequent discussions in the area of modeling complex socio-economic systems and crises. For details of the program see the webpage of the seminar. Students and other guests are welcome.
Lecture notes	There is no script, but the sessions will be recorded and be made available. Transparencies of the presentations may be put on the course webpage.
Literature	Literature will be provided by the speakers in their respective presentations.
Prerequisites / Notice	Participants should have relatively good scientific, in particular mathematical skills and some experience of how scientific work is performed.