Anat R. Admati

I am passionate about these courses and hope similar interdisciplinary courses are offered elsewhere. Many of the insights I gained about the financial system apply to the interaction of all corporations with society. The Corporations and Society Initiative may lead to more courses as well as more engagements within other existing courses on these issues.

Teaching

Early in my career I taught Decision Making Under Uncertainty to MBA students, Corporate Finance at multiple levels, and various PhD-level courses, particularly a new course on Information in Financial Market.

Since 2014, I have been teaching new interdisciplinary courses at the MBA and undergraduate levels, attempting to draw braodly from different schools and departments at Stanford. The initial titles were Finance and Society, but have evolved and expanded to teaching about the internet and, broadly, about Corporations and Society, with emphasis on finance but going beyond.

Power in Finance

GSBGEN 538 | February 11 -March, 12 2020

Co-taught with Heiner Schulz

There is a growing sense that both capitalism and democracy are in crisis. How do power structures in the private and public sectors determine economic and political outcomes? Is the focus on financial metrics and markets to blame for the eroding trust in corporations and governments? This interdisciplinary course explores these issues by developing in-depth understanding of the interactions between individuals, corporations, and governments that shape economic and political systems and their evolution. Topics will include the power of media, culture and corporate governance, corporate and investor power, the role of watchdogs, the special power of central banks, whistle-blowers and the justice system. Visitors with extensive relevant experiences and discussions of current events will enrich each class.

Sample Recent Syllabus

GSBGEN538 ExploreCourses

Finance and Society

FIN 332 | January 7 - March 15, 2019

Co-taught with Heiner Schulz

Sample recent syllabus (Note: syllabus always evolving and partly depends on visitor opportunity)

FIN332 ExploreCourse

Finance, Corporations and Society

ECON 143 | September 14 - November 20, 2020

This interdisciplinary course explores the economic, political, and cultural forces that shape the financial system and, through this system, have major effects on the economy and on society. You will gain an understanding of how the interactions between individuals, corporations, governments, and the media can help the financial system and the economy work better or in turn allow those with better information and control to harm others unnecessarily. Topics include the basic principles of investment and funding, corporations and their governance, financial markets and institutions, and political and ethical issues. We will discuss recent and ongoing news events and analyses immediately relevant to the material. The approach will be rigorous and analytical but not overly mathematical. A few visitors will further enrich the discussion.

INTLPOL 227, MS&E 147, POLISCI 127A, PUBLPOL 143

Sample recent syllabus(Note: syllabus always evolving and partly depends on visitor opportunity)

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Is the Internet Broken?

GSBGEN 578 | April 8-19, 2019

Co-taught with Jonathan Dotan

This interdisciplinary course examines the promise, peril, and possible future of the Internet and the impact of the World Wide Web on our lives. We will explore the most pressing contemporary issues facing the Internet, including debates on privacy, antitrust, freedom of speech, access, neutrality, and regulation. We will also unpack the claim that “decentralization,” as it has grown with new technologies such as blockchain and crypto assets, captures the original vision of the Internet. A key question we will address is: What should be the roles of markets, governments, and different stakeholders in shaping the Internet? Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their own motivations and roles as digital consumers, potential innovators, and future leaders in this process.. Guests from the tech sector and elsewhere will enrich our discussion.