Master Seminar

Information Intermediation on Financial Markets

(July 8, 2015, RW 6, 6CP, MoM/MIEPP)

This seminar will consider different aspects of information intermediation on financial markets. More specifically, we will examine the work of credit rating agencies and their role as intermediaries between lending entities and capital investors. We will focus on particular elements of the intermediation process such as the type and quality of information, its feedback effects on the market, the relation between rating agencies and the current regulatory discussion. Participants will prepare a literature review based on suggested material and own research.

Organization of the seminar:

The seminar is open to Master students from the MoM and the MIEPP. The seminar will be held in English. A compulsory introductory session will take place on Tuesday, March 24, 2015, 2 pm, in room RW 6. In this session, the groups will be formed and assigned one topic.

Groups will have time to prepare their seminar papers until July 1, 2015 (noon). Papers have to be handed in via E-mail to bannier_at_uni-mainz.de. There is a page limit of 20 pages. The presentation session will take place on Wednesday, July 8 2015, 10 am to 4 pm, in room RW 6.

Application:

Please send your application form together with a current transcript of records to bannier@uni-mainz.de. The application period starts on March 2 and ends on March 16, 2015. The number of seminar participants is capped at 24. You will be notified of admission by March 20, 2015.

Important dates:

  • March 2, 2015: start of application period
  • March 16, 2015: end of application period
  • March 20, 2015: notification of admission
  • March 24, 2015: obligatory introductory session
  • July 1, 2015: deadline for handing-in the seminar paper
  • July 8, 2015: presentation session

 

Topics:

  1. Credit rating agencies – A critical review of their role
  1. Quality and precision of credit ratings
  1. Feedback effects on bond markets
  1. Solicited versus unsolicited ratings
  1. Rating reviews or watchlists
  1. Competition between credit rating agencies
  1. Regulating credit rating agencies

More information on the topics and literature can be found here: Master Seminar SS 2015