Karma Hadjimichalakis, finance and business economics principal lecturer 
Department of Finance and Business Economics 

Local, national and global economies are changing rapidly. It is more important than ever to understand the financial and economic dynamics at play to gain a better understanding of how businesses can adapt and evolve over time.

Finance focus
Finance deals with the management of funds and the ways in which the flow of capital affects management of firms and decision-making processes of investors. By focusing on the economy's capital markets, the problems of allocating capital within the firm, the environment of the financial manager, and the supply of capital, the finance curriculum prepares students for careers as financial managers, bankers, and administrators.

Business economics focus
Using economic theory as an analytical tool to help organizations achieve their business goals is the primary concern of business economics. Specifically, business economists deal with the firm's behavior in response to the economic environment it faces and determine how these factors will affect both long-range and day-to-day operations. Typically, a business economist is concerned with pricing policy, monetary policy, predicting economic impacts, measuring demand, and applying economic models to management decisions. Courses in business economics emphasize capital markets and macroeconomic policies, international business economics, forecasting, and business decision-making.


As a nexus for local executives and Foster School of Business faculty, the CFO Forum promotes discussion on current topics of interest to CFOs. Learn more about our next meeting.
The Department of Finance and Business Economics invites applications for a tenure-track position in finance to start autumn 2010. Learn more or apply now.
Jonathan KarpoffIs Short Selling Good?
This controversial practice can be beneficial to markets, according to research by Jonathan Karpoff, Foster School finance professor. Watch a video interview.
Improve your executive management skills in the financial services industry. Learn about the Pacific Coast Banking School, a graduate-level program that develops leaders who are ready to embrace a new era of change.