The seminar "Geopolitical Fragmentation and Monetary Policy" takes place in the summer semester.
Instructor: Dr. Moritz Pfeifer
Start: Introductory Session 23.04.2025
Room: Seminarraum S204 S 2.105
Grading: Term Paper (Guidelines)
Topic Allocation: During the introductory session.
Deadline for First Drafts (non-graded): 31.05.2025
Presentations: 16.06.2025, 19.06.2025 and 23.06.2025
Deadline for Final Drafts (graded): 30.06.2025 via email to pfeifer(at)wifa.uni-leipzig.de
Seminar Content and Learning Objectives
The seminar is part of the module International Economic Policy, which also comprises a course in Economic Policy and a course in European Integration. The seminar scrutinizes the current challenges in international economic policy making. Two-thirds of the module grade will be based on a written exam covering the two courses. For the seminar you will write a short term paper accounting for the remaining one-third of your module grade.
Requirements and Evaluation
Students are required to attend the entire seminar, present their papers and actively participate in the discussions.
Seminar Dates
Content | Date, Time, Room | |
| 0. | Seminar Topic Assignment | 23.04.25 13:15 - 14:45 Seminarraum S204 S 2.105 |
| 1. | Presentation | 16.06.25 09:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum S017 S00.203 |
| 2. | Presentation | 19.06.25 09:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum S017 S00.203 |
| 3. | Presentation | 23.06.25 09:00 - 18:00 Seminarraum S017 S00.203 |
Seminar Topics
| Topic | |
|---|---|
| 1. | Geopolitical Risks and Financial Stability |
| 2. | Economic Sanctions and Monetary Policy Responses |
| 3. | Currency Wars and Monetary Competition |
| 4. | Exchange Rates and Geopolitical Fragmentation |
| 5. | Balance Sheet Divergence and Geopolitical Tensions |
| 6. | The Future of the Dollar as a Reserve Currency |
| 7. | Digital Currencies, CBDCs and Exchange Rate Fluctuations |
| 8. | Strategic Autonomy or Atlantic Alignment? The Euro’s Role Amid US-China Rivalry |
| 9. | The Mar-a-Lago and Plaza Accords in Historical Perspective |
| 10. | De-Dollarization and Global Financial Markets: Risks and Opportunities |
| 11. | The Impact of the BRICS Currency on Gold and the Dollar? |
| 12. | Geopolitical Risks and Asset Prices |
Basic Literature
- Krugman, Paul / Obstfeld, Maurice / Melitz, Marc 2011: International Economics: Theory and Policy, 9th. edition, Boston.
- Caves, Richard / Frankel, Jeffrey / Jones, Ronald 2007: World Trade and Payments: An Introduction, 10th edition, Boston