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FINN1071: Ethics and Finance

Please ensure you check the module availability box for each module outline, as not all modules will run in each academic year. Each module description relates to the year indicated in the module availability box, and this may change from year to year, due to, for example: changing staff expertise, disciplinary developments, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback. Current modules are subject to change in light of the ongoing disruption caused by Covid-19.

Type Tied
Level 1
Credits 20
Availability Available in 2023/24
Module Cap None.
Location Durham
Department Finance

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combinations of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • The aims of the module are the following:
  • introduce students to key concepts in ethics and their articulations in finance and financial offerings.
  • discuss emerging ethical-based financing offerings, including ESG, social and sustainable development financing.
  • provide students with frameworks and skills necessary to understand and critically evaluate the ethical nature of financial offerings in different institutional forms, including ESG, FinTechs and capital markets.

Content

  • Ethical and Moral Foundations of Finance.
  • Changing Financial Landscape and the Importance of Ethics in Finance and Financial Decision Making.
  • Shareholder Value Maximisation vs Stakeholder Governance in Financial Sector
  • Ethical Screening Methods in Finance and Investment: ESG, Responsible Finance, Impact Investing, Social Investment.
  • Sustainable Development Financing.
  • Ethical Capital Markets: Approaches and Products.
  • Financial Inclusion, Inclusive Finance and Microfinance.
  • Ethical Issues in Digital Financial Offerings, Fintechs, and Social Finance.
  • Ethical and Social Finance Regulations.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

  • Understand foundational bases of ethics and morality and their articulations in financial transactions and spheres.
  • Develop knowledge of the ethical issues and dilemmas that arise in various financial offerings and institutional forms.
  • Examine various forms of ethical compliance and screening in financial offerings.
  • Develop knowledge of the ways and mechanisms finance and financial institutions can contribute to ESG and sustainable development.
  • Understand the ethical aspects and requirements of the regulatory environment.

Subject-specific Skills:

  • By the end of the module, students should be able to:
  • Recognize the ethics and ethical issues relevant to financial transactions and the sector.
  • Developed technical and academic skills to distinguish and analyse ESG risks and ethical screening processes in financial transactions and the institutions.
  • The ability to examine practical issues and case studies, practice problem-solving and analysis of ethical issues in financial transactions and institutions.
  • Developed skills to critically evaluate developments, performance and progress of financial institutions and markets in relation to ethics, social and governance (ESG) and sustainable development goals (SDGs).
  • Assess the regulatory approaches used in different jurisdictions to understand various ways in which ESGs and SDGs integrated into financial offerings.
  • Understand ethical concepts and their articulations in finance and financial transactions from multi-disciplinary perspectives.

Key Skills:

  • Written Communication through summative assessment.
  • Planning and Organising by observing the strict assignment deadlines and by preparing for the examination.
  • Problem-solving and analysis by applying the necessary analytical skills to identify ethical compliance-related concerns and screening in financial transactions in undertaking seminars and assessed work.
  • Ability to seek out and use relevant information and data sources, including electronic and bibliographic sources.
  • Independent learning within a defined framework of study.
  • Apply knowledge to new situations in relation to ethical decision-making in finance.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Teaching is by lectures and seminars. Learning takes place through attending lectures, preparations and participation at seminars, and private study.
  • Seminar activities and discussions provide technical awareness of topics in a comprehensive form.
  • Formative assessment will be answers prepared by students to pre-assigned questions and readings that are presented and discussed in seminars.
  • Summative assessment comprises a 3000 word assignment.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

ActivityNumberFrequencyDurationTotalMonitored
Lectures10Weekly2 hrs20 
Seminars4Fortnightly2 hrs8Yes
Preparation and Reading172 
Total200 

Summative Assessment

Component: AssignmentComponent Weighting: 100%
ElementLength / DurationElement WeightingResit Opportunity
Written Assignment3000 words max100same

Formative Assessment

Answers are prepared by students to pre-assigned questions and readings that are presented and discussed in seminars.

More information

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