150127 SE SE PR/GG: Internet Finance in China (2014S)

I. General Introduction

The advanced technologies of the internet, such as Wi-Fi, 4G, social networks, search engines and cloud computation, are having significant effects on the information environment, leading to a paradigm shift in the financial sector and forming the internet finance, the third model of financing, which provides the possibility of the same efficiency as indirect financing models via commercial banks and direct financing models through security markets. It is no doubt that internet finance will generate great opportunities as well as challenges. Indeed, internet finance has developed rapidly during the last decade, in particular recently, in China.

II. Class Contents

This course will have four major units:
1. General historical review of internet finance
2. The economic theory of the internet finance model
3. The structure of internet finance
4. Impacts of internet finance on society and mankind

III. Topics & Schedule

The seminar will be held as a block seminar; it will start in May and last until June.

Class 1: Introduction and a brief history review of the internet era: its logic, theory,
technology and infrastructure
Class 2: The emergence, evolution and mechanisms of internet finance
Class 3: The transaction technologies of internet finance
Class 4: The transaction structure of internet finance
Class 5: Major digital currencies and technological characteristics
Class 6: Trade, payment, international transaction and digital
currencies
Class 7: The competition between internet finance and traditional finance
services
Class 8: Internet finance and inclusive finance as well as democratic finance
Class 9: Risks and challenges of internet finance
Class 10: The supervision and management of internet finance
Class 12: Conclusion