ACCOUNTING & FINANCE FOR ECONOMICS

The purpose of this course is to provide a basic introduction to accounting, including the
foundations of accounting concepts, the underlying mechanics, and the overall perspective required
to become intelligent users of accounting information. The course will focus on the main
financial statements, the nature of accrual measurement, and the information perspective. In addition,
we will explore some accounting methods in detail, such as revenue recognition, assets,
liabilities, and equity.
The overarching perspective is that accounting reports provide information that is useful for
a variety of purposes. In the course, I will also provide insights into how the financial markets
use accounting information to evaluate executives, predict future stock returns, assess firms’
riskiness, and allocate society’s resources to their most productive uses.