Currency Policy and Technology (INAF-3247)
Instructor Info:
Brian A. Lawler
Fridays, Fall Semester
See GU course catalog for location and times
Overview:
This course will cover policy and technology of physical and digital currencies. Course material includes topics applying to physical currencies (e.g., inks and “papers”), some to digital currencies (e.g., encryption and blockchains), and some applying to both (e.g., privacy and financial inclusion). Our focus will be currencies as they are, or might be, issued by central banks but we will also discuss commercial currencies or payment systems. Policy discussions will include strategies for asset allocation, effective regulation, currency substitution (aka “dollarization”) and consequences of de-monetization. Technical topics include designing for security, techniques to deter crime, and technologies that enable effective use in commerce. Case studies will cover past and present practice in a variety of countries or cultures.
Within some boundaries, students will have fairly broad latitude to study the aspects of currency that interest them most. This might be about security features of physical or digital currencies, the role of currency in banking and commerce, financial inclusion issues related to currency, and other topics. We will focus primarily on the factors related to currency and not venture very far into other topics like monetary policy, micro and macro economics, or "best practices" for FinTech startups.
Syllabus:
Current students should refer to Canvas to see the official final syllabus for their course.
Here is the syllabus for Fall 2025. Updated!
Here are the class policies for Fall 2025. Updated!
Here is the syllabus from past semesters of this course - Fall 2023 and Fall 2024
Each semester, this course is a bit different but here is the sequence of course topics in 2021 but here is a partial list of topics covered in 2024
Books:
There are no required books for this class.
Students will be provided reference material they can use in their study but will also have some flexibility about what source material they use.
Sample Discussion Topics
A (very) brief history of currency (pdf)
Sample Assignments:
The course's Jesuit Values Essay applies Jesuit Educational Values to the course material
Here are copies of the final exams from past semesters of this course - Fall 2023 and Fall 2024
Current students will receive their assignments, including the final, in Canvas and should not use the materials provided on this page.
University Policies:
Academic Calendar - http://registrar.georgetown.edu/academic-calendar/maincampus/
Honor System - bulletin.georgetown.edu/regulations/honor/
Accommodations - bulletin.georgetown.edu/regulations/disabilities/