Curriculum Guide · Courses

Professor A. Levitin

J.D. Course 622 (cross-listed) | 2 credit hours

Consumer spending drives the economy. This course studies the system of consumer finance—the way in which consumers finance their consumption. The course is structured around the basic functions of consumer financial transactions—payments and spending; borrowing; saving and investing; and insurance—and focuses on four themes: the empirical state of household finances; the psychology and sociology of consumer finance; the business of consumer finance; and the regulation and political economy of consumer finance. Specific topics to be covered include conspicuous consumption, operational costs and underwriting, credit reporting, mortgages, credit and debit cards, checking and savings accounts, fringe banking products, the unbanked, retirement savings, auto and health insurance, debt collection, and bankruptcy. Students may choose to write a paper in lieu of a final exam.