Business, Government & the International Economy
Curriculum
MBA Required Curriculum (1st Year)
Business, Government, and International Economy (BGIE)
Business, Government, and the International Economy (BGIE) is a course about the broad economic and political context in which business operates. Throughout their careers business leaders are asked to formulate and lead their firm's responses to the external environment. They may also have the chance to shape that environment by influencing government policies. In BGIE we will learn about the key economic, political, and social factors that affect this business environment: in other words, the institutional foundations of capitalism. BGIE examines management and leadership on a grand scale. The decisions we study have widespread implications and fundamental importance for business and society. We will look at policies that affect millions of people - and, often, have implications for every firm doing business in a country.
All first-year HBS MBA students have a series of required courses, as listed below:
Term I Courses
These five courses focus on the internal functional operations of business enterprise.
Term II Courses
These six courses cover the relationship of the organization to larger economic, governmental, and social environments.
MBA Elective Curriculum (2nd Year)
Business, Government & the International Economy
| Course Title | Faculty Name | Term |
|---|---|---|
| Agribusiness | David Bell | Fall 2009 |
| Business and the Environment | Forest Reinhardt, Michael Toffel | Fall 2009 |
| Creating the Modern Financial System | David Moss | Winter 2010 |
| Doing Business in China in the 21st Century (also listed under General Management) | William C. Kirby | Winter 2010 |
| The Energy Business and Geopolitics | Noel Maurer | Fall 2009 |
| Field Study Seminar: Building Green Businesses (also listed under Technology and Operations Management and Entrepreneurial Management) | Forest Reinhardt, Joseph Lassiter, Rebecca Henderson, and Lee Fleming | Winter 2010 |
| Half-Course: Global Capital and National Institutions-- Crisis and Choice in the International Financial Architecture | Laura Alfaro | Early Winter 2010 |
| Institutions, Macroeconomics, and the Global Economy (IMaGE) | Rafael Di Tella | Winter 2010 |
| Managing International Trade and Investment | Gunnar Trumbull | Fall 2009 |
Doctoral Programs
Detailed curriculum information and requirements for each doctoral program associated with the Business, Government & International Economy unit can be found on the Doctoral Programs Web site, linked below International Economy unit can be found on the Doctoral Programs Web site, linked below.