Q1: Explain your market of choice (analytically and critically, not descriptively), and justify the stage it is currently in by applying theory (guided reading and lecture slides) and empirical data (your own research on the bubble you have chosen)

IFM Task 1 Essay – Speculative Asset Bubbles

Presentation Front Sheet

Abstract / Synopsis (optional) Contents

Figures & Tables Abbreviations

Intro Q1 Q2 Q3

Conclusion

References / Bibliography Appendices Presentation:

This is an easy 10 marks and can easily make a decent 2:1 essay a 1st Class effort. Place some focus on:

Communication: How well you write – paragraphs should be meaningful – contain 1 issue / point and discuss it in full – i.e. no bullet point report writing as this is an academic essay. Short sharp and to the point sentences – I am expecting good English skills at Level 6. Remember details such as punctuation.

Referencing: You should all know how to reference by now. The module guide points to videos the library has and there are skills courses to take which the library runs which I spoke about in the induction lecture. You can either do APA style or Harvard style referencing. I am not concerned which you use, but please use only one consistently throughout the submission. Rules: if you are summarising or paraphrasing what others have said or you have read the information somewhere and put it into your own words, it needs referencing (in-text and in the bibliography – e.g. for a journal entry: (Smith, 2009) in the text, and then in the bibliography, Smith, S., (2009), “Bubblenomics in the 21st century”, The journal of Econometrics, Vol 1 (40) 3, pp.223-256. If quoting directly from a book, journal or newspaper etc., use speech marks around the quote and reference in-text and bibliography. The same for all sources of information. If you are making the graphs yourself (which I would encourage you to do – the highest performance and grades will do this), you can list the source as yourself (Author, 2020) and then where you got the data from. If you are unsure whether you have to reference, then reference anyway vs being accused of plagiarism.

Bibliography: Please do not string together a whole load of online resources – you won’t gain marks for this. I am expecting you to have read the guided reading as a minimum, then on top of that your own research in academic books and journals, and I want to see additional reading matter such as FT, Economist, Newspapers, Blog Posts etc in terms of where you got the data from to support your arguments. I would like to see if you have done the work and read broadly for this task.

Use of Subheadings: In the introduction, please tell the reader, by way of question restatement, what is coming in the essay and how you are going to answer the 3 tasks. When answering the questions 1-3, please head up each question so it’s obvious what you are addressing and when, plus, use subheadings within each question to separate out your argumentation, and make sure each argument connects together to answer the question. Remember, in each section of your answer, you should always be answering the question – don’t wander off into other areas of interest – maintain focus on answering the task questions at all time. Ideally, your answers to the 3 questions should be coherently linked and momentum building throughout the essay through to the conclusion.

Q1: Explain your market of choice (analytically and critically, not descriptively), and justify the stage it is currently in by applying theory (guided reading and lecture slides) and empirical data (your own research on the bubble you have chosen) to support your argumentation. Remember to choose a bubble that is reasonably well formed otherwise you may find it difficult to find data to support your claims.

Argumentation: Arguments should follow the same structure for each point you make so your response is systematic throughout the essay – this makes it easier to comprehend for the reader and more influence to the examiner that you have answered comprehensively and robustly.

1. Outline the point and claim you are making
2. Provide analysis and evidence, by way of data, to support your claim.
3. Find support from academic literature that underpins the arguments you are making. Make sure that you are balanced in your reasoning as their maybe competing claims and perspectives in literature regarding the argument you are making. If you discuss both sides and evidence your reading and comprehension (with references), then you will score a far higher mark.
4. Give an opinion on the issue based on what the data points to and academic literature (i.e. not your opinion). Make sure the opinion you give at the end of each paragraph helps to answer the question you are answering.
5. Repeat for the next point.
6. There should be a brief introduction and conclusion to each section of the task – this helps connecting them together.

Q2: Explain how the financial markets and their participants assisted in developing the bubble you have selected to discuss. I would discuss at least the market and 4 participants minimum. Make the discussion analytical (not descriptive) and make sure it assists you in answering how the participants are connected together to form or burst the bubble depending upon which stage it is in. How these connections are put together is important to your answer and helps me to know that you have understood the key points of bubble construction and the issues concerned.