Program Structure

    The program of taught and examined courses is defined in detail as follows:

    1. The courses, the teaching and research work, the practical exercises and any other kind of educational and research activities for the awarding of the titles according to article 2 are defined as follows:

    a. The total number of credits in the program is 90.

    b. It includes six (6) compulsory courses of which four (4) in the first semester with seven and a half (7.5) credits each and two (2) in the second semester with six (6) credits each, three ( 3) elective courses in the second semester with six (6) credits each and the writing of a diploma thesis in the third semester with thirty (30) credits.

    Before starting the program: two (2) non-credit preparatory courses are offered. The role of the preparatory courses is to prepare the students to follow the PES without possible deficiencies in its knowledge subjects from their undergraduate level, which are prerequisites of the program, to give them the opportunity to better understand their knowledge needs and to deal effectively with any gaps they may have in the required program material.

    2. The Full Study Program of taught and examined courses is defined in detail as follows:

    1st Semester

    Introduction to Statistic Theory

    The course introduces and presents basic descriptive statistics measures and charts useful for data exploration, the theory of basic continuous and discrete distributions, and develops the techniques - methodologies for finding point estimators such as maximum likelihood and least squares. Properties of estimators and sampling distributions useful in statistical inference are presented. The construction of confidence intervals and the conduct of hypothesis testing are introduced and demonstrated. Statistical techniques and methods are applied using the R package.

    The aim of the course is to present, develop and apply basic concepts of statistics, and to learn students to use appropriate statistical methods, models and techniques needed to analyze data in empirical problems. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: Apply statistical techniques and methods using the R package. Calculate useful descriptive measures and construct appropriate charts. Understand basic distributions and their practical utility. Calculate probabilities using basic distributions. Apply parameter estimation methods such as the maximum likelihood method. Understand the sampling distribution and its utility. Construct confidence intervals and conduct hypothesis tests.

    Preparatory course: 0 ECTS

    Introduction to Microeconomic Theory

    The course examines the basic economic principles of finance. In more detail, it examines the way in which consumers decide how to allocate their income. It also analyzes the way in which companies decide what and in what quantities to produce. The properties of the various market forms are examined and compared according to their characteristics. In many markets firms interact and their analysis is done through game theory. An introduction to game theory and the concept of Nash equilibrium is given. Also, the equilibrium price and quantity are described in markets in which firms compete either by setting quantities or by setting prices.

    Preparatory course: 0 ECTS

    Capital Market and Portfolio Management

    The purpose of the course is to introduce students to the modern tools and techniques of investment analysis and evaluation, which include decision making under certainty and uncertainty, risk pricing, optimal stock portfolio management, and pricing of stocks or other assets. Also, the course includes bond pricing, explains the yield curve, and covers bond portfolio management. The course presents applications of the above methods using software for a better understanding of them in practice. At the end of the course, students will have understood the above tools in investment analysis and will have become familiar with their application in practice. In summary, the course teaches students methods of making investment decisions under certainty and uncertainty, optimal mean-variance portfolios, equity risk pricing based on the CAPM, multifactor equity risk pricing models, based on the APT, bond markets, explanation of the interest rate curve, bond portfolio management techniques, International capital markets and portfolio management.

    Compulsory course: 7.5 ECTS

    Analytical & Computational Data Methods for Economists

    The course deals with applied econometrics and computational methods using the statistical programming language R (The R Project for Statistical Computing) for the efficient analysis and management of economic data. Topics covered include: applications of descriptive statistics and key plot methods, applications of computational econometric methods to linear and non-linear models, categorical data, linear regression, logistic regression, decision trees, neural networks, cluster analysis and forecasting. Also, the course presents indicative optimization and resampling methods.

    Industrial Organization and Strategy

    The course presents basic principles of Business Economics and focuses on issues of Industrial Organization and Policy. Specifically, it examines the nature and characteristics of the static and dynamic equilibrium of imperfectly competitive markets, i.e. markets in which firms have some degree of monopoly power, compared to the socially optimal and economic policy measures aimed at improving their smooth functioning and efficiency of markets. Finally, business strategies are examined depending on the structure of the markets, the international environment and the macroeconomic conditions in the economy. Upon completion of the course, students are expected to know the appropriate financial tools for understanding and analyzing different markets for products or services. The purpose of the course is to expose students to economic policy problems both from the side of Competition Policy and from the side of Regulatory Policy.

    Compulsory course: 7.5 ECTS

    Quantitative Methods

    The course introduces and presents the fundamental theory of statistical and econometric models, methods and techniques, which are essential in the research and analysis of economic and financial data. First, the theory of regression models, simple and multiple linear regression, is presented. Topics such as variable/model selection, use of dummy variables, and multicollinearity are examined. Emphasis is placed on the application of theory, examining residual hypotheses using diagnostic tests, and the interpretation of results is presented. The theory and practical application of time series analysis models are introduced and presented in detail. A detailed description and presentation of stochastic time series models (ARMA models) is made, and the Box-Jenkins methodology is developed. The course introduces the generalized linear models (logit/probit, log-linear models) used for the analysis of binomial data and frequency data (Poisson data). The break-point models and the basic checks for the existence of structural changes in financial data are presented and developed. Finally, panel data models are presented, as well as the techniques for estimating the parameters of these models. An analytical application of the theory, models and methods to empirical economic and financial problems is made using the R statistical package.

    The aim of the course is to learn students how to use appropriate statistical and econometric methods, models and techniques required to analyze economic and financial data. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

    • To be able to apply, using the R package, econometric models to empirical economic problems and applications.
    • To be able to know and apply a wide class of econometric models to useful empirical problems.
    • To learn the principles of statistical and econometric inference, so that they are able to understand the analysis necessary for a particular data set, and how it can be properly applied.
    • To estimate the parameters of statistical and econometric models.
    • Conduct hypothesis tests and construct confidence intervals for population parameters.
    • Estimate regression models and time series models, construct forecasts and appropriately interpret the results of the analysis they conduct.
    • Estimate structural change models and panel models and apply them to empirical economic problems.

    Compulsory course: 7.5 ECTS

    2nd Semester

    Applied Econometrics in Economics and Finance

    The course focuses on complete time series analysis: description, modeling, estimation and forecasting, as well as simulation. In detail, topics include: Stationary Time Series Models, Parameter Estimation, Diagnostics and Forecasting, Analysis of Non-Stationary Time Series (unit root problem, concept of cointegration, error correction models, with applications to financial and macroeconomic series). Variable Bound Variance (properties of financial series, ARCH, GARCH, EGARCH models, properties of models, applications to financial series).

    Compulsory course: 6 ECTS.

    Applications of Analytical Methods in Business Finance & Strategy

    The course deals with applied topics using analytical methods in microeconomics and macroeconomics-finance, and is organized in 2 parts:

    Part 1 - Macroeconomics/Investments: Factor Analysis and forecasts of macroeconomic quantities, direct forecasts (nowcasting), macroeconomic forecasts with big data bases and machine learning methods, evaluation of alternative methods of macroeconomic forecasts and investments, simulation of macroeconomic models and investment strategies, presents the Z- score evaluations and credit risk assessment methods, as well as stress tests.

    Part 2 - Microeconomic topics: Experimental design of alternative products/services, empirical decision-making models, revealed preference discrete choice data analysis, stated preference data analysis, scenario-based choice/demand/market share simulation, segmentation, designing preference data collection tools.

    Indicative list of elective courses

    The courses offered each year are decided by the Departmental General Assembly. *You are required to attend 3 (three) elective courses

    Behavioral Economics

    In this particular course, the role of systematic biases in the economic decisions of businesses and individuals, such as pricing and consumption decisions, is examined. The analysis is initially done at a theoretical level through the construction of models and then through the construction of experiments and econometric analyses. Specifically, the course focuses on biases such as overconfidence, naivety, loss aversion, uncertainty aversion, placebo effect, reciprocity, choice architecture, attachment to reference points, reputation mechanisms, pursuit of social superiority. Finally, key contributions of experimental economic and econometric analysis to microeconomic and macroeconomic variables are analyzed with implications for behavioral industrial organization, marketing, economic policy making, financial and entrepreneurial behavior.

    Elective course: 6 ECTS

    Business strategy

    The aim of the course is to develop strategic thinking by learning the concepts, analytical models and tools of strategic analysis by applying them to real competitive situations. Students should be able to combine different models and draw conclusions using critical thinking. After the lectures students will be able to analyze case studies and present them. The optimal boundaries (horizontal, vertical) to be chosen by the company. Production technology, firm costs versus transaction costs. Incentives to diversify (often through mergers and acquisitions) are examined as important determinants. Optimal vertical hierarchies and incentives in vertical markets are examined. How to design a contract when there is asymmetric information. The analysis of price competition and other variables in well-defined markets. Entry / exit and their effect on competition. The value of strategic commitments. The value of engagement when consumers are also strategic. Porter's Five Forces Industry Analysis. The choice of strategic competitive advantage, product positioning and dynamic adaptations. Internal organization and moral hazard. An introduction to behavioral industrial organization, which studies how business decisions about pricing etc. they change when economic actors such as consumers have biases

    Banking Administration and Risk Management

    The financial crisis that broke out in 2007 demonstrated the importance of recognizing and managing the multiple risks faced by financial institutions (FI). The course provides a comprehensive approach to managing the risks faced by FI: identifying, measuring and mitigating them. Emphasis is placed on the role of derivative products in reducing risk. Both internal systems and external prudential rules are covered, seeking solutions to the deficiencies that have led to failures in both self-regulation and supervision of FI.

    Elective Course: 6 ECTS

    Corporate Finance

    Session 1. A primer on money creation in a modern economy

    Quantitative Easing (QE) and asset valuations. Quantitative Tightening (QT) and capital market turbulence. A view to the future. Long-term refinancing operations, targeted operations, credit easing, outright monetary operations (OMT) and the Covid-19 pandemic emergency programs.

    Session 3. Capital Budgeting: Risk, return, and free cas flow analysis

    CAPM, asset betas, WACC, and the internal rate of return (IRR) in practice. Data sources: Equity risk premium (ERP), marginal tax rates, sectoral betas and growth rates on operating income (EBIT). Free cash flow analysis: Working capital, sunk costs, tax shields (amortization-depreciation and interest costs). 

    • Modigliani-Miller irrelevance proposition. An options-based approach to debt and equity valuations. The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) and WACC fallacies.
    • Capital structure under financial frictions. Taxes, financial distress costs and the static trade off (STO) in practice.
    • Debt-overhang: The underinvestment problem and the role of financial restructuring.
    • Equity capital raising and the mechanics of rights issues.
    •  Incentives, asymmetric information and the pecking-order of financing choices.

    Session 2. Capital Structure: Optimal debt-equity choice.

    Empirical patterns of corporate financing and possible explanations. Types of financial instruments and markets.

    Elective course: 6 ECTS
    Economics of Innovation

    The course is interested in issues of definition and consequences of innovations in economics and how these are related to issues of business strategy and market structure. These cover a wide range of economics, including micro, macro, entrepreneurship, licensing, patents and intellectual property, technology and information diffusion, networks and organization, infrastructure, as well as economic policy issues therein.

    Elective Course: 6 ECTS

    Market regulation and Competition Policy

    The course examines business strategies that aim to create or strengthen their market power. It also examines their treatment by Competition Policy, the basic form of regulation of oligopolistic markets. The course combines theory (using examples of oligopolistic competition) and analysis of important cases from Competition Principles in Greece, Europe and the USA. First, unilateral foreclosure strategies by dominant companies are examined. Strategies involving agreements (such as cartels) between firms are then examined. Finally, the horizontal M&A strategy is examined in depth.

    Elective Course: 6 ECTS

    Corporate Government

    The object of corporate governance is the control of the proper functioning of businesses in the modern economic environment through the alignment of incentives of executives and other interested parties such as shareholders. With a focus on the separation of management and control, issues such as benefit schemes for business executives, the structure and role of the board of directors, internal and external control mechanisms, alternative corporate governance schemes depending on the nature of the business and the economic environment are examined. is active, as well as issues of corporate social responsibility and sustainability.

    Elective Course: 6 ECTS

     Financial Derivative Products

    The course covers the main derivative financial products: Forwards and futures on various underlying values. Options on stocks, indices, forex and futures. Interest rate and currency swaps. At the heart of the analysis are models of pricing as well as hedging of risks with derivatives or from derivative positions on behalf of financial organizations. Special topics covered include, among others, the Black-Scholes model, binomial trees, delta hedging as well as various applications such as real rights in finance.

    Elective Course: 6 ECTS

    Business Finance and Strategic Business Decisions

    The objective of the course is to develop strategic thinking by learning the concepts, analytical models, and tools of strategic analysis and by applying them to actual competitive situations. The students must be able to combine different models and draw conclusions using critical thinking. After the completion of the course the students shall be able to analyze case studies and present them.

    3rd Semester

    Elaboration of Dissertation

    During the period of the 3rd semester, the students of the Master's Specialization Program undertake the writing of their dissertation. Completion of the Diploma is mandatory for full-time program students. The dissertation is supported before the examination committee and its evaluation is based on strict scientific criteria based on originality, depth and analysis, composition and quality.

    Compulsory: 30 ECTS

    In order to obtain the Graduate Diploma, it is required:

    a) The mandatory attendance and successful examination in the courses prescribed by the program as well as the successful examination in the dissertation, where this is required.

    b) To have submitted the necessary English certificate as defined in the conditions for admission to the program

    c) To have been fulfilled the financial obligations to the Program