Dr. Philip Davis Taylor

Clara Carter Acree Chair of Social Sciences
Professor of Economics
Chair, Department of Business and Economics

portrait of Dr. Phil Taylor in China

Dr. Phil Taylor has organized study abroad programs to Russia, China, Central Europe, and South America. He appreciates all the kindness shown his students in countries around the world. His undergraduate and graduate instruction at Wesleyan focuses on financial economics, international trade, and economic development.  Dr. Taylor is honored to be recognized twice with the prestigious Ann Munck Excellence in Teaching Award.

Education:
B.A., M.B.A., UNC Chapel Hill; M.A., Ph.D., Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University

 

Research Interests:

Courses taught include:

Sookmyung International Summer School(SISS) 2009 -
Travels Along the Road to Economic Recovery: It's Not Your Great-Grandparents' Depression!
Syllabus

Undergraduate Program:

BUS 320: Investment Analysis  Syllabus, Calendar
Goal: To acquaint students with the selection of common stocks, bonds, and other securities from the perspectives of both the individual and institutional investor.
Content: Basic concepts of investment management using risk/return analysis and empirical evidence to examine security valuation, the efficient markets hypothesis, portfolio diversification strategies, and investment decision making in changing markets.

ECO 102: Issues in Macroeconomics
Goal: To acquaint students with the structural framework and principles involved in the determination of the level of aggregate economic activity, national income output, employment, and price levels. 
Content: Functioning of the economy from the national policy perspective through the study of national income and output, interest rates, money supply, price level, federal budget deficits, and international trade.

ECO 202: Intermediate Macroeconomics
Goal: To examine the economy-wide consequences of the choices that we make, individually and collectively.  A defining feature of macroeconomic events is interaction and interdependence, reflecting the linkages among decision-makers and among various segments of the economy that extend even to events and policies taking place in distant parts of the world.
Content: This course is a continuation of the study of the structural framework and principles involved in the determination of the level of aggregate economic activity.  Primary emphasis is placed upon the development of models which explain the behavior of national income, output, employment, price levels and interest rates.

ECO 205: Principles of Finance  Syllabus, Calendar
Goal: To acquaint students with the principles and institutions of financial and capital markets, and with the financial operations of a business firm.
Content: Study of basic financial principles with an emphasis on interest rate determination in competitive market economies, the capital asset pricing model and operation of securities markets.
Prerequisite: ECO 102 or 104, and MAT 140 or higher.

ECO 206: Economic Thought
Goal: To familiarize students with the historical and philosophical foundations of economic thought.
Content: Students will study ethical and logistical roots of economic thought and their impact on the economic theory developed by Marx, Mill, Bentham, and Keynes. The course will also explore the various concepts of freedom, and the extent to which capitalist and socialist economies satisfy these definitions of freedom.
Gen. Ed. Category: Text analysis.

ECO 300: Money & Banking
Goal: To analyze and understand the rapidly changing financial market, emphasizing the role of money and banking institutions in the economic system.
Content: Analyzes money in the economic organization, monetary theory, methods of stabilizing the price level, theories of bank deposits, discount policy, and the regulation of credit by central banks and the interest rates.
 

Executive MBA Program:

EBA 608 Managerial Corporate Finance.
The student will develop the ability to analyze operational and strategic financial decisionmaking within the corporate structure, including financing and investment strategies as they relate to stockholder value. The course will include the study of cash flow analysis and economic value added derived from financial statements.

EBA 690: Studies Abroad Course.
The student will investigate global industries by studying the business, social, political, economic, organizational, and cultural factors associated with international business and investment. A specific world economic region will be chosen for a ten day to two week study abroad, during which the student will visit various businesses to observe management practices. The course work review before the trip will include the global manager, international trade, international finance, international operations, and marketing.