Program Overview

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Understanding Global Markets: Macroeconomics for Executives

This international economics course presents tools and frameworks to help executives understand and predict the medium- to long-run performance of economies to mitigate risk, develop growth plans, and make investment decisions, both locally and abroad.

Course Overview

The course is designed to help business leaders better understand monetary policy and central bank decision making, and how these factors impact the countries in which they operate. This popular course explores international monetary policy and how the economies across Europe, Asia, and the United States affect one another, especially in times of crises.

Key Benefits

• Leave this course better able to make business decisions that take global markets and macroeconomics into account
• Explore international monetary policy and how the economies across Europe, Asia, and the United States affect one another, especially in times of crises
• Gain a deeper understanding of how central banks function, the dynamics of comparative advantage, how contagion occurs, sources of international conflict, and the varied responses of economies to crisis
• Earn a certificate of course completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management

Course Takeaways

Upon successful completion of your course, you will earn a certificate of completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management. This course may also count toward MIT Sloan Executive Certificate requirements.

The tools and frameworks presented in this course will enable participants to:

• Learn to interpret financial indicators
• Recognize economic trends
• Predict likely actions of central banks and governments
• Understand the nature and behavior of financial crises
• Make more informed off-shoring and international investment decisions

Sample Schedule

The sample schedules outlines below reflect Eastern Time and are subject to change without notice.

• In Person
• Live Online

Day 1

8:00 - 8:30 AM: Registration and Breakfast 8:30 - 9:00 AM: Welcome and Introduction 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: The Babysitter - Monetary and Fiscal Policy 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch 1:00 - 5:00 PM: Inflation and Banking Crises 5:00 - 6:00 PM: Reception

Day 2

8:00 - 8:30 AM: Breakfast 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM: External Adjustment - BBNN 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch 1:00 - 5:00 PM: Social Peace

Day 3

8:00 - 8:30 AM: Breakfast 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Trade Policy 12:00 - 1:00 PM: Lunch 1:00 - 5:00 PM: AI and the Future of Work

Course Experience

MIT Sloan Professor Roberto Rigobon brings this content to life. His fun, fast-paced, high-energy teaching style helps to convey how highly relevant macroeconomics are to businesses today.

You will participate in small group exercises. Pre-work is required to facilitate in-class discussions.

Who Should Attend

This course is designed for:

• C-level executives of smaller or mid-size companies
• General managers
• Business unit managers in multinational companies
• VPs of finance, operations, human resources, marketing, and sales
• Strategic planning managers
• Consultants

We do not recommend this course to past participants of Economics for Business unless you are looking for a refresher.

Faculty & Team

Faculty

Faculty Member: Roberto Rigobon Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Management; Professor, Applied Economics

How to Enroll

We accept enrollments until the offering reaches capacity, at which point we will maintain a waitlist. Many of the courses fill up several weeks in advance, so we advise that you enroll as early as possible to secure your seat.

Course Dates & Enrollment

Select your preferred date and enroll in the upcoming sessions

• In Person: May 6-8, 2026, Location: Cambridge, MA, Duration: 3 days, Commitment: 8 hours/day, Tuition: $5,500
• In Person: Nov 2-4, 2026, Location: Cambridge, MA, Duration: 3 days, Commitment: 8 hours/day, Tuition: $5,500

Reviews

The mission of the MIT Sloan School of Management is to develop principled, innovative leaders who improve the world and to generate ideas that advance management practice.