Comfort with algebra and introductory economic reasoning is helpful. This is academic study rather than personalized financial advice.
About this course
Financial theory asks how prices, risk and borrowing connect with the wider economy. This free Yale course develops that connection by treating financial equilibrium as part of economic equilibrium. It offers a more analytical route into finance for learners who want to understand the reasoning behind models and market mechanisms.
Course at a glance
| Provider | Yale |
|---|---|
| Instructor / Teaching team | John Geanakoplos |
| Platform | YouTube · YaleCourses |
| Access | Free Video |
| Level | Intermediate · WikiFree audience assessment |
| Language | English |
| Lessons | 26 |
| Video duration | 31h 57m · allow extra time for reading and practice |
| Format | Self-paced video learning |
| Certificate | No certificate included with free YouTube viewing |
What you’ll learn
- Explain how financial and economic equilibrium are connected.
- Follow present-value reasoning in a simplified example.
- Recognize assumptions used when analyzing uncertainty and hedging.
- Describe the role of collateral and leverage in the course's framework.
Skills you’ll gain
- Financial modeling concepts
- Valuation reasoning
- Risk analysis
- Economic equilibrium
Course Overview
The lectures move from utility, endowments and equilibrium into present value, uncertainty, risk and financial instruments. Later topics include hedging, collateral and the leverage cycle. Rather than serving as a trading manual, the course helps learners examine the assumptions that make an argument work and the conditions under which those assumptions become important.
How the course develops
- Economic foundations: relate preferences, resources and equilibrium to financial decisions.
- Time and uncertainty: examine valuation and the way models represent risk.
- Market mechanisms: explore hedging, collateral and leverage, including how these can relate to financial instability.
The classroom contains all 26 videos in this official YaleCourses playlist. Use the lesson list to follow the course or search for a topic you want to revisit. Introductory segments, teaching examples and supplementary discussions remain available within this course.
Who is this for?
Economics and finance students, analysts and quantitatively minded learners seeking a theoretical foundation.
Before you start
Comfort with algebra and introductory economic reasoning is helpful. This is academic study rather than personalized financial advice.
Put the lessons into practice
Reconstruct a simplified valuation or equilibrium example from a lecture. Change one assumption, trace its effect and write down which conclusions depend on the original setup.
This optional study activity is provided by WikiFree for independent reflection. It is not a graded Yale assignment. Keep a short record of what you can explain confidently and what you need to revisit; use that record to plan your next study session.
Certificate / Assessment
The public videos can be watched free of charge. This WikiFree listing does not include a Yale certificate, academic credit, a degree, graded assessments or feedback from the instructors. A similarly named course on another platform may have different enrollment, assessment and payment conditions.
The classroom’s Mark complete control records your personal progress. It does not assess your understanding or award a credential. Course examples reflect the recordings; check current sources whenever you need up-to-date professional information.
Related courses for your next step
- Compare another approachFree Simplilearn Course: Financial Risk, Derivatives and Risk Models
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Intermediate - Compare another approachFinancial Analysis Fundamentals: Free Course
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Intermediate
Compare course focus, level and study time
| Course | Level | Focus | Study time |
|---|---|---|---|
| This course — Free Yale Course: Financial Theory | Intermediate | Financial modeling concepts · Valuation reasoning · Risk analysis | 31h 57m of video; practice time is additional |
| Free Simplilearn Course: Financial Risk, Derivatives and Risk Models | Intermediate | Market & Credit Risk · Derivatives · Risk Models | 2h 36m of video; practice time is additional |
| Free Simplilearn Course: Financial Modeling and Corporate Valuation | Intermediate | Project Finance · Valuation · Capital Structure | 1h 5m of video; practice time is additional |
| Financial Analysis Fundamentals: Free Course | Intermediate | Financial statement analysis · Ratio interpretation · Trend analysis | 2h 11m of video; practice time is additional |
Frequently asked questions
Is this Yale course free?
Yes. This listing provides the official YaleCourses YouTube videos for free viewing. Textbooks, optional materials and separately enrolled programs may have their own costs.
How long does the course take?
The playlist contains 26 videos totaling approximately 31h 57m. Reading, note-taking, revision and independent practice add to that viewing time.
What background do I need?
Comfort with algebra and introductory economic reasoning is helpful. This is academic study rather than personalized financial advice.
Will I receive a Yale certificate?
No. Watching these YouTube lessons or marking them complete on WikiFree does not earn a Yale certificate, degree or academic credit.
Can I watch on a phone?
Yes. Use the responsive lesson list and player on a phone, tablet or computer. A larger screen and a notebook may help with detailed examples, equations or software demonstrations.
What happens if a video becomes unavailable?
The lesson should remain visible in its place with its title and an availability notice. You can continue with the other lessons and report the problem through the correction link.
Provider: Yale. Videos play from the YaleCourses channel on YouTube.
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