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asymmetric information

Key finance concepts: the agency problem
17 Dec 2025

Key finance concepts: the agency problem

by Simon Taylor | posted in: Economics, Key finance concepts, Uncategorized | 0

A particular case of asymmetric information is where one person, who we call the principal, wants to get another person, who we call the agent, to do something on their behalf. This situation is known as the principal-agent problem, or more simply … Continued

agency, asymmetric information, Corporate governance
Key finance concepts: asymmetric information
17 Dec 2025

Key finance concepts: asymmetric information

by Simon Taylor | posted in: Economics, Key finance concepts, Uncategorized | 0

Asymmetric information is where two people doing business together have different levels of information about something important to the transaction, meaning that one may be able to take advantage of the other. It is very common in economic life. * Information is … Continued

adverse selection, agency, asymmetric information, moral hazard
How can retail finance customers avoid being ripped off?
8 May 2016

How can retail finance customers avoid being ripped off?

by Simon Taylor | posted in: Course material, Economics, Finance sector | 0

A condition for any market to work well is that consumers have enough information to make good decisions. This is rarely the case with services such as finance. * Theory, backed up by a lot of practical evidence, suggests that … Continued

asymmetric information, regulation
Barriers to negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes: the example of Greece
17 Feb 2015

Barriers to negotiating mutually beneficial outcomes: the example of Greece

by Simon Taylor | posted in: Economics, International affairs | 0

The current stand off in talks to renegotiate the Greek debt bailout shows the difficulty of achieving an outcome that could be good for both sides. * Why lenders sometimes rationally forgive part of a loan There is plenty of … Continued

asymmetric information, debt, Greece, sovereigns
Why is it so hard to finance new infrastructure?
3 Nov 2014

Why is it so hard to finance new infrastructure?

by Simon Taylor | posted in: Economics, Finance sector | 2

There is a great need for infrastructure investment in both developed and developing countries. The former need both refurbishment of old assets and additional capacity. The latter need lots of new capacity, mainly arising from rapid urbanisation. There is also … Continued

asymmetric information, infrastructure

About

Simon is Management Practice Professor of Finance at Cambridge Judge Business School. From 2008-2018 he was the first Director of the University of Cambridge Master of Finance (MFin) degree, and was later the first Director of the University's Global Executive MBA. An economist and former equities analyst at JPMorgan and Citigroup, he teaches on financial markets and institutions, infrastructure finance and the world financial system. He is a Fellow in Management at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he is a member of the investment committee, and a research associate of the Cambridge Energy Policy Research Group, where he specialises in nuclear finance.

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