The Centre for Quantitative Finance (CEQUFIN) pursues an exciting research agenda focused on producing excellent research into contemporary issues in finance and governance affecting corporate and banking sectors as well as financial markets; with specific focus on quantitative approaches and on research that dynamically addresses key challenges raised in financial economics, quantitative finance, financial risk management, financial technology and sustainable finance.
Several financial crises, stock market meltdown, dot com bubble and the experience of recent pandemic highlighted problems within the banking industry and wider financial sector. CEQUFIN has risen to these challenges by proactively pursuing research that seeks to address key issues raised, including particular issues with incentive problems, culture, governance, risk-taking, efficiency, and the failure of financial institutions.
On a broader level, the centre provides a comprehensive framework of research investigation regarding the key issues in financial economics, finance function of organizations, and operations and functions of financial institutions and markets in the global financial markets. More conceptually, CEQUFIN carries out research aimed at bridging the gap between academia and industry practice by actively addressing the issues it currently faces. This includes being a point of reference for policymakers, banks, investment institutions and other financial and non-financial institutions.
The 2007-2009 global financial crisis and the recurrence of other financial market meltdown in the last 40 years highlighted the rift between academic research and the high-stakes problems faced by industry. Generally speaking, product innovations are led by industry, while academic research tends to lag behind, retrospectively explaining past behaviours, such as the role of culture in financial sector. Nonetheless, academic research informs the design of future regulation and legislation and code of best practice that can be applied to solve existing and emerging problems faced by financial markets, as well as helping to overcome wider problems such as issues with ‘culture’ and ‘excessive’ risk-taking in the financial industry.
To narrow that rift, the centre focuses on conducting research which has a clear and direct application on the wider financial markets. The centre looks into:
- Corporate finance and corporate governance in corporate and banking sectors
- The stability and functioning of banking and financial markets
- Quantitative risk management
- Financial econometrics
- Innovation in finance, including Financial Technology (FinTech)
- Household finance
- Green finance
The aims of the Centre are:
- To further develop research expertise in the disciplines of banking and finance that addresses contemporary issues in the sector.
- To provide sound advice and consultancy on policy and practical issues, including risk management and investment analyses, to external bodies across the academic spectrum and the finance sector.
- To foster and achieve international collaboration with academics and practitioners at other institutions and finance houses.
- To encourage interdisciplinary research that seeks to address contemporary issues facing the banking and financial sectors.
