MIT Sloan School of Management

Economics for Business

Recognize the economic factors influencing your business and make informed decisions that foster transformative change.

Start date

10 September 2025

Price

$3,250 USD

Installment Plan

Course duration

8 weeks

Excluding orientation

Language

English

Access resources from start date

Effort

6–8 hours per week

Self-paced learning online

ABOUT THIS COURSE

Course overview

Macroeconomics and business

"An understanding of macroeconomics is fundamental to acting responsibly in industry, government, and as an individual."

– Roberto Rigobon, Faculty Director

6 years

It takes entrepreneurs this much longer to start a business in the bottom 50 ranked economies as opposed to the top 20.

World Bank Group (2020).

Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)

Businesses of all sizes are vulnerable to large-scale economic trends such as market demand fluctuations, governmental policy changes, and inflation. Business executives must consider these impacts in their strategic decision-making to stay ahead of the competition.

MIT Sloan's Economics for Business online program provides a unique opportunity to examine economics from a business perspective under the guidance of esteemed economist Professor Roberto Rigobon. The program offers problem-solving activities, narratives, and case studies that help develop a comprehensive understanding of macroeconomics. After completing the program, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to manage and interpret economic changes in your organisation.

Is this course for you?

The primary focus of this program is to provide tools, concepts, and models to business professionals and leaders who want to comprehend how economic trends impact business decisions. This program is also beneficial for aspiring managers and executives responsible for making decisions and needing a broader understanding of the business environment. Furthermore, studying macroeconomics and its cross-industry applications can help business professionals enhance their knowledge of economic trends and advance their careers.

Course overview

Duration: 8 weeks (excluding orientation)

Get this course for your team

Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.

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What will set you apart

On completion of this course, you’ll walk away with:

Tools and frameworks to navigate the economic forces affecting your business.

The ability to identify and evaluate macroeconomic variables, policies, and financial indicators, and account for these events in your decision making.

A critical intuition for macroeconomic trends developed through problem-based learning and led by world-renowned economist Professor Roberto Rigobon.

Course curriculum

Explore the influence of economics on the business landscape as you progress through the weekly segments of this online short course.

Orientation module

Welcome to your Online Campus

Module 1

The global economy

Module 2

Consumer confidence and policy effects

Module 3

Currencies, crises, and cryptos

Module 4

Measuring economic health: The current account

Module 5

Measuring economic health: The labor market

Module 6

Economic shocks

Module 7

Social and political factors

Module 8

Creating economic sustainability

Faculty Director

The design of this online program is guided by MIT Sloan faculty, as well as industry experts, who will share their experience and in-depth knowledge with you throughout the course.

Roberto Rigobon

Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Management and Professor of Applied Economics, MIT Sloan School of Management

Earn a certificate of completion from MIT Sloan

Acquire the ability to identify and respond to the economic forces influencing your business and earn an official certificate of completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management.

This program also counts toward an MIT Sloan Executive Certificate, which you can earn upon completion of four programs where at least three of the four come from your chosen certificate track and at least one is completed in person. Find full details here.

Your certificate will be issued in your legal name and sent to you digitally upon successful completion of the program, as per the stipulated requirements.

MIT Sloan Economics for Business online program certificate

YOUR INFORMATION

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Answer a few questions and get more information about the course.

FAQ

Want to know more?

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You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.

GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.

At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.

By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?

Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.

If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.

As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.

To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.

The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.

On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.

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