This is a survey course on the institutions and products that make up the capital markets. Major themes in the course include financial innovation and its role in making the financial markets and the economy more efficient. An emphasis is placed on the redistribution of risk among market participants and the reduction in the spread between what borrowers pay and what lenders receive. The course is designed as a broad overview and is not a technical course. It is valuable not only for students interested in finance but also for those with general management aspirations.