Business, Government and the Global Economy

The aim of this course is to analyze the key factors that affect the competitive position of a nation by investigating the economic forces that drive trade integration and how globalization is changing the macroeconomic scenario. The course will give some answers on the most important questions related to the international economy. What drives the competitiveness of nations? Are emerging nations competing unfairly due to lower wages? Should we be scared of Chinese competitiveness? What is the role played by multinationals in the world economy? What explains the current stalemate in the world trading system? How trading rules can be modified to help poorer countries to grow faster? The course will provide answers to these and other questions by mixing economic theory with facts and case studies. A strong emphasis will be placed on the role of government and international institutions in regulating trade and financial flows and in setting the needed standards.