Course Description
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Course Name
International Economics
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Host University
Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona
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Location
Barcelona, Spain
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Area of Study
Economics, International Economics
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Language Level
Taught In English
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Contact Hours
45 -
Recommended U.S. Semester Credits3
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Recommended U.S. Quarter Units4
Hours & Credits
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Overview
INTRODUCTION TO THE COURSE
International economics is divided into two broad subfields: international trade and international money. International trade focuses on real transactions in the international economy, that is, on those transactions that involve a physical movement of goods. On the other hand, international money focuses on financial transactions and refers to the monetaryside of the international economy. This course deals with the first aspect of international economics, i.e. the real transactions and focuses on two main aspects of it: international trade theory and evidence and international trade policy.CONTENTS
Chapter 1. Introduction
What Is International Economics About?
International Economics: Trade and MoneyPart I. International Trade Theory
Chapter 2. World Trade: An Overview
Who Trades with Whom?
The Changing Pattern of World Trade
Do Old Rules Still Apply?Chapter 3. Labor Productivity and Comparative Advantage: The Ricardian Model
The Concept of Comparative Advantage
A One-Factor Economy
Trade in a One-Factor World
Misconceptions About Comparative Advantage
Comparative Advantage with Many Goods
Adding Transport Costs and Nontraded Goods
Empirical Evidence on the Ricardian ModelChapter 4. Resources, Comparative Advantage, and Income Distribution
A Model of a Two-Factor Economy
Effects of International Trade Between Two-Factor Economies
The Political Economy of Trade: A Preliminary View
Empirical Evidence on the Heckscher-Ohlin ModelChapter 5. The Standard Trade Model
A Standard Model of a Trading Economy
International Transfers of Income: Shifting of the RD Curve
Tariffs and Export Subsidies: Simultaneous Shifts in RS and RDChapter 6. Economies of Scale, Imperfect Competition, and International Trade
Economies of Scale and International Trade: An Overview
Economies of Scale and Market Structure
The Theory of Imperfect Competition
Monopolistic Competition and Trade Dumping
The Theory of External Economies
External Economies and International Trade
Economic Geography and Interregional TradeChapter 7. International Factor Movements
International Labor Mobility
International Borrowing and Lending
Direct Foreign Investment and Multinational FirmsPart II. International Trade Policy
Chapter 8. The Instruments of Trade Policy
Basic Tariff Analysis
Costs and Benefits of a Tariff
Other Instruments of Trade Policy
The Effects of Trade Policy: A SummaryChapter 9. The Political Economy of Trade Policy
The Case for Free Trade
National Welfare Arguments Against Free Trade
Income Distribution and Trade Policy
International Negotiations and Trade Policy
The Doha DisappointmentChapter 10. Trade Policy in Developing Countries
Import-Substituting Industrialization
Results of Favoring Manufacturing: Problems of Import-Substituting Industrialization
Trade Liberalization Since 1985
Export-Oriented Industrialization: The East Asian MiracleChapter 11. Controversies in Trade Policy
Sophisticated Arguments for Activist Trade Policy
Globalization and Low-Wage Labor
Globalization and the EnvironmentGRADING
Mid-term exam (30%): to be written in class.
Homeworks (20%): During the course there will be two assignments about some of the topics discussed in class.
Final Exam (50%): to be written in class.
Course Disclaimer
Credits earned vary according to the policies of the students' home institutions. According to ISA policy and possible visa requirements, students must maintain full-time enrollment status, as determined by their home institutions, for the duration of the program.
ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) credits are converted to semester credits/quarter units differently among U.S. universities. Students should confirm the conversion scale used at their home university when determining credit transfer.
Please reference fall and spring course lists as not all courses are taught during both semesters.
Availability of courses is based on enrollment numbers. All students should seek pre-approval for alternate courses in the event of last minute class cancellations