International Trade Economics

Duration

15h Pr, 30h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Joseph Tharakan

Language(s) of instruction

English language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

1. Introduction
The aim of this course is to familiarise students with economic reasoning applied to international economic relations. Using economic models, it introduces students to the economic logic behind trade policies and the effect of international business on countries and individuals.

2. Course content
- The role of technology in trade flows
- The Hecksher-Ohlin model
- Equilibrium on world markets
- Trade policy
- Imperfect competition models
- The political economy of trade policy

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Upon completion of the course, students should : - understand the main reasons for observing trade flows between countries - be able to explain the impact of globalisation on income distribution and the possible effects on trade policies - be able to explain what trade policy instruments countries can use and their effects
- be able to establish how firms will be impacted by foreign competition and how they can adapt themselves

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

This course requires from students that they are interested in understanding the economic logic of international economic relations.
Students taking this course should have a good background in microeconomics.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

1. Approach followed
The course consists essentially of lectures. Certain points are illustrated by current news items.

Students are advised to:
- prepare lectures by reading the relevant chapters of the textbook
- attend classes (Powerpoint slides downloadable from Lola before each lecture are deliberately incomplete)
- make sure that they are capable of explaining with precision each element of economic logic developed during classes.

2. Course schedule
The class format is 2 hours each week. The exam is held during the month of January.

Recommended or required readings

Powerpoint slides will be available to download before each lecture.

Assessment methods and criteria

1. Evaluation criteria Evaluation will be based on a closed book open questions exam (85%) as well as a number of homework assignments during term (15%).
Exam evaluation will be based on the student's - capacity of understanding economic reasoning as well as the capacity of explaining it in an accurate and concise way; - capacity to apply economic concepts and reasoning to international economic relations as well as to comment on current events and debates in the news
2. Evaluation calendar The exam takes place during the month of January (first session) as well as in August (second session).

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Lectures are taught in English during the first semester.

Contacts

Professor: Joseph Tharakan - e-mail: J.Tharakan@ulg.ac.be
Assistant: Jérôme Schoenmaeckers e-mail: Jérôme.Schoenmaeckers@ulg.ac.be Ph: 04 366 29 65 Office: B. 31 - 1.56

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