SFB13514 Topics in International Economics (Spring 2015)

The course is connected to the following study programs

Compulsory for bachelor students on

• the International Business Programme
• the Business Administration Programme, specializing in International Business.

Prerequisites

Based on foundation courses in economics, international economics or business economics like as:
Microeconomics. Macroeconomics. Introduction to Business Economics.

Lecture Semester

6th semester (spring).

The course will give the student approximately 280 hours of work.

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge outcomes
Students will learn theories on economic integration and how they work in different regional and institutional arrangements in contemporary world economy. Students should be able to analyze selected problems in international economy, using theory and case-study approach and also interdisciplinary approaches. They should also understand limits of a model-based analysis and be able to accumulate the real world knowledge. Combining theory and practice should be an important benefit of the course.

Skills
The students should be able to construct graphic models, list the assumption for the models, discus limits of model approach. They should be able to collect and selects relevant information, statistics and data, verify and evaluate their reliability and so to structure it according to the purpose and present the results professionally.

General competence
Better understanding of ongoing world economic development and its dilemmas.

Content

The course will cover topics of international economic integration and globalization, with focus on different patterns of regional integration in world regions - Europe, North America or Asia. The content may differ from year to year, depending on the IBP programme adjustments, current economic debates, new research findings and other.

Forms of teaching and learning

Lectures, group work, students' presentations, study visits - study trips if relevant.

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

Group work/presentation has to be presented according to course schedule and handed in within the deadline in March/April.

All coursework must be approved before signing up for the final exam.

Examination

Written 4h exam.
Aids allowed: Calculator. Mother tongue - English - mother tongue dictionary.
Grades: A - F.

If a student gets F, the re-sit exam might be arranged in December, in case three students sign up for the re-sit. If less than three apply for re-sit, the next exam will be a regular exam next Spring. Students must be aware of that the content, requirements and textbooks may have changed, and it is a student's responsibility to check it and get updated. Students have to sign up for the exam within the deadline

Course evaluation

To improve the course, we need the evaluations from the students. The course is evaluated by the students in the middle and in the end of the semester.

The evaluations from the students are treated by the staff and the committee for programme quality and internationalization

Literature

The readinglist was last updated 2 April 2014.

Feenstra, Robert C.,Taylor, Alan M.(2011) International Economics, 2nd ed., Worth Publishers, New York, 904p (parts of the book)

Or

Carbaugh, Robert J (2013) International Economics, 14th ed., South-Western CENGAGE Learning, 550 p (parts of the book)

Supplementary text books:

Baldwin Richard and Wyplosz Charles (2012) The Economics of European Integration, 4th edition, McGraw -Hill Higher Education, 560 p

Laursen Finn (ed) (2010) Comparative regional integration: Europe and beyond , Ashgate , 282 p

Library and web resources. Textbooks may differ, depending on the course content and will be announced at the start of each academic year