INTERNATIONAL ECONOMICS
Obiettivi formativi
The course analyzes the fundamental elements of modern international economic theory and policy. The objective is to understand the behavior of the main economic variables at a global level, paying attention to the aspects of international trade and open-economy macroeconomics. International economic phenomena will be studied by taking into account theoretical and empirical perspectives. Issues pertaining to international trade and open macroeconomic policy formulation, and their consequences will be also addressed in institutional contexts.
Risultati di apprendimento attesi
Knowledge and understanding
The course will offer key theoretical tools to compare theories of International Economics and to understand the pros and cons of them. The course provides advanced knowledge that will enable students to understand the processes, content, and consequences of different policies across countries and globally.
Applying knowledge and understanding
The students will be able to:
- apply international trade theories to the current economic situation
- examine international trade policies by comparing different approaches across countries in Europe, the USA, and Asia
- look at how politics and institutions shape, constrain, and enable policy-making
Making judgments
Students will be able to analyze international economics theories, public policy, and governance models to demonstrate an in-depth, critical understanding of their scope and challenges. Throughout the whole course, students will be invited to critically analyze current events that influence international economics.
Communications Skills
This course will give students the possibility to acquire and understand major terms and concepts in order to communicate their ideas, proposals, analyses, and critical reasoning. This will be done through individual contribution in class, class discussions and simulations, and team-work among students.
Learning skills
This course will contribute to empowering learners giving them the tools to determine the benefits and challenges of certain policies and the impact of current events on international economics.
Contenuti Del Corso
Open-economy macroeconomics
The balance of payments, foreign exchange markets, and exchange rates
Short-run output and foreign exchange interventions with fixed exchange rates
Output and exchange rates in the short-run
The International Monetary System
Financial globalization
Theory of optimum currency areas and the Euro
International trade theory
Interindustry trade: Ricardo, Samuelson-Ricardo-Viner, and Heckscher–Ohlin models
Intraindustry trade: The Krugman model
Firms in the global economy: Export decisions, outsourcing, and multinational enterprises
International trade policy
The instruments of trade policy
Testi Di Riferimento
Krugman, P., Obstfeld, M., Melitz, M., International economics, theory and policy, Pearson, last edition
Feenstra, R.C., Taylor, A.M., International Economics, Worth Publishers, last edition
Additional information regarding the chapters needed to cover the course topics will be provided at the beginning of the course
Reading lists will be provided
Metodologie Didattiche
Lectures, class discussions and problem sets.
Modalità di verifica dell'apprendimento
- Midterm exam (written): 35% of the grade
-Project work 35% of the grade
- Final exam (written): 30% of the grade
Criteri per l’assegnazione dell’elaborato finale
Interest in the subject
Settimana 1
Open-economy macroeconomics
National income accounting and the balance of payments
Exchange rates and the foreign exchange market
Settimana 2
The Mundell-Fleming model with flexible exchange rate
Settimana 3
Output, exchange rates and macroeconomic policies in the short-run
The Mundell-Fleming model with fixed exchange rate
Settimana 4
Output, foreign exchange interventions and macroeconomic policies in the short-run
Price levels and the exchange rate in the medium/long-run
The monetary approach to the balance of payments
Settimana 5
Fixed versus floating exchange rate regimes
The International Monetary Systems
Gains from financial globalization.
Settimana 6
Exchange rate crises: How pegs work and how they break
Optimum currency areas and the Euro
Settimana 7
International Economics: An introduction
World trade: An overview
Technology and comparative advantage: The Ricardian model
Settimana 8
The specific factors model, income distribution and trade
Resources and trade: An introduction to the Heckscher-Ohlin theory
Settimana 9
The Heckscher-Ohlin model
Movement of labor and capital between countries
Settimana 10
Increasing returns to scale and monopolistic competition
Settimana 11
The instruments of trade policy
Trade restrictions: import tariffs and quotas
Nontariff trade barriers and the political economy of protectionism
Settimana 12
International trade agreements and the World Trade Organization
Controversies in trade policy