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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EC 316-2"
COURSE NAME: "International Economics"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Simona Costagli
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 4:30 PM 5:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisites: Junior Standing, EC 201, EC 202
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An introduction to international trade and finance. Analysis of the causes and consequences of international trade and investment. Major topics include international trade theory, international trade policy, exchange rates, open-economy macroeconomics, and international macroeconomic policy.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The course covers selected topics in international trade theory and trade policy, as well as international finance and macroeconomic policy. Major topics also include: trade models, exchange rates, open-economy macroeconomics, and international macroeconomic policy.

The course also aims to link the economic theory to current issues and debated questions. A focus will be devoted to the ongoing debate on the “new protectionism”, the re-composition of the global supply chains, the implications of raising inflation on monetary policy and the challenges posed by the growing use of cryptocurrencies to central banks’ control over money supply.

Students are strongly encouraged to read “The Economist” (available at the University’s library), the “Wall Street Journal” and the “Financial Times” articles concerning IE matters, as well as to follow the daily news on the main economic events.

The course materials will be posted on Moodle, our leaning management system, available at http://moodle.johncabot.edu/.

You have to create your own account, unless you already have one. Information on creating Moodle accounts can be found at https://johncabot.libguides.com/moodle.

Once you are logged in, search for the course (pay attention to the right section, if necessary).
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

-  To provide students with an analytical framework that can be used for understanding events in the field of international economics.

-  To help students manage various sources of information on the global economy.

By the end of the course, students should be able to: a) demonstrate an ability to analyse current issues in international economics (IE) on the basis of different models of international trade; b) demonstrate an ability to critically assess IE matters, and c) demonstrate an ability to appropriately select and deploy theoretical principles to address practical issues and problems. 

 
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
International Economics: Theory and Policy, Paul R. Krugman, Maurice Obstfeld, and Mark MelitzPearson Addison-Wesley0-273-75409-29th Edition Any edition will work     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Attendance and participation in class discussion 10%
Exam 1Short problems and essays + multiple choice questions20%
Exam 2Short problems and essays + multiple choice questions15%
Project presentationThe project assigned has the objective to: • find and document information; • use information that is relevant to illustrating the question/issue of concern; • present information in tables, charts, graphs that are visually easy to understand and properly documented; • foster the ability to summarize in an oral presentation the key elements of an issue, indicating that the students have clearly understood the underlying details of the topic; • help an appropriate use of empirical information. Provide a 7 to 10 power point slides visual presentation, lecture outline, and bibliography. The issue will be decided by lot from a list provided in the second week. Presentations will consist in a debate between two groups of students (max. 3 students each group). The groups will face each-other sustaining opposite views on the same issue (ex: is the Chinese currency overvalued? Yes vs no; Has the Fed tapered the quantitative easing too fast? Should Us firms continue to outsource their productions? …). Each group is supposed 1) to present its view using ppt (or other supports like prezy); 2) to question and discuss the other group’s view; 3) to answer to the professor/public question on the issue. Use at least 5 sources, of which at least 2 must be for empirical data – Wikipedia is not considered a valid source. Please refer to the JCU Frohring Library Reference Librarian or Modern Language Association Style Guide on how to properly cite sources. Grading will be based on: • Clarity of the presentation • Structure of the argument and organization of the information • Documentation of sources as well as graphs, charts, etc. • Appropriate choice of visual information that illustrates the issue clearly and professionally • Depth and insight of the research • Ability to use theoretical and empirical instruments to criticize/support an issue 15%
Final exam Short problems and essays 40%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the cours
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE
PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE
week 1
CHAPTERS 1,2 What is IE about?; World Trade: An Overview
CHAPTER 3 Labor Productivity and Comparative Advantage: The Ricardian Model
week 2
CHAPTER 5 Resources and trade: The Heckscher-Ohlin Model
CHAPTER 7 External Economies of Scale and the International Location of Production
week 3
CHAPTER 8 Firms in the Global Economy: Export Decisions, Outsourcing, and Multinationals Enterprises
CHAPTER 8 Firms in the Global Economy: Export Decisions, Outsourcing, and Multinationals Enterprises
week 4
CHAPTER 9 The Instruments of Trade Policy
CHAPTER 10 The Political Economy of Trade Policy
Review CH (1-10)
week 5
First exam 20% (1-10)
CHAPTER 11 Trade Policy in Developing Countries
week 6
CHAPTER 12 Controversies in Trade Policy
CHAPTER 13 National Income Accounting and the Balance of Payments
week 7
CHAPTER 14 Exchange Rates and the Foreign Exchange Market: An Asset Approach
CHAPTER 15 Money, Interest Rates, and Exchange Rates
week 8
CHAPTER 16 Price Levels and the Exchange Rate in the Long Run
CHAPTER 17 Output and the Exchange Rate in the Short Run
week 9
CHAPTER 17 Output and the Exchange Rate in the Short Run
Review (11-16)
week 10
Second Mid term 15% (11-16)
week 11
CHAPTER 18 Fixed Exchange Rates and Foreign Exchange Intervention
CHAPTER 18 Fixed Exchange Rates and Foreign Exchange Intervention
week 12
CHAPTER 20 Optimum Currency Areas and the European Experience
CHAPTER 22 Developing Countries: Growth, Crisis and Reform
week 13
Project presentation
Project presentation
week 14
Project presentation
Review
Final Exam Comprehensive (40%)
See the University schedule for date and time.