The course covers selected topics in international trade theory and trade policy, as well as international finance and macroeconomic policy. Major topics also include: exchange rates, open-economy macroeconomics, and international macroeconomic policy.
The course also aims to link the economic theory to current issues and open questions. A focus will be devoted to the current situation in the European peripheral countries; the possible consequences on the world economy of a Chinese economy slowdown; the impact of the ECB “Quantitative easing” on the Euro area countries’ economies; the ongoing debate on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP); the role that AIIB, the new Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, is going to have on the global economic and political scenario; the recovery of the US economy.
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 instructor will hand out or direct students to additional readings on international policy issues. Materials on the course will be posted on myjcu web page.
Classes will be a mixture of theory and case studies. Relevant economic news of the day will be frequently discussed in class.