ECON 341 : International Trade

Business and Economics

2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

The main theories of international trade in goods and services, and of international movements of capital and labour. Partial equilibrium and general equilibrium analysis of the major instruments of trade policy, their economic effects, and the issues created by their use in practice. The economics of regional trading arrangements, such as free trade areas, customs unions and common markets.

Course Overview

This course introduces international trade theory and enables students to analyze the current issues on globalization, economic integration, and trade policy. It offers a rigorous foundation for further study of advanced trade theory and international economics. Broadly, the goals are to
  1. explore the empirical patterns of international trade and highlight the recent developments in global production networks,
  2. specify the conditions under which trade is beneficial for individual economies and international community as well as identify winners and losers from trade,
  3. highlight the implications of trade on firm performance, productivity growth, and income distribution under various circumstances,
  4. investigate the objectives and impacts of trade and industrial policies,
  5. discuss the causes and the resolutions of international trade disputes,
  6. review the dynamics of world trading system and international coordination.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 15 points from ECON 201, 211, 232, 241

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Identify core assumptions and derive key results of trade models; use trade models to make informed predictions (Capability 2)
  2. Apply the principle of comparative advantage and explain the empirical patterns of trade and investment (Capability 4.1)
  3. Explain the linkages between trade, labour and capital movements in global production networks (Capability 1)
  4. Identify the impacts of trade flows and trade policies in economic well-being, productivity growth, and income distribution (Capability 6)
  5. Explain and critically evaluate the objectives and practices of trade policy instruments, including tariffs, quotas, export subsidies, anti-dumping duties, etc. (Capability 1)
  6. Understand historical development and future challenges in the world trading system (Capability 4.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Quizzes 30% Individual Coursework
Test 30% Individual Test
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Quizzes
Test
Final Exam
Students must get at least 50% of total mark to pass the course. Plussage does NOT apply.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect per week 2.5 hours of lectures, a 0.5 hour tutorial, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Learning Resources

Course materials are available on Canvas.

Required Textbooks
  • Feenstra and Taylor, “International Trade”, 4th edition, Worth Publishers, 2017. 
  • Krugman, Obstfeld, and Melitz, “International Economics: Theory and Policy”, 11th edition, Pearson, 2018.
Students may use either one. The textbooks will be available at the bookstore. A copy will be available on short loan in the General Library. Alternate editions of the book may be used, however, there may be small differences between editions. Please check Canvas prior to class for course announcements, lecture slides, and supplementary reading materials.

Some Useful Links
  • A glossary of terms in international economics is available at Alan Deardorff’s website http://www-personal.umich.edu/~alandear/glossary/
  • WTO, OECD, World Bank, UNCTAD, The Economist, the Wall Street Journal

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The reading list on Canvas offers a variety of news articles, in-depth reports, online examples that help students understand the course materials.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 16/12/2019 06:03 p.m.