ECON 341 : International Trade

Business and Economics

2024 Semester Two (1245) (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 is a one semester course in international trade, theory and policy. The course will aim to explain patterns of world production and trade and ask if international trade is beneficial. This will be done with the help of models from international trade theory that are important components of the toolkit of contemporary trade economists. The course will also explore the phenomena of outsourcing and international mobility of labour (immigration) and capital (Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)). The course will analyse and compare instruments of trade policy and evaluate their impact on domestic and international welfare. Finally, the course will study the world trading system, including the World Trade Organization (WTO) and international trade agreements. 

Course Requirements

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

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Compare and contrast the predictions of major theories of international trade and identify their key assumptions (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
  2. Explore and articulate the linkages between trade, labour and capital movements, international fragmentation of production, firm competitiveness, economic well-being and income distribution using trade models. (Capability 3.1, 3.2 and 4.1)
  3. Evaluate equilibrium models to analyse and evaluate the economic effects of policy interventions such as the effects of tariffs, quotas, export subsidies, and the creation of preferential trading agreements on firm competitiveness and economic well-being. (Capability 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 4.2 and 5.1)
  4. Identify major recent developments in the world trading system and comment critically on their effects on individual economies and on the wider international community. (Capability 1.1 and 4.1)
  5. Communicate effectively how international trade models explain the patterns of trade and its distributional impacts on society. (Capability 6.1 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 40% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 10% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Assignments
Quizzes
Final Exam

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 3 hours of lectures/tutorial, 4 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials/class activities to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials/class activities will not be available as recordings.  
The course will include live online events including group discussions.
Attendance on campus is required for the test/exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning 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.

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.

N.A.

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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 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.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 10/11/2023 04:36 p.m.