Advanced international trade

This course covers the most important contributions in the field of international trade, both from a theoretical and empirical perspective. This will allow students to learn and think critically about various issues related to globalization that are central to the current policy debate: Why do countries open up their economies to trade? What explains the patterns and volume of trade between countries? What happens when a country increases tariffs or exits a customs union?  Which type of firms tend to export? Why multinational firms have become so important? What are the implications of trade for workers and the environment?

The objective of the course is to present advanced material on trade policy and some selected topics on globalization.

Required and Corequired knowledge and skills

A 3rd-year undergraduate course in microeconomics and international trade are necessary. 

Interactive lectures and presentations.

Contribution to the teaching profile

This course contributes to the following objectives: 

• Integrate sustainable development into problem analysis.
• Identify and apply the relevant analytical tools and scientific knowledge to analyse an economic problem in depth.
• Identify and analyse an issue using the relevant analytical tools and methods.
• Display critical thinking and develop autonomous learning strategies and techniques.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

A list of relevant academic papers will be distributed in class.

Course notes

• Université virtuelle

Contacts

Filippo Biondi: filippo.biondi@ulb.be
(Mathieu Parenti: mathieu.parenti@ulb.be)

Campus

Solbosch

Method(s) of evaluation

• Practice work
• written examination
• Other

Practice work

written examination

Other

Closed-book written exam and empirical assignments (based on real-world data).

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

Final grade based on closed-book written exam and the 2 empirical assignments, which account for 40% (if students choose to submit).

Language(s) of evaluation

• english