International Economics (p)

Course content

The purpose of the course is to give an introduction to traditional and new trade theories and selected topics in international monetary economics.

 

The course studies causes and consequences of international trade. We seek to answer questions such as:

  • Why do countries trade?
  • What do they trade?
  • Who gains and who loses from trade?
  • What is the impact of trade policy on welfare?

 

The course also considers aspects of the globalization debate:

  • Is wage inequality affected?
  • What are the implications of multinationals and offshoring?
  • How would various policy changes discussed in the news affect trade, welfare and inequality?

 

The class centers on the work horse models of international trade: The Ricardian model, the Heckscher-Ohlin and the Krugman model, but extends on these and discuss modern theories of strategic trade policy. There will be a small number of empirical papers as well.

Education

MSc programme in Economics – elective course

Bacheloruddannelsen i økonomi – Prioriteret valgfag på 3. år (angivet med et p)

The Danish BSc programme in Economics - prioritized elective at the 3rd year (symbolized by ‘p’).

The course is no longer a part of the Financial line.

 

Learning outcome

After completing the course the student is expected to be able to:

 

Knowledge:

  • Account for why international trade arises.
  • Define and explain trade patterns under perfect and imperfect competition.
  • Account for the extent to which there are welfare gains from trade.

 

Skills:

  • Analyze and calculate how trade affects the beahavious of firms and consumers and how trade affects welfare and inequality.
  • Analyze and calculate how trade policy affectsfirm behaviour and analyze and calculate welfare implications of trade policy

 

Competencies:

  • Convert the material of the class into actionable trade policies
  • Understand, discuss and evaluate current policy proposals in light of the theory presented in the class.

 

Lectures and exercise classes.

Restrictions due to pandemic crisis:
The teaching in this course may be changed to be taught either fully or partly online due to a pandemic crisis like COVID-19. In case of changes and further information, please read the study messages in KUnet or the announcements in the course room on Absalon (for enrolled students).

  • Brander, J. and P. Krugman (1983), A 'Reciprocal Dumping' Model of International Trade, Journal of International Economics, 15, p. 313-321.
  • Brander, J. and B. Spencer (1985), Export Subsidies and International Market Share Rivalry, Journal of International Economics, 18, p. 83-100.
  • Feenstra, R.C. (2016), Advanced International Trade, Theory and Evidence, 2nd edition, Princeton University Press. Selected parts of chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9.
  • Autor, D; Dorn, D. and Hanson G. Untangling Trade and Technology: Evidence from Local Labour Markets, The Economic Journal, 2015
  • Krugman, P. (1979), Increasing Returns, Monopolistic Competition, and International Trade, Journal of International Economics, 9, p. 467-476.

 

Microeconomics I, Microeconomics II, Macroeconomics I and Macroeconomics II from the Bachelor programme in Economics, University of Copenhagen, or similar.
Especially the mathematical formalities of microeconomics are recommended.

Note, this is not an easy class. Understanding of differentiation, calculus etc. is taking as a given and the class is heavy in models.

Schedule:
3 hours lectures a week from week 6 to 20.
2 hours exercise class a week from week 6/7 to 20/21.

The overall schema for the 3rd year and Master courses can be seen at KUnet:
MSc in Economics => "courses and teaching" => "Planning and overview" => "Your timetable"
BA i Økonomi/KA i Økonomi => "Kurser og undervisning" => "Planlægning og overblik" => "Dit skema"

Timetable and venue:
To see the time and location of lectures please press the link/links under "Timetable"/​"Se skema" at the right side of this page (F means Spring).

You can find the similar information partly in English at
https:/​/​skema.ku.dk/​ku2122uk/​module.htm
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-F22; [Name of course]”
-Select Report Type: “List – Weekdays”
-Select Period: “Forår/Spring – Week 5-30”
Press: “ View Timetable”

Please be aware:
- The study administration allocates the students to the exercise classes according to the principles stated in the KUnet.
- If too many students have wished a specific class, students will be registered randomly at another class.
- It is not possible to change class after the second registration period has expired.
- If there is not enough registered students or available teachers, the exercise classes may be jointed.
- The student is not allowed to participate in an exercise class not registered.
- The teacher of the exercise class cannot correct assignments from other students than the registered students in the exercise class except with group work across the classes.
- All exercise classes will be taught in English.
- The schedule of the lectures and the exercise classes can be changed without the participants´ acceptance. If this happens you can see the new schedule in your personal timetable at KUnet, in the app myUCPH and through the links in the right side and the link above.
- It is the students´s own responsibility continuously throughout the study to stay informed about their study, their teaching, their schedule, their exams etc. through the curriculum of the study programme, the study pages at KUnet, student messages, the course description, the Digital Exam portal, Absalon, the personal schema at KUnet and myUCPH app etc.

Oral
Individual
Collective

 

Students will receive individual feedback on their written assignments.

In addition, the lecturer gives collective oral feedback for the quizzes the students take during the lectures.

ECTS
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 3 hours under invigilation
as an ITX-exam in the exam venues of the university.

The exam assignment is in English and must be answered in English.

Changes due to Coronavirus:
In the event that COVID-19 restrictions may affect the conduction of the ITX-exams, the written exam and the re-sit exam will be changed to a 3 hours take-home exam with all aids. If done so, the changes will be announced in study messages at KUnet and in the Digital Exam portal.

The take-home exam is an individual exam and it is not allowed to communicate with any one about the exam assignment nor the solution at all. It is also prohibited to distribute data and other information at all. If this or alike actions happens, it will be regarded as cheating and plagiarism.
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Aid

No aids allowed at the written ITX-exam.

 

If the ITX-exam is changed to a take-home exam due to COVID-19, the written take-home exam will be with all aids.

 

Information about allowed aids for the re-examination, please go to the section "Re-exam".

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Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
at the written exam.
The written ITX-exam may be chosen for external assessment by random sample.
An oral re-examination may be with external assessment.
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Criteria for exam assessment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.

 

In order to obtain the top grade “12”, the student must with no or only a few minor weaknesses be able to demonstrate an excellent performance displaying a high level of command of all aspects of the relevant material and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.

 

In order to obtain the passing grade “02”, the student must in a satisfactory way be able to demonstrate a minimal acceptable level of  the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.

Single subject courses (day)

  • Category
  • Hours
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Class Instruction
  • 28
  • Preparation
  • 133
  • Exam
  • 3
  • English
  • 206