96815 - International Economics (M-Z)

Learning outcomes

The study and knowledge of micro and macro international economics are intended to enable students to understand the processes of international integration from the historical point of view and in the scope of global economic events. In particular, the aim is to provide students with the ability to read both in a positive and critical sense of international economic relations. On a professional level this means, in cases of high school profile, that students can acquire an autonomous capacity not only of interpretation, but also of processing analysis of economic data and international events related to integration phenomena.

Course contents

Institutional Section

Introduction to the subject

Labor productivity and comparative advantages: the Ricardo model

Specific factors and income distribution

The Heckscher-Ohlin model

The general model of international trade

The tools of commercial policy

Political economy and commercial policy

Trade policy in developing countries

Disputes on commercial policy

Introduction to monetary economics

Seminar Section

Introduction to causal inference and empirical methods

Case studies

Introductory classes on how to give a presentation and how to write a research paper

Readings/Bibliography

The basic text will be Krugman P. R., Obstfeld M., Melitz M. J. (2023) International Economics, Volume 1 Pearson. (Students can also use previous editions, the contents are comparative the same).

We will deal with topics contained in Volume 2 of the same text for some lessons in monetary economics. The purchase of volume 2 is not compulsory - especially for students attending classes.

The supplementary bibliographic material can be provided by the teachers. Specifically, any article posted on Virtual that contains the words "LETTURA OBBLIGATORIA" in the link will be part of the exam material (for both frequent and non-frequent attendees).

Example: In the section on Virtual called Short Intro to Empirical Methods, the reading "Angrist_Credibility_Revolution_LETTURA_OBBLIGATORIA"

Teaching methods

Lessons with the support of pptx and blackboard.

The institutional part of the course will be divided into lessons aimed at introducing students to the discipline, its major themes and its conceptual categories to learn economic reasoning.

In the seminar part of the course, the lessons will be interactive and may also include seminars. In this case, students will be required to prepare before the lesson with the readings indicated by the teacher on the topics that will be addressed.

Pre-requisites for entering the course: basic courses in microeconomics and macroeconomics

Assessment methods

 

 IMPORTANT FOR ALL STUDENTS:

Examination results will be published in the days immediately following the holding via Virtuale.

A student with a grade he/she intends to accept does not need to do anything. The teacher will verbalize the grade.

From the time of publication, a student who wishes to reject the grade has 48 hours to notify the lecturer by email of his or her decision to reject the grade. If there is no communication within this time, the grade will be verbalized.

EXAMS FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING CLASSES:

• Partial test number 1 in class, duration 40', on the material covered in lectures 1-10. The test consists of 6 open-ended questions (i.e. very similar to a true/false, but in which the reason for the answer must always be explained). Partial test 1 will count for 30% of the final grade.
  
  
• Partial test #2 in class, duration 40', on material covered in lectures 11-20. The test consists of 6 open-ended questions (i.e. very similar to a true/false, but in which the reason for the answer must always be explained). Partial test 2 will count for 30% of the final grade.

• Group work (5 students) on topic to be agreed with the lecturer. The group work and assessment of the same will be divided into two parts:

1. In-class presentation of work done during the last week of the course (detailed directions on Virtual). The presentation will be assessed individually (i.e. each of the 5 group members will present a section of the work and may have a different assessment from the others). The presentation will count for 15% of the final evaluation.

2. Breve articolo da sottomettere al docente per la fine del corso (indicazioni dettagliate su Virtuale). La valutazione del paper sarà la medesima per tutti i membri del gruppo e conterà per il 25% della valutazione finale.

N.B. I. An attending student who fails one of the partial tests given in class during September-December has the option of retaking the failed partial test only and exclusively during the first call of the January-February examination session. Failure to pass the partial test on this occasion as well will result in the grades on the other partial tests being cancelled, and the student will have to pass the total exam for non-attenders (see below).

N.B. II. An attending student who fails to pass with passing grade all the partial examination papers will have to take the examination in the manner described below "Non-attending students"

 

TEST FOR NON-ATTENDING STUDENTS or ATTENDING STUDENTS WHO DID NOT PASS THE PARTIAL TESTS.

The exam for non-attending students is the same as the total exam for attending students who did not pass all the partial tests.

The test will consist of 12 open-ended questions (i.e. very similar to a true/false, but in which the reason for the answer must always be explained). Duration 80' minutes.

Topics: as per Syllabus (Krugman chapters + slides posted on Virtual) + papers posted on Virtual marked "MANDATORY READING" (to be studied in detail, not only results but also methodologies etc.).

N.B. It is strongly recommended, especially for non-attending students, to study all material posted on Virtual, including the readings marked as non-mandatory.

 

REFERENCE LETTERS: Students who are planning applications to programs of study and/or jobs for which a reference letter is required may request the same from the lecturer under the following conditions:

- Having attended the course.

- Having earned a final grade in the course >= 27/30.

- Successfully undergo an in-person supplementary meeting with the lecturer (the oral examination will NOT affect the course grade, it will only be preparatory to writing the letter of reference).

Teaching tools

Lessons in classrom with slides.

UNIBO application "Virtuale" for the dissemination of notices and contents.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Fabbri