Fall 2008 Course Description
International Economics
This course fulfills requirements for the following specialization(s):
Description: International Economics teaches frameworks for understanding the contemporary global economy, from the exchange of basic commodities to high-tech goods and services. The course also includes discussion and analysis of the trade balance, how trade affects workers and particular industries, the diffusion of technology, exchange rates, and other key issues. For each issue, the course covers a "textbook" economic treatment and more recent analysis in professional journals. Even the textbook economics are consciously set in the context of learning about important global institutions (e.g., the WTO) and the political causes and effects of international economic policies (e.g., lobbying for trade protection). Each week, we will also discuss contemporary newspaper coverage of policies and economic trends directly connected to the course material, so that students can see practical applications of the political economy approach.
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