UCL - Advanced International Trade

[ECON2604]

[30h] 5 crédits

Enseignants : Huasheng Song(supplée Hylke Vandenbussche), Hylke Vandenbussche

Langue d'enseignement : Anglais

Niveau : Second cycle

Objectifs (en termes de compétences)
Objet de l'activité (principaux thèmes à aborder)
Résumé : Contenu et Méthodes
Autres informations (Pré-requis, Evaluation, Support, ...)

Objectifs (en termes de compétences)

This course intends to teach Master students a course in Advanced International Trade. For this purpose we will use the handbook by Feenstra (2004) which is an internationally renowned book used in many Universities around the world. The course discusses
-neo-classical trade models with perfect product and labor markets
-modern trade models with imperfect product market (new economic geography models,..)
-empirical evidence on the validity of theoretical trade models
In addition the course will also engage in a discussion of some topics currently heavily researched in the litera-ture.

Objet de l'activité (principaux thèmes à aborder)

The students in this course are expected to prepare a paper on a topic in the daily news that is related to the trade theory models that we discuss in class. For example: what explains the wage gap between skilled and unskilled workers in Europe? Students are also required to solve problem sets that consist of questions raised in class. Discussion of solutions are done in class together with a discussion of the difficulties faced in solving the prob-lems.

The purpose of the course is to give Master students a solid knowledge of the field of International economics which they require if they want to pursue research in this field. The course particularly stresses the notion of comparative advantage and the link between trade, product and factor markets. This allows students to better understand the issues involved in policy debates on "globalization" and to better understand issues like the "anti-globalization movement".

Résumé : Contenu et Méthodes

Contents :
1) neo-classical trade models
2) Trade in intermediates
3) Gravity models
4) Import protection
5) Tax competition and firms' location
6) Political economy of trade policy
7) Multinationals and Foreign direct investment

Autres informations (Pré-requis, Evaluation, Support, ...)

A course in micro-economics, statistics and mathematics

The exam is written and consists of questions related to the lectures in class

Robert Feenstra (2004) "Advanced International Trade, Princeton University Press