58606 - Topics in International Trade

Learning outcomes

The aim of the class is to enable students to go through advanced topics in international economic integration. Mainstream recent theoretical and empirical contributions on trade will be presented. Specific emphasis will be devoted to trade policies, income distribution and welfare effects of trade restrictions, trade and environment, geographic agglomeration. The last section of the lectures will dwell on social choices and/or political economy of trade.

Course contents

 

The program is made up of 10 topics.

1. The new stylized facts of trade

2. The EU integration and the Single European Market

3. Firm scale economies and trade

4. Imperfect competition, differentiation and trade

5. Intraindustry trade and its measurement

6. External economies of scale, trade, geography and agglomeration

7. Trade policies and protection. Political economy, costs and benefits of international integration with institutional competition

8. Trade, migrations and income distribution

9. International outsourcing and global supply chains

10. Trade and environment

Readings/Bibliography

References and lecture notes are on Insegnamenti Online.

Teaching methods

Classes and homeworks with the optional writing of short assignments which add to the grade. Class presentations on specific topics.

Assessment methods

Written test for students attending classes. The exam is based on 15-30 questions requiring multiple choice selection, exercises, long and structured answers. Final grade is based also on assignments, reports, class suggestions and presentations.

For students not attending classes the exam is only verbal and takes place at official dates (appelli).

Teaching tools

File projector, notes without any copyright restriction available on the web for enrolled students (restricted access)

Office hours

See the website of Gianpaolo Rossini