B5971 - International Economics (LM)

Learning outcomes

The course is designed to provide some basic theoretical tools for students who have not taken International Economics in their first degree. The course focuses on the reasons that explain trade patterns between countries and the gains and losses from trade. The main instruments of trade policy are analysed, the costs and benefits of protectionist trade policies are assessed, and the political economy of trade policy is discussed. A thorough review of microeconomic theories of the consumer and the firm is strongly recommended before the course.

Course contents

Introduction: GDP, expenditure and trade balance

Long and short run models of equilibrium in closed and open economies

Theories of international trade: the Ricardian model, the specific factor model, the Heckscher-Ohlin model

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes at the Virtuale online platform

Gregory Mankiw and Mark Taylor, "Macroeconomics", 2° Edition, European Edition, Macmillan, 2014

Paul R. Krugman, Maurice Obsfeld and Marc Melitz, "International Economics: Theory and Policy", Pearson Education, 2022

Teaching methods

Frontal lectures, discussions, and exercises

Assessment methods

Written exam.

The maximum possible score is 30 cum laude. The grade is graduated as follows:

<18 failed

18-23 sufficient

24-27 good

28-30 very good

30 cum laude excellent

Students with learning disorders and\or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

Slide and other materials

Office hours

See the website of Guglielmo Barone