INTERNATIONAL TRADE - 2020/1

Module code: ECOM046

Module Overview

The module examines theories of international trade as well as selected empirical evidence relating to these theories.

Module provider

Economics

Module Leader

BREINLICH Holger (Economics)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Independent Learning Hours: 130

Lecture Hours: 20

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:



  • Comparative Advantage and the Ricardian Model


  • The Specific Factors Model


  • The Heckscher-Ohlin Model


  • The Standard Trade Model


  • Firms in the Global Economy


  • Trade Policy: Instruments & Political Economy


  • Trade Policy in Developing Countries


Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Coursework COURSEWORK ESSAY (3,000 WORDS) 30
Examination EXAMINATION - 2 HOURS 70

Alternative Assessment

Not applicable.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate


  • their skills in working with microeconomics models of trade,

  • their knowledge of how to apply these models to important policy questions, and

  • their understanding of the empirical evidence related to these models.



Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:


  • Students are assessed through a coursework essay and a final examination.

  • Students will select an essay title from a list of three topics for the 3,000-word coursework essay. This essay accounts for 30% of the final mark and will typically be due in week 8 of Semester 1.

  • The final examination (2 hours) will take place at the end of Semester 1 and will account for 70% of the final mark.



Formative assessment and feedback:  Students will receive verbal feedback during lectures and written feedback on their coursework essay.

Module aims

  • Demonstrate how microeconomic models can be used to examine the role of international trade, technology, and international investment in an increasingly integrated global economy.
  • Explore selected empirical tests of microeconomic trade models, in order to understand the methods by which trade theories are tested and to gain familiarity with the findings in the literature.

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Use theoretical and applied microeconomics to investigate how international trade and economic policies are shaping the global economy. KCT
002 Analyse, both theoretically and empirically, the forces (including economic policies) which explain observed patterns of trade and their implications for the global distribution of income. KCP
003 Understand the implications for economic welfare of the major tools of trade policy. KCPT
004 Understand the methods by which trade theories are tested and gain familiarity with the findings in the literature. KCT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

This module develops and uses economic models to examine the role of international trade in an increasingly integrated global economy. We will also examine empirical evidence related to these models. The teaching strategy will be based on theoretical lectures, in-lecture exercises and discussion, as well as on directed self-study.

The learning and teaching methods include:


  • Lectures (2 hour lecture per week x 10 weeks)

  • General and small group discussions, Question and answer interactive format, Directed self-study


Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: ECOM046

Programmes this module appears in

Programme Semester Classification Qualifying conditions
International Economics, Finance and Development MSc 1 Compulsory A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module
Economics MSc 1 Optional A weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the module

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.