| Learning objectives |
At the end of the course the student
should be able to:
- define and analyse an economic or market oriented problem and
relate this to other relevant knowledge about society
- demonstrate knowledge about macroeconomic trends and market
conditions in the contemporary US/Latin American countries
- discuss competing perspectives on the development of the
US/Latin American economies
- draw meaningful contrasts and comparisons between markets in
the US/Latin America and other selected countries
- demonstrate knowledge of the models, terms and concepts taught
in the course
- critically relate theories and concepts to policy choices and
empirical trends relevant to the course
- show knowledge and understanding of non-economic indicators
such as those measuring social well-being
- develop an independent argument on a complex market related
topic
|
| Course prerequisites |
BA-level knowledge of American
studies (USA and Latin America). Students should have specific
knowledge of the history, politics, economy and markets of the
Americas when participating in the course.
See below under Course Contents for suggested prior
reading. |
| Examination |
|
Markets of the
Western Hemisphere:
|
| Examination form |
Oral exam based on written product
In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product
must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The
grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and
the individual oral performance. |
| Individual or group exam |
Individual |
| Size of written product |
Max. 10 pages |
| Assignment type |
Written assignment |
| Duration |
Written product to be submitted on specified date and
time.
30 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade,
and informing plus explaining the grade |
| Grading scale |
7-step scale |
| Examiner(s) |
Internal examiner and external examiner |
| Exam period |
Summer Term |
| Make-up exam/re-exam |
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
If the student has handed in the
take-home exam on time, but is unable to be present at the oral
presentation due to illness or similar, or has failed to appear for
the oral presentation, he or she may register for a re-take of the
oral presentation on the basis of the same, an improved or a new
paper in the same exam period according to the examination plan for
re-takes.
|
Description of the exam
procedure
At the end of the course a number of
topics are specified based on, respectively, themes within the US
and Latin American parts of the course. The drawing of lots will
determine whether a student must write a paper on one of
the US or Latin American topics. The results of this are uploaded
on to e-campus. Each student then devises his/her own specific
problem formulation based on one of the set topics. There is a
minimum of three weeks in which to write the
assignment.
|
|
| Course content and
structure |
|
The aim of the course is to strengthen students' knowledge
of conditions concerning markets and macroeconomics in the Western
Hemisphere as well as to strengthen their ability to define and
analyse concrete issues and to synthesize information from a
variety of sources. Students will learn to assess the relative
strengths and weaknesses of various economic systems and will thus
be able to offer Danish and other European businesses in-depth
knowledge about economic factors in the Western Hemisphere.
Contents:
One part of the course aims to enhance students’ understanding of
economic relations between Latin America and the rest of the world.
In the context of globalization, regional and inter-regional
integration, this part of the course will enable students to
analyse how insertion in the international political economy
affects the economic and social development of Latin American
countries, as well as evaluate policy responses by states and/or
regional alliances of states.
The second part of the course aims to enhance students’
understanding and ability to analyse policy developments and
economic performance in the U.S. In the context of globalization,
regional and inter-regional integration, this part of the course
analyses how economic and social outcomes are affected by
developments in macroeconomic policy, trade policy, regulatory
frameworks, as well as change in institutional and organizational
approaches to economic activity.
Students are required to write up to two assignments up to a total
of 8 pages (one page = 2,275 units) during the
course. Alternatively, if the course teacher so decides,
students will write one paper of up to 4 pages and make a
presentation of a topic dealt with in class.
Suggested prior readings:
History as in:
- Goldfield, D. et al. The American Journey Combined/Concise ed.
(New York: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008)
- Thomas E. Skidmore & Peter H. Smith, Modern Latin America,
Sixth edition (Oxford University Press, 2005)
Politics as in:
- Charles Blake, Politics in Latin America, 2nd edition (New
York: Houghton-Mifflin, 2008)
- Carlos Scartascini, Ernesto Stein and Mariano Tommasi, eds. How
Democracy Works: Institutions, and Actors in Latin American
Policymaking (Washington, D.C.: Interamerican Development Bank,
2010)
- Edward Ashbee and Colleen Harris, US Politics Today - 3rd
edition (Manchester UP, 2010).
Economy and markets as in:
- Patrice Franko, The Puzzle of Latin America Economic
Development (3rd edition) (Rowman & Littlefield,
2007)
- Peter Kingstone, The Political Economy of Latin America:
Reflections on Neoliberalism and Development (Routledge, 2011)
- Edward Ashbee, The US Economy Today (Manchester University
Press, 2010)
|
| Teaching methods |
The course will be taught in English.
Requirements for the course are thorough preparation of the
assigned reading for each lesson, including any pre-set questions
relating to the texts, and active participation in discussions.
Students are required to write up to two assignments up to a total
of 8 pages (one page = 2,275 units) during the course.
Alternatively, if the course teacher so decides, students will
write one paper of up to 4 pages and make a presentation of a topic
dealt with in class.
Students write an exam home paper on either a topic relating to the
U.S. or the Latin American part of the course, determined by the
drawing of lots. Some supervision is provided by the course
teacher. The exam also consists of an oral defence of the written
exam paper. |
| Student workload |
| Lectures - including reading an preparation |
140 hours |
| Class assignment(s) |
14 hours |
| Exam paper |
56 hours |
| Oral Exam |
15 hours |
|
| Further Information |
|
Tuition takes place in English
|
| Expected literature |
|
A detailed bibliography and a lecture plan will be on the course
site at the beginning of the semester.
Suggested core literature: (subject to change):
- Morales, Isidro (2008), Post-NAFTA North America. Reshaping
the Economic and Political Governance of aChanging
Region,Basingstoke, UK; New York, USA: Palgrave Macmillan.(pp
24-37; pp 180-202)
- Joseph A.McKinney and H.Stephen Gardner (eds) (2008)
Economic Integration inthe Americas.Abingdon,
Oxon: Routledge (pp 46-59; pp
96-104)
- Panizza, Francisco (2009) Contemporary Latin America.
Development and Democracy beyond the Washingtion
Consensus. Zed Books (pp142-167)
|
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