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2014/2015  BA-BBLCO1242U  International Economics and Competitiveness

English Title
International Economics and Competitiveness

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Course period Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc og MSc in Business, Language and Culture, BSc
Course coordinator
  • Evis Sinani - Department of International Economics and Management (INT)
Main academic disciplines
  • Globalization, International Business, markets and studies
Last updated on 19-08-2014
Learning objectives
At the end of this course, students should be able to:
  • identify and apply the relevant theories and models to a given issue.
  • define and discuss key concepts in the analysis/discussion of the relevant theories and models.
  • discuss and critically reflect on the strength and the weaknesses of relevant theories and models applied to a given issue.
  • present and explain supporting arguments in the analysis of a given issue.
Examination
International Economics and Competitiveness:
Exam ECTS 7,5
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual
Size of written product Max. 5 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration 48 hours to prepare
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period December/January
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Description of the exam procedure
The course concludes with an examination, which is based on a 48-hour written essay, which is written individually. The examination consists of two or more essay questions based on the course content. The student is required to choose only one question on which to write the essay of maximum 5 pages (1 page equals 2275 STU). The essay is graded by the teacher and an internal censor, and the grade for the examination is given according to the 7 point grade scale.
Course content and structure

This course presents a number of classical and modern theoretical approaches that enable the students to understand and explain the dynamics of international trade and production at the industry level, as well as why countries trade with each other and how trade is beneficial to them. The course furthermore discusses important issues such as the effect that different policy measures, such as tariffs, introduced at a particular industry, have on trade and the country’s economic welfare. Students will also learn about the competitiveness of industries and its importance at the country level. Consequently, competitiveness will be discussed as a comparative concept of the ability and the performance of firms within an industry or a country to sell and supply goods or services in a given market (based on the trade models). However, we will also tackle competitiveness at the industry as well as country level based on strategy theories, such as Porters’ theories. Hence, we study the modern industry analysis models, which at a more general level deal with the factors that influence industry competitiveness and discuss how positions of strength are developed within industries.
Teaching methods
This course employs a mix of lectures and case studies. Lectures will cover core concepts and theories in international economics and competitiveness, and all the class is expected to participate in an interactive discussion. Case studies will be included in order to demonstrate the practical importance of the concepts and theories introduced in lectures. In such cases, case studies will have to be read and prepared by students before the lecture. In the class students will be presented with questions regarding the case. This will provide the basis for a greater level of interaction and student understanding of theoretical notions.
Expected literature

Textbook :
Krugman, Paul; Maurice Obstfeld and Melitz. International Economics – Theory and Policy, ninth edition, Boston: Addison-Wesley.
 
Additional Course literature:
 
Competitiveness
 

  • The Global Competitiveness Report 2012-2013. Can be downloaded online (freely) from World Economic Forum. (chapter 1.1)
  • Porter, Michael. The five competitive forces that shape the strategy. Harvard Business Review, January 2008.
  • Porter, Michael. Strategy and the Internet. Harvard Business Review, March 2001.
  • Anita M. McGahan. How industries change. Harvard Business Review, October 2004.
  • Chen, M.-J. 1996. Competitor analysis and interfirm rivalry: Toward a theoretical integration. Academy of Management Review, 21(1): 100–134.
  • Dunne, T., Roberts M. J., and Samuelson, L. 1988. Patterns of firm entry and exit in U.S manufacturing industries. Rand Journal of Economics. Vol.19, No.4.

 
FDI and international trade
 

  • Thomas Pugel. (2009). International Economics. Edition 14, Chapter 13: Trade and the Environment.

Thomas Pugel. (2009). International Economics. Edition 14, Chapter 15: Multinationals: International Factor Movement 
Last updated on 19-08-2014