UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN INDIANA               

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS AND FINANCE             

ECON 341 - INTERNATIONAL TRADE               

FALL 2007                 

COURSE CONTENT AND OBJECTIVES:  

This course is an examination of why, what and with whom, countries engage in the exchange of goods and services.  In order to answer these questions we will study progressively more complicated trade models.   We will also use these models to examine the political economy of winners and losers in trade policy. As an upper division economics course we will continue developing economic tools which will play a critical role in formulating trade theory.   These include consumer and production theory.   The main course objective is that the student be able to comprehend and apply economic theory as it applies to international trade by building expertise in microeconomic theory. 

REQUIRED TEXT:   

Economics, reprints by Primis Onlinefrom International Economics: Trade Theory and Policy, Appleyard, Field and Cobb, 5th edition, Irwin McGraw-Hill.

Assorted Handouts found on reading list below

WEEKLY QUIZZES:

Short answer quizzes will be administered each Thursday excluding exam weeks.  Experience shows that mild coercion is sometimes necessary to provide an incentive so that students keep up in their reading.

EXAMS: 

There will be three midterm exams and a comprehensive final exam.  These exams consist of two parts.  The first part is True / False / Uncertain / Explain, where the student responds to a statement explaining if it is true, false or indeterminate. The second part of the midterm exams consists of essay questions to be done on a take-home basis. 

RESEARCH PAPER:  Each student will be required to write a research paper on a topic dealing with international trade of his or her own choosing.  It is to be typed with standard formatting, i.e., double spaced, one inch margins, 12 point font size, etc. A bibliographic reference is to be included with standard and consistent formatting. The paper should be between 8 and 10 pages in length. 

You may choose any topic related to international trade. Remember that international trade involves the economics and policy regarding the exchange of goods (both final and intermediate) and services between countries. 

Example topics include but are not limited to the following:
            Trade in a particular industry
            International trade organizations or agreements
            The effects of trade policy
            Government industrial policy regarding trade promotion
            Trade with a particular country
            MNCs and offshoring

Your paper should be well-written with a coherent structure demonstrating that you gave considerable thought to how you are going to present your topic.  There should be subheadings within the paper based on the outline that you turned in earlier in the semester.  The paper should present a background of the topic and discuss alternative points of view.  You are expected to use what you have learned in class to analyze the issue and your paper should have a conclusion that describes your own position regarding that issue.

Timeline:  A proposal that describes your topic and demonstrates your research efforts to date will be due the third week of class.  An annotated bibliography will be due the seventh and the tenth week of class.  Each citation should include a two to three paragraph description of the article in question.  A first draft of the paper is due the twelfth week of class and the final draft will be due the fourteenth.

INTERESTING LINKS:  Subject to growth

COURSE GRADES:                                                                                                

^*    Make-up exams are discouraged but possible under extraordinary circumstances with prior notification.

STUDYING METHODS: 

 At the beginning of each lecture the floor will be opened to questions.  This gives you the opportunity to review material from the previous lecture which you may have found confusing.  I strongly encourage you to copy your class notes into a second notebook as soon as possible after class.  You should add material that you remember from class but were unable to write down at the time.  It is also useful to meticulously draw all the graphs with a ruler making sure you understand the underlying concepts.  This will reinforce what you have learned and also makes clear what you do not understand.  You will then be able to ask questions in the next class period or during office hours.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:  

 While attendance is not mandatory it is highly recommended since students will be evaluated on both lecture and reading materials.  Class participation is strongly encouraged.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: 

Academic dishonesty, in particular plagiarism (submitting another person's work, in whole or in part, as your own), or cheating on quizzes or exams will not be tolerated.  Students will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in the Student Rights and Responsibilities section of the 2007-2009 USI Bulletin. 

DISABILITY SERVICES: 

USI students with disabilities can receive services through the University Counseling Center.  More information is available from the Counseling Center, OC 1022 or phone 464-1867.

READINGS:

It is the student's responsibility to have read all assigned readings prior to its being covered in class.  International trade and its underlying theory is difficult material.  It is exceedingly important for the student to keep current with the readings so as to get the most out of class lectures. We will attempt to complete all the topics on the reading list.  In ensuring that the class has an understanding of current material before proceeding to new topics, it is possible, indeed probable, that we may fall behind the designated weekly headings.  If this becomes the case, toward the end of the semester we will pick and choose from the remaining topics.