NIFK13002U Topics in Advanced International Economics
MSC Programme in Agricultural Development
MSc Programme in Agricultural Economics
MSc Programme in Environmental and Natural Resource
Economics
We study some of the literature on the frontier of economic research on selected advanced topics in international economics. The specific topics to be discussed in class will be determined at the beginning of the course, possibly based on the interests of the students. Examples may include
- Heterogeneous firms trade theory: expanding the body of trade theory based on Heckscher-Ohlin and New Trade Theory to include models analysing trade at the individual firm level
- Oligopoly trade theory: considering cases where firms are large and imperfectly competitive, implying strategic interaction among firms
- The political economy of trade policy
- Foreign Direct Investment
- Trade and developing countries
- Trade and the environment
Additional topics are investigated by the students themselves
during their project work.
An important objective of the course is to train the students in
techniques for carrying out independent study of scientific journal
articles. Studying journal articles is very different from reading
textbooks. Articles are not specifically written for teaching
purposes, and authors often sacrifice careful explanation for
brevity and precision. Articles can therefore be very challenging
and time consuming to study. We discuss how to overcome these
challenges and how to get the most out of the articles (in terms of
the elements detailed under the Learning Outcomes).
Upon completing this course, the students should be able to
Knowledge:
- summarise the main contributions of the articles discussed in class
Skills:
- study scientific journal articles with theoretical, empirical and/or applied content in international economics, and
- - identify the central contributions of the article
- - explain the main results in terms of assumptions, methodology, and economic intuition
- - relate the article to other relevant research within the area
- - identify potential questions for further analysis as well as possible strategies for addressing those questions
Competences:
- formulate a structured and coherent paper in English on a topic in international economics
- make a short and structured presentation of scholarly work (own contributions as well as published work)
- engage in group discussions in English
- critically and constructively reflect on the work of other scholars (fellow students as well as published work)
Selected scientific journal articles
- Category
- Hours
- Exam
- 6
- Lectures
- 24
- Preparation
- 76
- Project work
- 100
- Total
- 206
As
an exchange, guest and credit student - click here!
Continuing Education - click here!
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Written assignmentOral examinationThe exam takes the form of a student seminar. At the seminar, each student will present his/her survey paper, perform as a discussant on a fellow student's survey paper and engage in the general discussion. By implication, all students are required to participate in the whole seminar and attend all presentations. If many students are registered for the exam, the seminar may be split into smaller sessions, and students are required to participate in their own session only.
The grade is given as weighted average of the following four elements. The student can pass if the weighted grade is passed:
The survey paper 50%
The student's presentation at the seminar 20%
The student's role as a discussant at the seminar 20%
Active participation in the general discussion at the seminar 10% - Exam registration requirements
The students shall submit a short (½ page) reflection note before each lecture. The note may summarise thoughts, ideas, questions, difficulties, etc. the students encountered while studying the articles. No more than 2 omitted or late submitted notes are allowed.
- Aid
- All aids allowed
- Marking scale
- 7-point grading scale
- Censorship form
- No external censorship
Two internal examiners
- Re-exam
If 10 or fewer are registered for the re-examination, the student seminar is replaced by an individual oral defence of a survey paper.
If the student has not handed in the reflection notes and/or the literature survey paper leading to a proposal for a research question, then they must be handed in two weeks prior to the deadline of registration for the re-exam. They must be approved before the exam.
Criteria for exam assesment
The assessment is based on the criteria given by the Learning Outcomes
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- NIFK13002U
- Credit
- 7,5 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree Master
- Duration
- 1 block
- Placement
- Block 4
- Schedule
- C
- Course capacity
- No restrictions
- Continuing and further education
- Study board
- Study Board of Natural Resources and Environment
Contracting department
- Department of Food and Resource Economics
Course responsibles
- Kenneth Thomas Baltzer (6-67777c393c3a4566717a72736e33707a336970)