AØKK08214U Advanced International Trade

Volume 2016/2017
Education

MSc programme in Economics – elective course

Content

This is a graduate-level course in international trade. The course is research-oriented with the goal of introducing students to the latest and most important research in international trade.

The course will present and discuss recent as well as classic theories of international trade. Empirical evidence is used throughout the course to examine the validity of the presented theories. Topics covered include:

  • Gains from trade and the law of comparative advantage

  • Multi-product Ricardian trade theory
     
  • Generalized Heckscher-Ohlin theory
     
  • Monopolistic competition theory with heterogeneous firms

  • Multinationals and the organization of the firm

  • Theory and empirics of the Gravity equation

  • Margins of international trade

  • Trade, tasks, offshoring and the structure of wages

  • Immigration
Learning Outcome

The objective of this graduate-level course is to equip students with an in-depth understanding of international trade and enable them to read, understand and critically reflect on the most recent theoretical and empirical research in the field.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

Knowledge

  • Understand, describe and identify the core theories of international trade

  • Account for the stylized facts and direct empirical tests of the core theories of international trade

  • Provide an overview of recent theoretical and empirical developments in the field

Skills

  • Analyze and critically reflect on main predictions of core theories of international trade

  • Select relevant theories and methods for analyzing trade-related questions

  • Communicate and discuss key concepts in international trade

Competencies

  • Read the most recent theoretical and empirical research in international trade

  • Apply relevant theories and concepts in independent work to analyze new problems and policy proposals

 

Robert C. Feenstra (2015): Advanced International Trade: Theory and Evidence, Princeton University Press, 2nd edition, chapters 1-5.

Bernhofen, D., and J. Brown (2004): “A Direct Test of the Theory of Comparative Advantage: The Case of Japan”, Journal of Political Economy, vol. 112, no. 1, pp. 48-67.

Dornbusch, R., S. Fischer and P.A. Samuelson (1977): “Comparative Advantage, Trade, and Payments in a Ricardian Model with a Continuum of Goods”, American Economic Review, vol. 67, no. 5, pp. 823–831.

Eaton, J., and S. Kortum (2002): “Technology, Geography and Trade”, Econometrica, vol. 70, no. 5, pp. 1741–1779.

Melitz, M. (2003): “The Impact of Trade on Intra-Industry Reallocations and Aggregate Industry Productivity”, Econometrica, vol. 71, no. 6, pp. 1695–725.

Helpman, E., M.J. Melitz, and S.R. Yeaple (2004): “Export versus FDI with Heterogeneous Firms”, American Economic Review, vol. 94, no. 1, pp. 300–16.

Anderson, James E., and Van Wincoop. “Gravity with Gravitas: A Solution to the Border Puzzle.” American Economic Review 93, no. 1 (2003): 170–92.

Hummels, David and Peter Klenow (2005) “The Variety and Quality of a Nation's Exports” American Economic Review 95, no 3 704-723.

Grossman, Gene and Esteban Rossi-Hansberg (2008) “Trading Tasks: A Simple Theory of Offshoring” American Economic Review 98, no. 5:1978-1997.

Hummels, David, Rasmus Jørgensen, Jakob Munch, and Chong Xiang. 2014. “The Wage Effects of Offshoring: Evidence from Danish Matched Worker-Firm Data.” American Economic Review 104, no. 6:1597–1629.

Ottaviano, Gianmarco, Giovanni Peri, and Greg Wright. “Immigration, Offshoring, and American Jobs.” American Economic Review 103, no. 5 (2013):1925–59.

Additional readings will be announced at the beginning of the course.

It is strongly recommended that students have followed the course “International Economics” (or a course equivalent to this) prior to taking “Advanced International Trade”
Schedule:

The course consists of 3 hours of classes (lectures) every week for 14 weeks.
Timetable and venue:
To see the time and location of classroom please press the link under "Se skema" (See schedule) at the right side of this page (16E means Autumn 2016).

You can find the similar information partly in English at
https:/​/​skema.ku.dk/​ku1617/​uk/​module.htm
-Select Department: “2200-Økonomisk Institut” (and wait for respond)
-Select Module:: “2200-E16; [Name of course]””
-Select Report Type: List
-Select Period: “Efterrår/Autumn – Weeks 30-3”
Press: “ View Timetable”
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Exam
  • 3
  • Lectures
  • 42
  • Preparation
  • 161
  • Total
  • 206
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written examination, 3 hours under invigilation
Written 3 hours closed-book examination at the computers of Copenhagen University.
The exam assignment is in English and can be answered in English or in Danish. Language must be chosen at the course registration.
Exam registration requirements

None

Aid
Without aids
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
100 % censorship
Exam period

The exam takes place December 15, 2016 at Peter Bangs Vej 36. 2000 Frederiksberg http:/​/​pc-eksamen.ku.dk/​pc_exam The exact time of the exam will be informed in the Self-Service at KUnet

For enrolled students more information about examination, exam/re-sit, rules etc. is available at the student intranet for Examination (English) and student intranet for Examination (KA-Danish).

Re-exam

The re-exam takes place February 17 21, 2017 at Peter Bangs Vej 36. 2000 Frederiksberg http:/​/​pc-eksamen.ku.dk/​pc_exam The exact time of the exam will be informed in the Self-Service at KUnet

If only a few students have registered for the re-exam, the exam might change to an oral exam including the date for the exam, which will be informed  by the Examination Office.

 

Criteria for exam assesment

Students are assessed on the extent to which they master the learning outcome for the course.

To receive the top grade, the student must be able to demonstrate in an excellent manner that he or she has acquired and can make use of the knowledge, skills and competencies listed in the learning outcomes.