EC421     
International Economics

This information is for the 2017/18 session.

Teacher responsible

Andrea Ferrero and Thomas Sampson, 32L.2.34

Availability

This course is available on the MPA in European Policy-Making, MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MPA in Social Impact, MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics, MSc in Economics and MSc in Economics (2 Year Programme). This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

Students must have completed Introductory Course in Mathematics and Statistics (EC400).

In exceptional circumstances, students may take this course without EC400 provided they meet the necessary requirements and have received approval from the course conveners (via a face to face meeting), the MSc Economics Programme Director and their own Programme Director. Contact the Department of Economics for more information (econ.msc@lse.ac.uk) regarding entry to this course.

Course content

A graduate course in international economics consisting of i) the fundamentals of trade theory and its application to policy and ii) international macroeconomics.

Trade: Comparative advantage and the gains from trade. Theories of comparative advantage. Factor endowments, the international location of production, and patterns of international trade. Empirical tests of trade models. Trade and the labour market. Intra-industry trade. Firm heterogeneity and selection into trade. Foreign direct investment. General equilibrium trade policy.

International macroeconomics: Intertemporal trade and the current account balance. Dynamics of small open economies. The real exchange rate and the terms of trade. Uncertainty and international financial markets. Monetary model of exchange rate determination: flexible and sticky prices. Introduction to currency crises models.

Teaching

20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the MT. 20 hours of lectures and 10 hours of seminars in the LT.

Formative coursework

Two marked assignments per term.

Indicative reading

A full reading list will be distributed at the beginning of the course. Some important items are: R Feenstra, Advanced International Trade: Theory and Evidence, Princeton, 2004; A Dixit & V Norman, Theory of International Trade, Cambridge, 1980; E Helpman & P Krugman, Market Structure and Foreign Trade, MIT, 1985; M Obstfeld & K Rogoff, Foundations of International Macroeconomics, MIT Press, 1996.

Assessment

Exam (25%, duration: 2 hours) in the LT week 0.
Exam (25%, duration: 2 hours, reading time: 10 minutes) in the main exam period.
Essay (50%, 6000 words) in the ST.

Key facts

Department: Economics

Total students 2016/17: 12

Average class size 2016/17: 12

Controlled access 2016/17: Yes

Lecture capture used 2016/17: Yes (LT)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course survey results

(2013/14 - 2015/16 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 98%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2

Materials (Q2.3)

2

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.7

Lectures (Q2.5)

1.8

Integration (Q2.6)

1.7

Contact (Q2.7)

1.9

Feedback (Q2.8)

2.2

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

94%

Maybe

6%

No

0%