Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2021 - ECON 342 D100

International Trade (3)

Class Number: 4303

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 11 – Apr 16, 2021: Thu, 12:30–2:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 19, 2021
    Mon, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    ECON 103 or 200 and 105 or 205; 60 units or permission of the department.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Topics discussed in this course are: gains from trade in a classical world; the modern theory of international trade; factor price equalization; empirical tests and extensions of the pure theory model; economic growth and international trade; the nature and effects of protection; motives and welfare effects of factor movements; multinational enterprises; the brain drain; customs union theory; pollution control and international trade. Students with credit for ECON 442 cannot take this course for further credit. Quantitative.

COURSE DETAILS:

This course develops approaches to international trade including theories based on technology, factor endowments, and scale economies.  It will also look at trade policy and the political economy that leads to the development and use of instruments such as tariffs and quotas and other forms of regulation.  Trade issues in the context of economic development will be the focus in the latter part of the course.

 

Week 1: Chapters 1 and 2 and start on Chapter 3 – An Overview of World Trade and Comparative Advantage

Week 2:  Chapter 3 – Technology Based Trade: The Ricardian Model

Week 3: midterm 1

Week 4: Chapter 4 – Income Distribution: The Specific Factors Model

Week 5: Chapter 5 – Factor Resource Based Trade: The Heckscher-Ohlin Model

Week 6: Chapter 6 - The Standard Model and Factor Mobility

Week 7: Finishing up chapters 4/5/6

Week 8: midterm 2

Week 9 and 10: Chapter 9 - The Instruments of Trade Policy and Chapter 10 - Political Economy of Trade Policy

Week 11: Chapter 11 - Trade Policy in Developing Countries

Week 12: midterm 3

Week 13: Chapter 11 and 12 - Trade Policy Controversies and Current Directions

 

Delivery: In this time of Covid-19 lectures will be delivered at the scheduled hours.  Tutorials will also be delivered at the assigned hours.

Grading

  • Three midterms (20% each) 60%
  • Final exam 20%
  • Tutorial attendance and assignments 20%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

The textbook for this course is a custom Pearson version of Krugman, Obstfeld and Melitz, International Trade, (2017).

Ebook subscription without MyEconLab.
ISBN: 978-0134520896

Department Undergraduate Notes:

Please note that, as per Policy T20.01, the course requirements (and grading scheme) outlined here are subject to change up until the end of the first week of classes.

Final exam schedules will be released in February. This will allow students to avoid enrollment conflicts, and will significantly reduce instances of exam hardship. If your course has a final exam, please ensure that you are available during the final exam period of April 14 - 26 until you receive confirmation of your exam dates. 

Students requiring accommodations as a result of a disability must contact the Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL) at 778-782-3112 or caladmin@sfu.ca.

***NO TUTORIALS DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES***

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN SPRING 2021

Teaching at SFU in spring 2021 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).