ID:
500036
Duration (hours):
40
CFU:
6
SSD:
ECONOMIA POLITICA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (23/02/2026 - 29/05/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course introduces the main topics concerning international trade theories, trade policies, Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and multinational companies. The main purpose is to understand the essential elements of “globalization” and the international division of labor, as well as their effects on growth and welfare. At the end of the course, students will be able to think critically about issues such as:
- Is it true that globalization increased the world average per capita income?
- How has such a variation been distributed among countries and within each country?
- Is it a good idea to put in place very aggressive policies to attract FDI and multinational companies? Under which conditions?
- What about the main effects of capital liberalization, i.e. the distinctive feature of globalization, in terms of both efficiency and equity?
- What is the role of multilateral organization (e.g. the World Trade Organization, WTO) in a world where regional agreements are on the rise?
- Is it true that globalization increased the world average per capita income?
- How has such a variation been distributed among countries and within each country?
- Is it a good idea to put in place very aggressive policies to attract FDI and multinational companies? Under which conditions?
- What about the main effects of capital liberalization, i.e. the distinctive feature of globalization, in terms of both efficiency and equity?
- What is the role of multilateral organization (e.g. the World Trade Organization, WTO) in a world where regional agreements are on the rise?
Course Prerequisites
Attendance of the first-year course of Economics is needed, as well as having passed the corresponding exam
Teaching Methods
Together with traditional frontal classes, students will have to deal with various problem sets: in some cases working collectively in the class, in others working alone at home (and disposing at a later stage of the correct
solutions, published on the KIRO platform).
solutions, published on the KIRO platform).
Assessment Methods
The exam consists of a written test, with some theoretical questions and some exercises. Those who want to improve their grade can take an additional oral exam.
Texts
The Italian version of the text is ' "Economia Internazionale. Teoria e Politica del Commercio Internazionale", by Paul Krugman, M. Obstfeld e Marc J. Melitz (Pearson, not necessarily the last edition). The English (original) version is entitled "International Economics: Global Edition" and students may freely choose whether to study on the Italian or English version of the book.
The slides of each class will be regularly published on the KIRO platform.
The slides of each class will be regularly published on the KIRO platform.
Contents
Introduction: international economics as a whole, financial and trade
relations among countries
1) The classical theory (Ricardo-Torrens) of comparative costs
2) Neoclassical theory of international trade
3) The fundamental theorems of orthodox theory and their policy implications
4) Trade and international mobility of capital and labor
5) Tariffs, quotas and other restrictions of free trade
6) The infant industry argument (and a bit of history of economic development)
7) Preferential trade agreements and a world subdivided in several blocks (multilateralism vs. regionalism)
8) New theories of international trade, market power and strategic trade policy
9) Multinational companies and FDI
10) Global value chains and international trade
relations among countries
1) The classical theory (Ricardo-Torrens) of comparative costs
2) Neoclassical theory of international trade
3) The fundamental theorems of orthodox theory and their policy implications
4) Trade and international mobility of capital and labor
5) Tariffs, quotas and other restrictions of free trade
6) The infant industry argument (and a bit of history of economic development)
7) Preferential trade agreements and a world subdivided in several blocks (multilateralism vs. regionalism)
8) New theories of international trade, market power and strategic trade policy
9) Multinational companies and FDI
10) Global value chains and international trade
Course Language
English
More information
Attendance is not compulsory, but strongly recommended.
Degrees
Degrees (2)
POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
SOCIAL SCIENCES FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES
Bachelor’s Degree
3 years
No Results Found
People
People
No Results Found