International Economist Course

Lesson 1 • International Financial Architecture

Surveys the institutions and agreements that govern global finance. Sets the institutional context for policy analysis in later chapters.

Lesson 2 • Exchange Rate Fundamentals

Introduces nominal and real exchange rates and their determination. Provides the pricing foundation needed for later currency and trade analysis.

Lesson 3 • Core Concepts and Scope

Defines international economics as a discipline distinct from domestic economics. Establishes the analytical vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 1 • Non-Tariff Barriers and Regulatory Trade

Examines technical standards, sanitary measures, and administrative barriers as trade instruments. Prepares students to assess behind-the-border policy impacts.

Lesson 2 • New Trade Theory and Firm Behavior

Introduces economies of scale, product differentiation, and intra-industry trade. Explains why similar countries trade with each other.

Lesson 3 • Tariffs, Quotas, and Subsidies

Analyzes the welfare economics of border measures using partial and general equilibrium tools. Connects theory to observed trade policy choices.

Lesson 4 • Classical and Neoclassical Trade Models

Covers Ricardian, Heckscher-Ohlin, and Stolper-Samuelson frameworks. Provides the theoretical baseline for evaluating trade policy outcomes.

Lesson 1 • Capital Flows and Financial Account

Analyzes foreign direct investment, portfolio flows, and other capital movements. Identifies drivers of sudden stops and capital flow reversals.

Lesson 2 • Current Account Determinants

Models savings-investment gaps, competitiveness, and income effects on the current account. Connects macroeconomic fundamentals to external balance outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Balance of Payments Accounting

Explains the double-entry structure of current, capital, and financial accounts. Establishes the accounting foundation for all external sector analysis.

Lesson 1 • Currency Crises and Contagion

Examines first-, second-, and third-generation crisis models and historical episodes. Equips students to identify vulnerability indicators before crises materialize.

Lesson 2 • Exchange Rate Regime Choice

Evaluates fixed, floating, and intermediate regimes using the impossible trinity. Links regime choice to macroeconomic stability outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Exchange Rate Determination Models

Covers purchasing power parity, interest rate parity, and asset-market approaches. Builds the analytical toolkit for forecasting and policy assessment.

Lesson 1 • Offshoring and Outsourcing Decisions

Examines firm-level decisions to offshore tasks or outsource production. Links transaction cost theory to observed GVC configurations.

Lesson 2 • Resilience and Reshoring Trends

Examines supply chain disruptions, geopolitical risks, and the reshoring debate. Prepares students to advise on supply chain strategy under uncertainty.

Lesson 3 • Anatomy of Global Value Chains

Defines GVC concepts, governance structures, and measurement approaches. Provides the conceptual map for analyzing fragmented production.

Lesson 1 • Regional Trade Agreements

Analyzes free trade areas, customs unions, and common markets using trade creation and diversion theory. Evaluates the proliferation of preferential agreements.

Lesson 2 • Trade in Services and Digital Trade

Covers modes of services supply, regulatory barriers, and emerging digital trade disciplines. Reflects the growing share of services in global commerce.

Lesson 3 • Multilateral Trading System

Covers the principles, dispute settlement, and negotiating rounds of the multilateral trade framework. Establishes the rules-based context for bilateral and regional agreements.

Lesson 4 • Trade and Sustainable Development

Examines labor, environment, and gender provisions in modern trade agreements. Connects trade rules to broader development and sustainability objectives.

Lesson 1 • Crisis Management and Multilateral Lending

Examines conditionality, program design, and the political economy of multilateral rescue packages. Prepares students to evaluate crisis response effectiveness.

Lesson 2 • Policy Spillovers and Externalities

Models how domestic policy choices generate cross-border demand, inflation, and financial spillovers. Motivates the need for international coordination.

Lesson 3 • Global Imbalances and Adjustment

Analyzes persistent current account surpluses and deficits and their systemic risks. Evaluates symmetric vs. asymmetric adjustment mechanisms.

Lesson 1 • Sector Competitiveness Analysis

Applies revealed comparative advantage and productivity metrics to sector-level assessment. Identifies competitive strengths and structural weaknesses in traded sectors.

Lesson 2 • Policy Brief and Report Writing

Translates complex economic analysis into structured policy briefs and sector reports. Develops the communication skills essential for professional economists.

Lesson 3 • Macroeconomic Forecasting for Open Economies

Builds forecasting models incorporating external sector dynamics and global linkages. Develops the quantitative skills needed for professional economic projections.