ECN480.4 International Economics II (at the U. of Florence) (Fall)

Open only to students accepted to the special program Florence Center & University of Florence (courses taught in English)

Taught in English by the University of Florence and open to Syracuse University students. The main aim of the course is to help students understand specific features of the current wave of globalization as well as countries’ and firms’ reactions to it. The course is divided into two parts. The first, after an introduction on how to measure globalization, also accounting for the value added in each country, analyzes historical trends in integration (trade, capital, people, ideas) on the basis of existing models of international trade (from Ricardo to models of heterogeneous firms). It also highlights the role of China and India in the global economy (differences in specialization patterns, attractiveness for investments etc). The second part illustrates new issues raised by the globalization process, such as offshoring, outsourcing, and the theories recently developed to address them (“new new” trade theories). It also emphasizes the role of imported inputs for the competitiveness of a country.

Prereq: Introductory economics course and at least one college-level math course

Department: Economics

Locations: Florence, University of Florence

Semester: Fall

Credits: 3