International Trade

Subject ECON90019 (2015)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2015.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject is not offered in 2015.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: Three hours of lectures per week.
Total Time Commitment:

Estimated total time commitment of 120 hours per semester
Prerequisites:
Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1
12.50

or

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Corequisites:

None
Recommended Background Knowledge:

None
Non Allowed Subjects:
Subject
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements for this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Contact

Email: mccalman@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:

Topics include explanations of the patterns of trade and the gains from trade; the analytics of the instruments of trade policy under different market structures; the generalised theory of distortions in open economies; the political economy of trade policy; the economics of preferential trade agreements; and the role of the World Trade Organisation.
Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

  • Explain why countries engage in international trade;
  • Analyse the causes and consequences of international trade;
  • Synthesise the theoretical and empirical literature and describe the current state of knowledge in the field of international trade;
  • Analyse the welfare effects of various trade policies under different industry structures, such as monopolies, oligopolies and monopolistic competition;
  • Evaluate the welfare effects of trade and industry policies under various trading regimes (regional trading blocs vs multilateralism);
  • Critically evaluate the income and distributional effects of various trade policies.
Assessment:
  • 2-hour end-of-semester examination (70%); and
  • Four 1000-word class assignments (7.5% each) due fortnightly
Prescribed Texts:

You will be advised of prescribed texts by your lecturer.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On successful completion of this subject, students should have improved the following generic skills:

  • Evaluation of ideas, views and evidence
  • Synthesis of ideas, views and evidence
  • Strategic thinking
  • Critical thinking
  • Application of theory to economic policy and business decision making
  • Accessing economic and other information
  • Summary and interpretation of information
  • Using computer programs
  • Statistical reasoning
  • Problem solving skills
  • Written communication
  • Oral communication
Notes:

Students may not gain credit for both ECON90019 International Trade and ECON40003 International Trade.

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