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ECON-S432

Advanced international trade

Branch(es) of study : Economics and business management
academic year
2025-2026
2026-2027

Course teacher(s)

Lidia Smitkova (Coordinator)

ECTS credits

5

Language(s) of instruction

english

Course content

This course covers the most important contributions in the field of international trade, both from a theoretical and empirical perspective. This will allow students to learn and think critically about various issues related to globalization that are central to the current policy debate: Why do countries open up their economies to trade? What explains the patterns and volume of trade between countries? What happens when a country increases tariffs or exits a customs union? Which type of firms tend to export? Why multinational firms have become so important? What are the implications of trade for workers and the environment?

Objectives (and/or specific learning outcomes)

The objective of the course is to present advanced material on trade policy and some selected topics on globalization.

Prerequisites and Corequisites

Required and Corequired knowledge and skills

A 3rd-year undergraduate course in microeconomics and international trade are necessary. 

Teaching methods and learning activities

  • Ex-cathedra lectures with in-class interaction.
  • Readings and optional data exercises.

References, bibliography, and recommended reading

Provided by the lecturer on the UV.

Course notes

  • Université virtuelle

Contribution to the teaching profile

This course contributes to the following objectives:

  • Integrate sustainable development into problem analysis.
  • Identify and apply the relevant analytical tools and scientific knowledge to analyse an economic problem in depth.
  • Identify and analyse an issue using the relevant analytical tools and methods.
  • Display critical thinking and develop autonomous learning strategies and techniques.

Other information

Contacts

Lidia Smitkova: lidia.smitkova@ulb.be  

Campus

Solbosch

Evaluation

Method(s) of evaluation

  • written examination

written examination

Closed-book written exam.

Mark calculation method (including weighting of intermediary marks)

Final grade is based on closed-book written exam.

Language(s) of evaluation

  • english

Programmes