California Polytechnic State University

Economics 330: International Trade, Winter 2009

Professor Eric Fisher

Office: 03-444

Phone: 805-756-2964 

Email: efisher@calpoly.edu

Office Hours:  Wednesday 08:00 to 12:00

 

Textbook:  The textbook is Feenstra and Taylor’s International Economics, Worth Publishers, 2008.  You must subscribe to Aplia.  This online tool will keep track of your scores on homework assignments.

 

Objective:  This course will provide you with an overview of the world economy.  It will focus on both the microeconomic and macroeconomic aspects of international economics.

 

Examinations:  There a midterm and a final.  The final is scheduled by the University for Tuesday 17 March from 10:10 to 13:00.

 

Grading:  There will be weekly problem sets.  Some problem sets are long, and others are easy.  The problem sets in total are worth 30 points.  The midterm will be worth 27 points.  The final exam will be worth 37 points.   There will be two surprise quizzes given in class during the first ten minutes of lecture.  These quizzes are designed to see if you show up on time and do the assigned reading; each is worth 3 points.  Here is a summary of the grading scheme: problem sets (30 points); midterm (27 points); final exam (37 points); and surprise quizzes (6 points).

 

The scores of all the students are available here. 

Administrative Issues: The University Senate passed a resolution in 2008 that was designed to deal with the abuse of late course withdrawals at Cal Poly.  The Student Advising Center of the OCB now enforces this policy strictly.  I will not sign any drop forms for this course.  Here is my reasoning.  This course always has a long waitlist, and I often must deny students the chance to enroll.  It is not fair when others decide to drop halfway through the term.

 

There will be no makeup exams. 

 

If I catch you cheating, I will fail you for the course and then pursue the fullest sanctions that the University allows.  I am much more concerned with your integrity than I am with your mastery of international economics.  The most important thing that we professors can teach you is to live honestly, work hard, and treat others with respect and dignity.  

 

Date

Lecture Topic

Reading

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6 January

World Trade: An Overview

 

Chapter 1

 

8 January

The Difference Between Absolute Advantage and Comparative Advantage

 

Chapter 2.1

13 January

Indifference curves

Chapter 2.2 and 2.3

15 January

Equilibrium in the International Economy

Chapter 2.4, and 2.5

20 January

The Specific Factors Model

Chapter 3.1 and 3.2

22 January

What are Economic Rents?

Chapter 3.3 and 3.4

Quiz 1, with  answers

27 January

The Heckscher-Ohlin Model

Chapter 4.1 and 4.2

29 January

More on the Heckscher-Ohlin Model

Chapter 4.3 and 4.4

3 February

Migration of Labor

Chapter 5.1 and 5.2

Economic Rent Spreadsheet

5 February

Direct Investment

Chapter 5.3 and 5.4

10 February

Tariffs and Quotas

Chapter 8

12 February

Midterm Examination

Midterm Exam with Answers

17 February

The Global Macro-economy

Chapter 12

19 February

24 February

The Spot Market for Foreign Exchange

Chapter 13.1, 13.2, and 13.3

26 February

The Forward Market for Foreign Exchange

Chapter 13.3, 13.5 and 13.6

3 March

The Monetary Approach to Exchange rates

Chapter 14.1, 14.2, and 14.3

5 March

Exchange Rates in the Long Run

Chapter 14.4, 14.5, and 14.6

Quiz 2, with answers

10 March

National Accounts and the Balance of Payments

 

Chapter 16

12 March

Review Lecture

17 March

The University has scheduled the

Final Exam from 10:10 to 13:00.

Final Exam with Answers