Teaching summer 2023  [28.03.23]

At the undergraduate level (Bachelor), we teach the course International Trade, which is elective in the profile areas of International Business and Economics, Competition, Market Failure and the State, and Empirical Economic Research. In this course, students develop an understanding of the basic methods of analyzing international trade. They are able to apply these methods to problems that recur in globalization debates. They understand how trade policy affects market outcomes and the welfare of society. They can explain how trade affects aggregate income (gains from trade) and income distribution. They understand the role that corporate market power plays in this process. Analytical skills are important to inform decision makers in internationally operating companies or industry associations, as well as policy makers at national and supranational levels.

NEW: We also offer the new course Empirical Trade Data Analysis, which is creditable as a Research Practice module (Modul Forschungspraxis). In this course, which is taught on a "bring your own devise" basis, students gain experience in conducting their own empirical research projects (descriptive analysis, simple regression analysis) in the area of international trade using econometric software (Stata). In particular, they become familiar with different sources of trade data. They are able to retrieve data from different sources and manage them. They are able to apply tools for theory-based description and interpretation of patterns in trade data. Empirical skills in trade data analysis are important to inform decision makers in internationally operating companies or industry associations as well as policy makers at national and supranational levels.

At the graduate (master's) level, we teach the course Multinational Firms, which is offered as an elective in the focus area International Economics of the IBE and is open to Econ and HMM students. Students learn about sources relevant to analyzing the operations of multinational firms (MFs) and can extract data and interpret appropriate measures. They know how to model economic problems related to MFs. They understand advanced theoretical and empirical tools used in the analysis of MFs' activities and can apply these tools to (i) analyze MFs' behavior and (ii) recommend strategies for MFs and international organizations that govern MFs. They will also get an idea of how incomplete contracts affect the behavior of MFs.

We also offer a Master Seminar in International Economics/Schwerpunktseminar International Trade. In the this seminar, students learn how the gravity framework of international trade can be used to conduct theory-consistent trade policy analysis. They can conduct their own empirical projects using adequate econometric software. They can write up a scientific paper and present their project to a critical audience.

We also supervise Master's theses in the areas of International Trade (Theory and Empirics), Trade Policy, and Global Value Chains. We expect our proposals by May 15, 2023.

Back to News