This course provides an overview of the nature, determinants and impact of globalization processes. Trends and interactions with economic change will be examined at the macro, sectoral and micro levels. Attention will be focused on trade patterns and on the different modes of international organization of production considering on the role of MNEs as key actors in the transnational generation and diffusion of technical change and innovation. Team work will be encouraged both at home and in class. 

Introduction to the course: dimensions of globalization and key stylized facts

Comparative advantage (Ricardo)

Factor endowment: HO model

Beyond comparative advantage and factor endowment: intra-industry trade

Internationalization, firm heterogeneity and trade costs

Trade costs, internationalization strategies and imperfect competition

FDI and firm-specific advantages

Technology, demand and FDI; asset-exploiting and asset-seeking FDI

Effects of globalization: economic growth, offshoring, wages and skills

Effects of globalization: inequality and social dimension

FDI spillovers on host economies

Globalization and the environment

- Knowledge and understanding abilities: The course will yield abilities to collect and understand information on the different dimensions of globalisation: international movements of persons, goods and services, capital and knowledge. Learning activities will include: lectures, seminars, discussions of case studies, homeworks, papers and class work.

- Knowledge and applied abilities: students will have to apply the acquired knowledge in a comprehensive and flexible way, use concepts methods and interpretive models to data and statistics as well as to different analytical frameworks.Learning activities will include: lectures, seminars, discussions of case studies, homeworks, papers and class work.

- Autonomy of judgement: Students will have to connect different bits of knowledge and deal with complex issues in an autonomous way and developing a critical ability. Learning activities will include: lectures, seminars, discussions of case studies, homeworks, papers and class work.

- Communication abilities: Students will have to develop abilities to approprately communicate the concepts and facts illustrated and discussed during classwork. Learning activities will include: lectures, seminars, discussions of case studies, homeworks, papers and class work.

- Learning abilities: Students will have to develop good learning abilities that will enable them to deepen their knowledge of globalisation issues in subsequent academic and professional experiences. Learning activities will include: lectures, seminars, discussions of case studies, homeworks, papers and class work

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

The teaching material made available by the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

The course will consist of lectures and class discussions. Students will be responsible for reading assigned material before the topic is discussed in class. Assignments will be given and students will be expected to discuss these in class.

Attendance

Not compulsory but strongly suggested

Course books

• Beugelsdijk S, Brakman S, Garretsen H, van Marrewijk C "International Economics and Business. Nations and Firms in the Global Economy", Second Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2013 (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 13, 14)
• Fischer, S. Globalization and Its Challenges, American Economic Review, May, 2003, 93(2), 1-30, available at http://www.iie.com/fischer/pdf/fischer011903.pdf
• Castellani D., Zanfei A., Multinational firms, innovation and productivity, E. Elgar 2007, Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6

Assessment

Written essays and oral presentations on topics assigned by the professor, in addition to an oral exam aimed at evaluating the understanding of the various parts of the programme and the ability to create connections between different concepts

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Non-Attending students will have to refer to the teaching material.

Attendance

Not compulsory but strongly suggested

Course books

• Beugelsdijk S, Brakman S, Garretsen H, van Marrewijk C "International Economics and Business. Nations and Firms in the Global Economy", Second Edition, Cambridge University Press, 2013 (Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 13, 14)
• Fischer, S. Globalization and Its Challenges, American Economic Review, May, 2003, 93(2), 1-30, available at http://www.iie.com/fischer/pdf/fischer011903.pdf
• Castellani D., Zanfei A., Multinational firms, innovation and productivity, E. Elgar 2007, Chapters 1, 2, 5, 6

Assessment

Oral exam aimed at evaluating the understanding of the various parts of the programme and the ability to create connections between different concepts

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.