ECO 300 Global Economic Issues Course Syllabus – Spring 2016 Course Effective Dates: 01/11/2016 - 05/11/2016 Monday January 11, 2016 Division
Department of Economics, Law, & Politics
Instructor
Fesseha Gebremikael
Class/Time
MWF: 11:00 - 11:50 A.M, Room # 166 MacLean Hall
Office hours
380G MacLean Hall ( By appointment Only)
Webpage
www.mnstate.edu/gebremikael
E-mail
[email protected]
Phone
218 -477-2587
Learning Resources/ Prescribed Text, Global Issues for Global Citizens (2006) by The World Bank (Edited by Vinay Bhargava) ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-6731-5 Atlas of Global Development (2009 – 2nd edition) by The World Bank ISBN-13: 978-0-8213-7603-4 *Supplementary materials will be provided on my webpage Course Tools: In addition to the textbook, students are expected to keep up to date with contemporary global economic affairs via: The Financial Times, The Economist, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, Periodicals, and other relevant useful educational website sources may also be used to address some of the current global economic issues. Course Description As stated in the MSU Moorhead Bulletin, this is an introductory study of global economic issues (GEI) focusing on the experience of Asia, Africa, or Latin America. This course will provide an intensive and in-depth introduction to the nature and workings of GEI. Additionally, this course will provide an overview of the many issues and concerns associated with GEI, from both a conceptual (e.g., business strategy and comparative advantage) and geographical (e.g., Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin American) perspective. Topics include the role and history of international economic institutions, the impact of trade on participating nations, views of writers from selected regions, economic development, demographic trends, foreign investment, and international distribution of income and wealth. This course will not fulfill the economics major requirements.
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Upon completion of the course, students will have an appreciation and understanding of: the general nature of globalization, and its impact on (and interrelationships among) states, firms and individuals. Other targets are the global trade and investment environment, including differences in political economy, international trade theory, foreign direct investment and regional integration; Course Rationale Scarcity exists whenever the material wants of a nation’s citizens exceeds the citizens’ abilities to satisfy these wants and needs using the factors of production (land, labor, capital, and entrepreneurship). With this definition in mind, which nations face scarcity problems? Do rich nations? Do poor nations? Are the scarcity problems of the rich and poor nations similar or different? What factors contribute to how nations address the scarcity problem? Economists are motivated by the preceding questions and the foundation of the economics discipline rests upon the study of choices made by people faced with scarcity. This is one-semester course, will consider the choices made by people around the world faced with scarcity issues. Initially, we will learn how economic definitions, models and analyses can be used to understand and address global economic issues. Following, we will use these skills to consider scarcity in the context of food, water, energy, and individual people. Course Requirements/Grade Determination Policy In this course, it is clearly to your advantage to read assignments in advance of class and actively participate in class activities (note taking, discussion, group work, informal writing assignments, data projects, etc.). Discussion of ideas developed within in-class assignments may solidify, coalesce your original viewpoint and increase your understanding of an opposing or tangential viewpoint. Further, these assignments may assist you in identifying areas requiring additional study or potential topics of interest for the course writing assignment. The writing assignment (8-10 double spaced pages) will require independent research, participation in a peer-review process, revision of your draft research paper, and submission of a professional-quality final draft. Benchmarks to ensure timely completion for the formal assignment include: Issues
Due Dates
Identification of a country and/or regional focus
February 3, 2016
Three-page draft of labor and entrepreneurship components
February 3, 2016
Two-page draft of land component
February 24, 2016
Peer Review Assignment
March 9, 2016
Two-page draft of capital component
March 9, 2016
Final Draft
April 30, 2016
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Learning Outcomes: The goal is for you to leave this course with the ability to analyze the global economic issues and politics of international business in a sophisticated manner so you can be more effective in the market place. Thus ssuccessful completion of this course should enable the student to:
Understand the concepts of global economic issues, scarcity and choice, forces of supply and demand in a market economy such as the US, as well as in other western, and nonwestern societies.
Understand the different challenges countries face when they operate in an international environment;
Examine the various cultural, political and legal issues that impact global economic issues
Examine the international institutions and practices that impact international business;
Understand trade and investment theory, foreign exchange and the determination of foreign exchange rates;
Appreciate the interaction of business and government as they relate to international commerce; and
Develop insight into the management implications of international business strategy and operations.
Understand the causes of market failure and the necessitate for public policy, about the antitrust regulation, abatement of harmful externalities, public goods, social choice, income distribution and poverty.
Class Format /Guidelines: Classes are lecture/discussion. Ten assignments, four quizzes, a research paper, a midterm and final exam will be given. Questions will include: multiple choices, fill in the blank, true/false and short essay questions. You are expected to attend all classes and to read assigned materials prior to class and bring the text and a calculator to each class. Students will be called upon and class participation is required. I expect students to be prepared to participate meaningfully in the classroom discussion for each and every class to get into heated and forceful debate, related to contemporary global economic issues. Wireless Communicators: All cell phones, PDA’s blackberry devices, etc. should be turned off and placed out of sight. Be advised at the same time, no cell phones can be used as a calculator during an exam and/or quiz!! No exceptions. To calculate your grade in the course at any time, add your points earned and divide that number by the total points available in the course as of the same date. The course grading scale will be based on the percentage of the total points earned (600 possible 0 during the semester.
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Points
Percentage
Grade
540
90 – 100%
A
480
80 - 89%
B
390
65 – 79%
C
300
50 – 64 %
D
≤ 300
≤ 50%
F
Attendance Policy Class attendance is strongly encouraged. However, if you miss class for a legitimate reason (university excused absence, family emergency, legal obligation, or military obligation), with proper official written documentation, you must notify the instructor in advance of your absence or as soon as feasible in the case of an unexpected event. It is your responsibility to communicate with a classmate to obtain any notes or lecture material covered during your absence from class. Eligibility for make-up work will follow the Minnesota State University Student Absence Policy including that “the nature, time, and place of the make-up work are at the discretion of the instructor.” The university policy in its entirety at: http://www.mnstate.edu/acadaff/departments/policies/studentabsence.htm Special Accommodations Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Directors of Disability Services at 218-477-2131 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), as soon as possible to ensure accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. Academic Honest Policy The Academic Honesty Policy of Minnesota State University Moorhead (accessible at http://www.mnstate.edu/sthandbook/policiesprocedures/academichonesty.cfm) will govern this course and its operations. Any absence, excused or unexcused, does not relinquish a student’s responsibility for lectures covered, assignments made, or any other works completed in class during the absence.
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Spring Semester Course Outline Weeks Week 1
Topics Ch.1 Ten Principles of Economics
01/11/2016
Ch.2. Thinking Like An Economist
01/13/2016
Ch.3.Production Possibilities/Opportunity Cost
01/20/2016
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Week 2
Week 3
01/18/2016
Ch. 4. The Market Forces of Supply/Demand
01/20 - 22/2016
Ch. 5. Gross Domestic Product
01/25 - 272016
Ch. 6. Business Cycle/Unemployment Ch. 7. Inflation
01/29 – 02/ 3- 5/2016 02/5 - 12/2016
Faculty Development Week 4
Dates are estimates
Ch. 8. International Trade Midterm Exam
02/15/2016 02/17 - 29/2016 03/03/2016
Week 5
Ch. 9. Economies in Transition
Week 6
Ch. 10. Industrialized Democracies
03/8 – 11/2016
Spring Break
03/14 – 18/2016
Week 8
Ch. 11. European Union Non Instructional Day
Week 9
03/24 - 29
03/21 – 23/2016 03/25 - 03/28/2016
Ch. 12. China
03/21 – 25/2016
Ch. 13. India
03/230/2016
Week 10 Ch. 14. Brazil Ch. 15. Mexico
04/1 – 8/2016 04/11 – 13/2016
Week 11 Ch. 16. South Africa
04/15 – 18/2016
Week 12 Ch. 17 Crime/Drugs
04/20 - 22/2016
Week 13 Ch. 18. Education
04/25- 27/2016
Week 14 Ch. 19. Discrimination
04/29/2016
Week 15 Ch. 20. U.S. Poverty
05/2/2016
Week 16 Ch. 21 Health Care
05/4/2016
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Week 18 Ch. 22 World Poverty
05/4/2016
Week 19
Study Day
05/04/2016
Week 20
Final Exam
05/06/2016
***chapters 9 – 16 are related to industrialized, emerging and transition economies and will be addressed in sequence, to ascertain the difference and similarities of those countries. While chapters 17 – 22 are related to social issues and public policies and will also be addressed in sequences, to see how those issues are addressed and their respective drawback across the globe. **Reminder: Several topics will be repeated over the course of the semester. We will be going back to certain topics in greater detail and relate those topics to areas of interest * Note:
The instructor reserves the right to adjust the schedule as needed. Subject to Change Clause: Information contained in this course outlines is correct at the time of its publication. However, content of the courses is revised to ensure relevance to changing educational needs. The instructor reserves the right to alter and/or augment any assignments, requirements. Change the contents and terms of the course and/or dates contained in this syllabus, changes in course coverage, exam dates, grading, if any, will be announced in class accordingly. Please note that no student may bring children to the class. This is a matter of labiality for the university as well as a potential distraction in the class room.
___________________________ * Weekly ddates are estimates. Assignments, quizzes and eexaminations on dates other than those listed will be announced at least one week in advance.
___________________________________________________ Final Exam Review Wednesday May 4, 2016 @ 11:00 AM Final Exam Friday May 6, 2016 @ 11:30 AM
