| Unit name | International Economics and Finance |
|---|---|
| Unit code | ECONM0036 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Mr. Merkel |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Economics |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The understanding of trends and determinants of international trade in assets, goods and commodities have become essential for any country, organization or company with ambition to be competitive in the global market. The aim of this course is to provide students with the essential background for the study of international flows in these markets and to cover topics including balance of payments, exchange rates, goods and financial flows across countries, and sovereign debt crises.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit aims to provide students with both theoretical foundations of the topics as well as applications to current events related to currencies, global financial imbalances, and current account crises.
An overview of content
This course will look at recent data on global imbalances to understand the major trends in the global flows of goods and financial assets. Then we look at several theory models designed to understand the determinants of current account and asset accumulation dynamics. We will evaluate these models critically by applying them to recent empirical observations sampled from a large set of countries.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
Students will have a rigorous understanding of the key empirical and theoretical concepts of international good and asset markets. They will be equipped with skills to evaluate different explanations why the international asset position and or the current account of a given country is deteriorating (or improving). These evaluations require both a sound understanding of economic models and skills in selecting and analysing empirical data.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
The unit comprises a combination of lectures and tutorials that either take a workshop or exercise class format.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
There are two key components to formative assessment:
There will be empirical tasks every week for the first part of the course. Students will have to analyse publicly available data for some countries following a set of guidelines. Their findings will be discussed both in groups and with the tutor at the tutorial sessions. These tasks build the basis for the individual coursework assignment.
Oral feedback on answers to previous exam questions, and practice exercises, will prepare students for the final examination.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
Coursework (25%) Approximately 1000 words. Tests ILOs 1, 3 and 4.
Exam (2 hours) (75%). Tests ILOs 1, 2 and 3.
When assessment does not go to plan
When a student fails the unit and is eligible to resubmit, failed components will be reassessed on a like-for-like basis.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. ECONM0036).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
