Blockveranstaltung International Business Environment IMM

Part 1: Prof. Dr. Suarez: International Economics The goal of this course is to develop a consistent and comprehensive analysis of the main international economic problems. By combining theory with current events and policy debates, the course emphasizes how to approach and understand the basic forces influencing world economic relations. CONTENT 1. The Word Economy. An Overview. 1.1. Output, Trade and Capital Flows. 1.2. Globalization: Trends in International Production and Trade. 1.3. Trade in services: the Technologies of Information and Communication (TIC). 1.4. Crisis: Determinants, consequences and forecasts. 1.5. How to approach the study of international economics. 2. International Trade (I): Explanations, Models and Welfare Effects. 2.1. Absolute and Comparative advantage. 2.2. Gains from international specialization and trade. 2.3. A short typology of trade models. 2.4. Factor proportion as explanation to trade. 2.5. Intra-industry trade and economies of scales. 3. International Trade (II): Protection, policy instruments and regional integration. 3.1. Rationale for protection. Economic and political arguments. 3.2. Effects of tariffs, quotas and other trade barriers. 3.3. Nominal vs. Effective protection. 3.4. Transport costs and trade. 3.5. Institutional aspects of trade negotiations. 3.6. Regional integration: Custom Unions and more. 4. National Accounts and the Balance of Payments. 4.1. National Income accounting. 4.2. National Accounts in an Open economy. 4.3. Adjustment to trade imbalances. 4.4. The structure of the Balance of Payments. 4.5. Basic macroeconomic relations related to the Balance of Payments. 5. Exchange rates and International Financial Markets. 5.1. The Foreign Exchange Market 5.2. Futures, Options and Swaps. 5.3. International Financial Markets. 5.4. Determinants of the exchange rates. 5.5. Price levels and exchange rates: The PPP and the real exchange rate. 5.6. International Monetary Arrangements: IMF and beyond. KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AFTER COMPLETING THE COURSE A better understanding of the international economic framework in which trade and financial relations of firms take place. COURSE FORMAT AND TEACHING METHODS Lectures (10) covering the basic analytical framework of a short course in International Economics. Discussions related to the topics presented aim to integrate the theoretical approach with a more practical and business orientated. Real trade and financial problems are discussed applying the tools developed in the lectures. A wide use of graphics should allow students to rationalize and intuitively understand many of the results coming from quite elaborated economic models. COURSE CONTENT International trade theory and policy: Trade models, tariff protection and arguments for restricting free trade. Balance of payments and national accounts: Basic concepts in open economy macroeconomics. Exchange rates and foreign exchange markets: Purchasing power parity in exchange rates and interest rates, and futures markets. Regional integration and multilateral trade liberalization. INTEGRATION OF THEORY WITH PRACTICE A theoretical background in international economics (trade and finance) is applied to real business cases in order to analyze the most important implications for firms of being operating in a global setting. As far as it is possible students should be able to translate analytical tools and instruments to day to day strategic decisions of firms and institutions, taking account of limits and conditions imposed by a government and supranational framework. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER COURSES The study of international economics requires a basic knowledge of micro and macroeconomic principles, representing in fact a continuation of them in the sense that they extend the analysis to a wide range of economic relations among countries. This course cannot cover all the complexities of today financial markets, so a course on International Finance will develop more applied aspects of these operations. In the field of external foreign trade strategies by firms, topics on international marketing techniques are the logical extension of the macroeconomic orientation of this course. EVALUATION. A written examination will take place to evaluate the performance of the students. Duration of the exam will be 90 minutes. Among 8 questions proposed, students will choose. All 4 have the same value, and the answers will consist in developing arguments and explanations related to the basic topics developed along the course. Part 2: Prof. Dr. Carmen Santos: Consumer Behavior The purpose of this course is the knowledge about the study of consumer behaviour and its implication in Marketing. They will be described the models, processes of purchase decisions and internal and external factors influencing consumer behaviour • Introduction • Market segmentation process • Consumer decision making • Internal variables • External variables • Consumer behaviour research • Cross-cultural consumer behaviour Part 1: Prof. Dr. Suarez • Appleyard, D.R. and A.J. Field (2001), International Economics, 4th edition, McGraw-Hill, New York. • Husted, S. & M. Melvin (2007) International Economics, 7th edition, Pearson Addison-Wesley, Boston, MA. • Krugman, P. & M. Obsfeld (2009), International Economics. Theory and Policy, 8th edition, Pearson Prentice-Hall, New York. • Pugel, T. (2009), International Economics, 14th edition, McGraw-Hill, New York. • Sawyer, W.S. and R.L. Sprinkle (2009), International Economics, 3rd edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, New York. • Van Marrewijk, C. (2002), International Trade and the World Economy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK. All the above listed textbooks on International Economics have very similar contents. We will rely basically on material from Sawyer and Sprinkle (2009). Its level and approach are particularly appropriate to accomplish the objectives of the course according to the knowledge background of the students. Part 2: Prof. Dr. Carmen Santos: Consumer Behavior • Engel, J.F, Blackwell, R.D. and Miniard, PW (2002). Consumer Behaviour. The Dryden Press • Assael, H. (1998). Consumer Behaviour and Marketing Action. International Thomson Publishing. • Solomon, M., Bamossyr, G., askegaard, S. and Hogg, M.K. (2006). Consuemr Behaviour. A European Perspective. Pearson Education. Bemerkung Only 40 Students can take part! Rules: 1. Exchange students are treated preferentially 2. Students who apply via http://www.ibwl.uni-kassel.de/marketing/imm.html are treated preferentially 3. Ranking order in HISPOS-system FB 07 Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre Uni Kassel SoSe 2010 Lehrveranstaltungspool FB 07 FB 07 Institut für Betriebswirtschaftslehre Prof. Suárez Celestino