General Information, Resource Materials, and Organization for ECON 310, International Economy

Spring 2005

General Information

Introduction

Welcome to ECON 310, International Economy.  This course investigates the process of international commerce among nations.  The basic theory of trade and exchange rates, institutional and legal environments, and current policy issues are covered.  This course is not open to students who have taken ECON 412 and economics majors should check with their advisor to make sure credit applies toward the economics degree.  The prerequisites for the course are ECON 200 or 201 or both 211 and 212, or consent of instructor. 

 

The primary objectives of the course are to:  (1) develop an understanding of international economic activity, (2) explore gains from trade, the mechanisms necessary to capture these gains, and the incentives (some groups have) to avoid them, and (3) explore the institutional systems used to cope with international economic activity.  Major goals are to establish the importance of the gains from international economic activity and to identify the gainers and losers of this activity.  Concepts will be illustrated and reinforced with numerous contemporary "real-world" examples.  Policy implications will also be investigated.  Investigation of the balance of payments and exchange rates will also form a significant portion of the course.

Instructor

I am Gary J. Wells, professor in Applied Economics and Statistics.  My professional interests include international economic activity and globalization.  I have served as visiting fellow in the Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division of the Congressional Research Service and consulted for the World Bank and the Government of China.  For a more complete resume visit http://hubcap.clemson.edu/~gjwells. 

 

My contact information is:

Mailing address:   272 Barre Hall, Department of Applied Economics and Statistics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0310. 

E-mail:  gjwells@clemson.edu

Telephone: (864) 650-8316.

Scheduled office hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., but I am in the office much of the time, and I check my e-mail frequently.  As needed, I will send e-mails to the class and/or post information on the course’s message board, which can be accessed from the course home page.  You are also free to call me at the above number.

Resource Materials

The required materials for the course are:

·       International Economics for Non-Economists by Gary J. Wells (available on CD)

·       The Choice: A Fable of Free Trade and Protectionism by Russell Roberts (2001. Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-087052-8) (Available in the University bookstore or it can be ordered through most commercial bookstores)

Organization of the Course

Attendance

Attendance is expected.  You will be responsible for all assignments and announced changes in the schedule made during class time, posted on the course web site and/or distributed via e-mail.  Absence from class does not alter the due date of assignments.  Roll will be taken periodically and will be used to help determine grades in borderline cases.  You are responsible for picking up graded tests and homework assignments. 

The official University waiting time for a professor is fifteen minutes.  I make it a practice to be on time, but if I am late by more than fifteen minutes, class will be canceled.

Modules Covering the International Economics for Non-Economists material 

This portion of the course is divided into four learning modules covering the text.  Each module includes the text material and a power point file.  Each module will conclude with a 100 point test.  The modules are:

Tests

Test and assignment dates will be announced well in advance.  It is your responsibility to know when they are scheduled.  Tests will only be given during the class period or during the makeup period described below.  Each test (including the final) counts 100 points.  The first test missed (for whatever reason) will be dropped.  That is, a score of zero will be assigned for the missed test and then dropped when the course average is calculated.  If no tests (including the final) are missed, then the lowest test score will be dropped.  Dropping the lowest score applies only to tests and the final.  Grades for The Choice report, homework assignments, web assignment, and news articles/seminars (discussed below) will not be dropped.

 

An excuse is not required for the first missed test.  This is the test that will be dropped regardless of the excuse.  If a second test is missed, an acceptable excuse [i.e., a written excuse verified by an acceptable outside source (e.g. school administrator or physician)] is required before a makeup will be administered.  An essay format will be used for makeup tests, and they will be given during the final exam period.

 

Each test after the first test will have a cumulative component.  That is, some questions will cover previously covered material.  These questions may or may not have appeared on earlier tests.  The final is cumulative and formatted like the end-of-module tests.

Homework and Web Assignments

There are three 20 point homework assignments.  For each homework assignment you will be directed to short web-based readings.  Once you have read the material you will complete the assignment by taking an on-line 20-point quiz.  You will have 10 minutes to complete the quiz.  Only one attempt is allowed. Do not access the quiz until you are ready to take it.  While you take the quiz you may refer to the assigned readings and any notes you care to make, but because the quizzes are timed you will need to be familiar with the readings prior to taking the quiz.  You may not confer with anyone while taking the on-line quizzes.

 

The web assignment will also count 20 points and will require you to search the web for selected information related to the course.  Details will be made available well in advance of the assignment.

The Choice Report

The Choice assignment will have two parts.  The first part is posted on the course web site.  Once it is completed the second part of the assignment will be posted on the web site.  Please read the first part assignment prior to reading The Choice.  

News articles/seminars

During the semester you need to find and summarize 10 news articles from mainstream newspapers or magazines (summary not to exceed 1 typed page) (4 points each), or attend five acceptable seminars dealing with international topics (8 points each), or a combination of the two (totaling 40 points).  Examples of acceptable newspapers and magazines include The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Economist, Newsweek, Time, etc.  Many reputable newspapers and magazines are available on the Internet.  I will announce some seminars that will meet the requirements of this portion of the course.  For these a sign-in sheet will be available at the end of the seminar.  Other seminars need to be cleared with me prior to attending.  A brief summary of the seminar will be required.

 

The news summaries must be turned in at the beginning of class, and you need to be available during the class if we discuss the article.  Summaries will not be accepted via e-mail or at times other than the beginning of class.  You may only turn in one article at a time.  Articles may be discussed during class.  You should bring two copies of your report—one to turn in and one to keep for possible discussion.

Grading Factors

Module tests and the final                   100 pts each with one dropped for a total of 400 pts

The Choice Report                              80 points

Homework assignments                       20 points each for a total of 60 points

Web assignment                                  20 points

News articles/seminars                       40 points

Total                                                    600 points

In borderline cases class participation, attendance and out-of-class learning opportunities will be used to decide which grade to assign.

Assignments turned in late

Due dates for the Choice Report, home works, and the web assignment (out-of-class assignments) will be provided well in advance.  If a Choice Report assignment is received late a 10 percent penalty will be applied for each week (or fraction thereof) it is late (calculated in a cumulative fashion up to a maximum of 50% (e.g., a 10% penalty for the first week, 20% for the second week, etc.))  Taking the home work quizzes late will not be allowed.  If there is a computer malfunction that prevents taking the quiz, you need to let me know by class time of the last day the quiz is available.  I will instruct you what to do at that time.  Turning in the web assignment late will follow a policy similar to the Choice Report.

Miscellaneous

The Course Web Site

You can access course assignments via the course web site.  It is available through MyCLE and is formatted in BlackBoard.  To gain access you will be asked for your University ID and password.

Class Schedule

A tentative class schedule is posted on the course web site.  There may be a necessity to change the schedule during the semester.  If the schedule is changed, the change will be announced in class and a new schedule will be posted on the web site.

Posting grades

Every effort will be made to post grades for each assignment in the grade book of the course’s web site.  This grade book will serve as notification of your mid-term grade.

Course Grade

The course grade will be based on the percent of the available points you earn.  The anticipated grading scale is:

A                     90-100% of the points available

B                     from 80% up to but not including 90% of the points available

C                     from 70% up to but not including 80% of the points available

D                     from 60% up to but not including 70% of the points available

F                      below 60%

Any changes in this scale will be to your advantage.

Academic Honesty

Clemson’s policy on academic integrity is "As members of the Clemson University community, we have inherited Thomas Green Clemson's vision of this institution as a 'high seminary of learning.' Fundamental to this vision is a mutual commitment to truthfulness, honor and responsibility, without which we cannot earn the trust and respect of others.  Furthermore, we recognize that academic dishonesty detracts from the value of a Clemson degree. Therefore, we shall not tolerate lying, cheating, or stealing in any form."  Students caught plagiarizing or otherwise cheating will receive an F for the course.

 

This syllabus is preliminary and is subject to change. The syllabus distributed in class is the official version.

Fall 2005 Course List       AE & S Home

copyright 2005 by Gary J. Wells, Professor, Department of Applied Economics & Statistics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.