General Information, Resource Materials, and Organization
for ECON 310, International Economy
Fall 2006

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. 

My contact information is:

Mailing address:      272 Barre Hall, Department of Applied Economics and Statistics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0313. 
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 at the Center for International Trade located in 325 Sirrine Hall)

·        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 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 

The course is divided into four learning modules covering the CD.  Each module will conclude with a 100 point test which is cumulative.  The modules are:

Tests/Final (400 points)

The dates for tests 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 all other assignments (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 makeup exams 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 tests during the semester.

Other Grading Factors

Grading Factors

Section tests and the final                      400 points (four out of five 100-point tests/final)
The Choice Report                               100 points
WIKI-WTO & WIKI-NAFTA            100 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. (That is, if you have, for example, and 89.5 to 89.9 average for the course, the above factors will play a role in determining if the aerage is rounded upward to a 90. Rounding upward is not automatic. Do not expect a grade of 89.4 or lower, 79.4 lower, etc. to be rounded upward.)

Assignments turned in late

The due date for the Choice Report will be provided well in advance.  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.))  The WIKI-WTO assignment will be penalized in a fashion similar to the Choice Report assignment.

Miscellaneous

The Course Web Site

Assignments and other course material have been posted on the course web site.  The web site, which is formatted in Black Board, is accessible via MyCLE.  Your grade will also be posted in the web site’s grade book. 

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 in a timely fashion.  You should check the grade book regularly.  The 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. Attempting to turn in assignments requiring class attendance but not attending the class should be considered as not conforming to academic integrity.

This is a preliminary version of the syllabus. The official one is the one distributed in class.

Fall 2006 Course List    AE & S Home

copyright 2006 by Gary J. Wells, Department of Applied Economics & Statistics, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0313

updated 10/26/06