IB 350 International Trade - Planned Schedule - Spring 2008 (subject to change)
Dr. Linda Gerber
DATE TOPIC Text/Reading Assignments*
SECTION 1: The Global Economy - Laying a foundation
Jan 15 Intro: Course themes
17 What's going on in the Global Economy? Ch. 1
22 Globalization - for better or worse? Ch. 1 Review & Globalization Reading
24 Differences between nations: Political and Legal Systems Ch. 2 (p. 41 - 52 and 56 - 59)
29 Is global poverty fixed? Influences on Development Ch. 2 (p. 59 - 83) and Readings
31 Do the right thing - Corruption and Ethics in Global Business Ch. 4 & Ch. 2 (p 52 - 56)
Feb 5 How do firms "go international"? Ch. 12
7 Why do Countries Engage in Trade? Classical Economists Ch. 5 (p. 155- 170)
12 Why do Countries Engage in Trade? Newer Answers Ch. 5 (p. 170 - 187)
14 Exam 1 Ch. 1,2 4, 5,12, & Readings
SECTION 2: Government Involvement in the Global Economy
19 Exam 1 review / Who cares about the Balance of Payments? Readings on Balance of Payments
21 BOP Wrap-up/ Protectionism - The tangled web they weave Ch. 6 (p. 191 - 208) & Reading
26 Dr. Phil and Protectionism: How's that working for you? Ch. 6 (p. 208 - 223) & Reading
28 Foreign Direct Investment - Patterns and Plans Ch. 7 (p. 227 - 250) & Readings
Mar 4 FDI: Blessing or Curse? Ch. 7 (p. 250 - 56)
6 Regional Integration Ch. 8 (p.261- 68, 285- 87)
12/14 SPRING BREAK Have fun and be careful!
18 Regional Integration in Europe Ch. 8 (p. 268 - 278)
20 Trade in the Hood (North and South America - & in between) Ch. 8 ( 278 - 285, 288 - 291) & Reading
25 Exam 2 BOP, Ch. 6, 7, 8 & Readings
SECTION 3: Money, Money, Money
27 Exam 2 Review/The Foreign Exchange Market Ch. 9 (p. 295 - 303)
Apr 1 How are Exchange Rates Determined? By Big Macs… Ch. 9 (p. 303 - 310) & Reading
3 And other things… And how do you predict them? Ch. 9 (p. 310 - 321) & Reading
8 How the World Manages Money (Monetary Systems) Ch. 10 (p 325 - 337)
10 Hamlet and the Forex (To Fix or to Float? That is the question) Ch. 10 (p. 337 - 342) & Reading
15 The IMF: Savior or Satan? The Crisis Years Ch. 10 (p. 342 - 355) & & review p. 311 - 312)
SECTION 4: And now for something completely different….
17 What REALLY Makes us different? What is "Culture" anyway? Ch. 3 (p. 87 - 106)
22 I wanna be me… Handling cultural differences Ch. 3 (p. 106 - 120) & Exercise
24 A day to catch up (we will surely be behind by now…) Whatever we missed before
29 Exam 3 Ch. 9, 10, 3 and Readings
May 1 Course Wrap-up/Exam Review/Final Exam Info
7 (Wednesday) FINAL EXAM: Best Estimate 2:00 - 3:30 PM for class that meets 9:30 - 11:00
10 (Saturday) FINAL EXAM: Best Estimate 2:00 - 3:30 PM for class that meets 11:00 - 12:30
SUN 18 GRADUATION DAY FOR SENIORS (you hope… :-) )
* note that other outside readings will be assigned during the semester