GBUS 8451 MANAGING IINTERNATIONAL TRADE AND INVESTMENT

This course is intended for students whose careers will likely be affected by trends in international trade and investment. It offers a conceptual framework to analyze the opportunities and constraints of the global economy, while at the same time provides concrete examples of successful (or failed) business strategies. The course first focuses on the main economic forces that drive international trade as well as the location of production and addresses big-picture questions about the economic environment of firms. Students also will investigate how national and international policies affect the international flow of goods and capital. Analyzing and discussing free-trade areas or customs unions, antidumping cases, and how policies by international organizations such as the WTO and national governments affect international investment and location decisions by multinationals are an important focus in this course. Cases based on such timely topics as intellectual property rights, environmental or labor-rights issues that are at the forefront of controversial debates about globalization, and how individual firms have dealt with them are featured. In-class presentations of group projects that apply the tools of the course add to the content of the course.

Academic course objectives:

· Offer a framework for understanding and analyzing current trends in globalization

· Develop students’ ability to relate a company’s global strategies to broader macro- and policy forces in the global economy

· Help students understand the complexity of international trade and investment decisions.

Elements of the course grade (tentative):

Class participation                                           35%

Individual assignments                                   20%

In-class group project presentation                 45%