English (with linguistic laboratory) (2008/2009)

Learning outcomes

This 60-hour course uses juridical and economic perspectives and covers a wide range of material designed to prepare students for a variety of professional business and economics-oriented activities in an international commercial environment.

. The topics covered include:

• International financial institutions (e.g., the IMF) and other global institutions whose decisions impact international business (such as the G8 and the G20);
• International trade, with an emphasis on the institutions, functioning and dispute resolution mechanism of the World Trade Organization;
• The causes of global financial instability
• Banking crises, currency crises and credit crunches
• Global efforts to respond to the economic crisis and its spillover to the real economy (e.g., the G20 in London, spring 2009)
• The foundations and economic functioning of central banks
• Economic and Monetary Union in the European Union
• The institutions of the European Union and their interaction
• European Community competition policy, with a focus on state aid and antitrust
• The vocabulary of international business and economics

The threads running through the course were the importance of institutions, their role in generating expectations (and ideally reducing transaction costs), and their influence on international business. Students are expected to be able to discuss the topics covered and to demonstrate a firm grasp of the key concepts exposed during the program of instruction.