International Trade
International Trade
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
Course Objective:
The purpose of this course is to inform the basics of international trade theory and to examine
the effects of international economic policies on domestic and world welfare. This course
develops a systematic exposition of models that try to explain the composition, direction, and
consequences of international trade, and the determinants and effects of trade policy. Although
the course is based on abstract theoretical models, students will also be exposed to real-world
examples and case studies. Course Learning Outcomes The module aims to introduce students to
the main theoretical and empirical concepts in international trade, equip students with a thorough
analytical grasp of trade theory, ranging from Ricardian comparative advantage to modern
theories of intra-industry trade, and familiarise students with the main issues in trade policy and
with the basic features of the international trading regime. At the end of the course, the students
should be able to demonstrate their understanding of the economic concepts of trade theory. In
some models, the student will be required to deal with simple algebraic problems that will help
them to better understand these concepts, use diagrammatic analysis to demonstrate and compare
the economic welfare effects of free trade and protection, demonstrate their understanding of the
usefulness and problems related to topics in international trade, and demonstrate their critical
understanding of trade policies.
( This document is slightly revised as on the 12th of August 2023 incorporating suggestions
from the faculty members teaching the course in the constituent colleges online.)
2.1 Ricardian trade theory (notion of comparative advantage and gains from trade due to
specialisation); KOM: Ch 3 : Labour Productivity and Comparative Advantage: Ricardian
Model, pp 52 -78
2.2 Specific factor model; international movement of factors, standard trade model
KOM Ch 4: Specific Factors and Income Distribution, pp 79-114
KOM Ch 6: Standard Trade Model, pp 151-178
2.3 Heckscher-Ohlin theory; Heckscher-Ohlin theorem; factor price equalisation, Rybcznski and
Stolper-Samuelson theorems, Heckscher- Ohlin-Vanek Model
Gandolfo Ch 4: The Heckscher -Ohlin Model, pp 63-77, 80-82, 90-91(Figure 4.11 can be
avoided)
Gandolfo Ch 5: The Four Core Theorems, pp 103 -108
3.1 Gravity model, external economies of scale, internal economies of scale; the Krugman model
KOM Ch 2: World Trade an Overview, pp 39-41
KOM Ch 7 : External Economies of Scale and the International Location of Production, pp 179-
197
3.2 firm heterogeneity; introduction to the theory of multinational firms and FDI, Offshoring of
Goods and Services
KOM Ch 8: Firms in the Global Economy, pp 198-242
FT Ch 7: Offshoring of Goods and Services, pp 197-232
4.1 Instruments of trade policy; tariffs, quotas, export subsidies, voluntary export restraints. The
economics of trade policy
References:
1. Feenstra, R., Taylor, A. (2014). International Trade, 3rd ed. Worth Publishers. (Abbreviation
used: FT)
2. Krugman, P., Obstfeld, M., Melitz, M. (2018). International Economics - Theory and Policy,
11th ed. Pearson Education. (Abbreviation used: KOM)
3. Gandolfo, International Trade Theory and Policy (with contribution from Federico Trionfetti),
Springer (2014),2nd ed.