Economics 250 Instructor: Professor Simon Hakim
(International Trade) SS II, 2007. Tel 215-204-5037. E-mail:
Readings List

Prerequisites: Economic principles (Econ 51 and 52), basic algebra skills. SBM students must have completed the SBM core first. If you have questions, contact SBM advising in Speakman Hall.

Text: W. Charles Sawyer and Richard L. Sprinkle. International Economics. Prentice-Hall 2006, 2nd ed. (2003, 1st ed. is ok, but missing Ch. 10 below.) Try Zavelle's (1520 N. Broad) for used copies. Online copy available at safarix.com (half-price but no resale).

Note: (Per University Policy # 02.78.13) any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at 215-204-1280 in 100 Ritter Annex to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Also note: Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed through the following link: http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no=03.70.02.

Course Requirements: Final exam, quizzes through the semester and “what is new”.

What is new: IN the beginning of each class, students will have the chance to present a current event. It should deal with an international economic issue and drawn from a national or an international newspaper/magazine. Recommended: The Economist, Time Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times. Use Power Point for presentations, and discussing the issue without reading a text.

Grading: 1. Grades will be based on the results of quizzes and the final exam. Class attendance is not required; however, it is the student's obligation to keep track of anything discussed in class, the timing of the quizzes, or handed out in class. The grades of all quizzes will be averaged. Final grade is 40 percent the final exam, 40 percent the quizzes, and 20 percent class presentations. Absence from the final exam will require formal evidence of an illness or other emergency, and it is up to you to notify me before grades are turned in. The final exam will not be given early for any reason. Also note: if you decide to stop coming without formally withdrawing from the course, your grade will be determined by the above procedure (usually it will be an F).

Learning Objectives: 1. General: increased ability to understand and use abstract reasoning, particularly quantitative economic reasoning.
2. Specific: understand the standard economic story about: the causes of trade (chs. 1-4); the causes and effects of international factor movements (ch. 5); the types, causes, and economic effects of restrictions on trade (chs.6-7); the differences in causes and effects between world trade agreements and trade-bloc agreements (chs. 8,9); and the causes and implications of globalization (section 5).


1. Basic Tools: [See your microeconomic principles (Econ 52) book if you do not understand the stuff when I go over it. If you do not have a principles book, see section HB171 in the Library for a selection of principles books, ask me for one, or go to a textbook web site (e.g. www.econweb.com). Also, you may find discussions by searching the web. Enter the topic; or try economics.about.com or dismal.com for example.] Demand and Supply (including elasticity), efficiency (if you can't find this specific topic, read the discussion on profit maximization), production possibilities frontier (or transformation curve), and the basic two-good choice model

2. The Theory of International Trade
a. Introduction (with a brief discussion of current macro events): ch. 1
b. Why countries trade: ch. 2
c. Trade model extensions and applications: chs. 3 and 4

3. International Factor Movements and Multinational Corporations: ch. 5,

4. Trade Policy
a. Tariffs: ch. 6
b. Other policies affecting trade: ch. 7
c. Trade regulation and trade agreements: ch. 8, ch. 9

5. Globalization: Causes, Problems, and Solutions: Globalization Discussion, Ch. 10

6. Final Examination: