Overview
International Trade (ECON 475) is a three-credit, senior-level course in economics at Athabasca University. The course may be taken as an elective by business, political science, international studies, and history students who have economics courses in their background.
In the last decade, we have seen economic internationalization proceed at a very fast pace. Our awareness of the role of international issues in our lives has increased substantially. Almost daily, we read about developments such as the European Union. We see increased economic integration efforts that have fostered monetary union and the Eeuro, policy issues related to reducing trade barriers and the impact of retaliatory actions, the spread of the Asian Crisis, and the US trade deficit. In addition, trade in services has been growing in importance.
This course is designed to provide you with a thorough understanding of the fundamental principles of international trade. You will consider a number of questions:
- What determines the basis of trade?
- What are the effects of trade?
- What determines the value and the volume of trade?
- What factors impede the flow of trade?
- What is the impact of public policy that attempts to alter the pattern of trade?
Outline
The course material is divided into ten study units. These units are as follows:
- Unit 1: Canada in a Global Economy
- Unit 2: The Classical Theory of Trade
- Unit 3: Basic Microeconomic Concepts
- Unit 4: Neoclassical Trade Theory
- Unit 5: Offer Curves and the Terms of Trade
- Unit 6: The Basis for Trade
- Unit 7: Post-Heckscher-Ohlin Theories of Trade and Intra-Industry Trade
- Unit 8: The Instruments of Trade Policy
- Unit 9: The Impact of Trade Policies
- Unit 10: Traditional Arguments for Protection
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to understand the following:
- what determines the basis of trade
- what the effects of trade are
- what determines the value and the volume of trade
- what factors impede the flow of trade
- what the impact of public policy is that attempts to alter the pattern of trade.
Evaluation
Your final grade for ECON 475 is based on your performance on two quizzes, two assignments, and a final examination. To receive credit for this course, you must achieve a minimum grade of 50% on the final examination and a minimum overall course grade of D (50 percent). The following chart describes the credit weight associated with each course requirement.
| Activity | Weight | Complete by |
| Quiz 1 | 10% | After Unit 3 |
| Assignment 1 | 20% | After Unit 5 |
| Quiz 2 | 10% | After Unit 7 |
| Assignment 2 | 20% | After Unit 10 |
| Final Examination | 40% | After completing all other assessment activities. |
| Total | 100% | |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University鈥檚 online Calendar.
In response to COVID-19 containment directives, temporary online exam(s) are available for this course.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Appleyard, D. R., & Field, A. J., Jr. (2017). International economics (9th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill/Irwin. ISBN 9781259693762
Other Resources
The McGraw-Hill Connect website includes self-study review activities (SmartBook/LearnSmart) for each textbook chapter.
All other learning resources will be available online.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the ECON 475 challenge registration, you must achieve a grade of at least 50% on the examination.
Paper Exam (3 hours)
Challenge for credit course registration form