BAM6092 - International Business

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

1 explain the main features of the macroeconomic environment in which international business operates;
2 demonstrate an understanding of open economy macroeconomic theory and apply this theory to international economic relations and policy;
3 identify and explain the main features of international economic relations and critically evaluate current theoretical approaches to international trade and factor movements;
4 explain the nature and role of international economic institutions;
5 gather statistical information relevant to international business and organise and present this information to inform their understanding of international economic relations;
6 explain the growth of multinational enterprises and critically evaluate current theoretical approaches to understanding multinational enterprise behaviour;
7 explain the main features of the globalisation process and assess the impact of this on firms and economies.

Content:

The macroeconomic environment of international business: macroeconomic stability; economic growth; financial flows and the balance of payments; exchange rate regimes and policies. Macroeconomic policy and international policy co-operation. World economic institutions especially the World Trade Organisation , the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Central Bank. Sources of data on international business. The trading environment of international business. The growth and changing form of international trade. Theories of international trade. International competitiveness. Trade policy and international business. The trade liberalization process and the WTO. Globalisation and regional trading areas.

The multinational enterprise. The origins, nature and development of the MNE. Theories of MNE behaviour. Management and strategy in the MNE. MNE activity and the impact on trade patterns and host economies. MNEs and globalisation.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Delivery will be by a combination of lectures and tutorials. The lectures will cover the core issues, especially the theoretical analysis required to understand international economic relations. The tutorials will operate to a common programme that will include directed reading, written tasks and topics and questions for tutorial discussion. The emphasis in the tutorials will be on the application of theory to current issues in international business.

Lectures
Contact hours: 20
Number of Groups: 1

Tutorials
Contact hours: 16
Number of Groups: 4

Assessment: