Development, trade and their inter-linkages are amongst the most controversial topics of today. Economics has much to say concerning these issues, and constitutes a powerful tool in terms of debunking commonly held mis-perceptions. This course will selectively consider a number of key topics associated with trade and development, including :

i) tariffs and other structural barriers to trade,
ii) global and regional trade arrangements,
iii) trade policy in developing countries,
iv) preferential trade arrangements and the role of international institutions such as the World Bank, the IMF and the WTO,
v) factor mobility (including immigration policies),
vi) outsourcing, technical change and productivity growth, and
vii) intellectual property rights.

A particular emphasis will be placed on the consequences of trade on outcomes in developing countries, including : wages and labour markets, the links between openness, economic growth, poverty and inequality, the impact of export instability, terms of trade for primary commodities, and environmental consequences in the developing world. By the end of the course, it is hoped that participants will be able to intelligently read and critically assess policy documents on the topics covered that are commonly produced by the major international institutions.