International economics and financial markets

The course is a 7,5-credit advanced course in Economics within the first-cycle level.

The course can be part of the following programmes: 1) Bachelor's Programme in Business and Economics (S1EKA)

Admission to the course requires at least 45 credits of completed courses at both the introductory and intermediate levels in Economics with a passing grade, of which at least 5 credits must be a course in Financial Economics, NEK106 or equivalent.

This course introduces various basic topics in international economics including balance of payments accounting, the structure and operations of the foreign exchange and forward currency markets, exchange-rate systems, the nature of international financial crises, simple models of exchange-rate determination as well as more advanced open economy macroeconomic modelling.

After completion of the course, the student shall be able to:

1. describe and explain the international payment and exchange-rate systems as well as important international financial markets, including the spot and forward currency markets.

2. describe and explain the basic exchange-rate and open-economy macroeconomic models commonly used by policy-makers and international traders and investors.

3. independently apply models used by policy-makers and international traders and investors for purposes of conducting policy analysis as well as predicting balance of payments and exchange-rate movements.

4. identify, illustrate and problematise global and local work focusing on accountability, ethics and follow-up related to environmental, social and economic sustainability issues (applies only to students in the Programme in Environmental Social Science and the Programme in Business and Economics, see further information under Assessment).

The content of the course is presented mainly at lectures and in group exercises. A large part of the knowledge acquisition on the course is done through own work by the student.

Language of instruction: English

All learning outcomes are examined by a written examination.

In connection with written assignments, the course coordinator or teacher may conduct a follow-up oral conversation with the student. The conversation serves as an assessment support for the written assignment. The purpose of the conversation is to ensure that the learning objectives of the assignment are met and that the text, ideas, and/or analysis are the student’s own work.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Excellent (A), Very good (B), Good (C), Satisfactory (D), Sufficient (E) and Fail (F).

Course evaluation is done digitally and anonymously at the end of the course.

The survey material is compiled and the results from the course evaluation and proposals for possible improvement measures are discussed at the course committee meeting.

After the course evaluation is completed, the result will be published at the course homepage. If changes in course is made based on the course evaluation, this will be communicated at the course introduction for the upcoming student group

Limitations: The course may not be included in the same degree as the sub-course "International Economics and Financial Markets, 7.5 credits", which is part of NEG200, NE0200, HNF255 and NEK306 .