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Antioch University
Santa Barbara

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Winter 2003


Global Economics
MGT361


Instructor: Steven R. Van Hook, M.A.
E-mail: steven@wwmr.org
http://wwmr.org/AUSB-globalecon/


MEETINGS:  
Tuesdays, January 7 – March 11, 2003; 1:00 – 3:50 p.m. (Section 2)
Thursdays, January 9 – March 13, 2003; 1:00 – 3:50 p.m. (Section 1)

CREDITS: 3 units awarded on a credit or no-credit basis.

DESCRIPTION: Beginning with a review of essential concepts in economics, this course focuses on the international and cross-cultural nature of contemporary economic phenomena. Emphasis is on macroeconomics, rather than microeconomics. Theoretical concepts are applied to specific cases, such as economic relationships between the US and Japan, Mexico, and other countries.

LEARNING ACTIVITIES: Students will study and discuss historic, current, and emerging economic models in the United States and around the world, with course activity and materials including lectures, discussions, readings, case studies, multi-media presentations and online resources. Each student will prepare a final project covering a national, international, or global economic development issue; a socioeconomic monograph; an analysis of an industrial sector; or review and critique of an economic theory; working either individually or in a team of two.  Assigned weekly readings are due for discussion by the following week’s class. Access to online content is through the course website at http://wwmr.org/AUSB-globalecon/

COURSE TEXT: Epping, Randy C. (2001). A Beginner's Guide to the World Economy: Eighty-One Basic Economic Concepts That Will Change the Way You See the World. Additional readings will be posted on the course website, linked to directly from each week's overview in the online course syllabus.

ATTENDANCE: Due to the concentrated subject matter covered in a once-weekly course, attendance is required for each class session. In the event of an excused emergency or sickness, students may be able to make up a missed class with a 3-5 page research paper covering the session material.

PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT: Student performance will be assessed on criteria of class participation, completion of textbook and online readings and exercises, and the final project. Submission of the final project document should be sent to the instructor as an email attachment to the address above by the due date noted in the course schedule.

CLASS SCHEDULE:

January 7/9
Week 1

Topics: Syllabus review, course expectations, content introduction and class resources. Foundations of global economics.
Case Study/Discussion:
Faces of the World Economy
Reading Assignment:
Text / Introduction, Chapters 1-12

Online Readings/Exercise
s:
See course site for additional readings. Review economic glossary (be prepared to discuss assigned terms next class).

January 14/16
Week 2

Topics: Reading/exercise discussion. History and theory of economic development.
Case Study/Discussion:
Scenes of Revolution and Social Change
Reading Assignment:
Text / Chapters 13-21
Online Readings/Exercise
s:
See course website for additional readings. Visit and review Economic Systems and Theories site.

January 21/23
Week 3

Topics: Reading/exercise discussion. International financial markets.
Case Study/Discussion:
The Big Mac Index
Reading Assignment:
Text / Chapters 22-32, 43-48

Online Readings/Exercise
s: See course site for assigned readings. Visit economic news sites.

January 28/30
Week 4

Topics: Reading/exercise discussion. Economic issue and research resources.
Case Study/Discussion: Conducting Effective Research
Reading Assignment: Text / Chapters 33-42
Online Readings/Exercises: See course website for additional readings. Investigate economic research resources through course website links. Prepare topic outline for final project and submit via email.

February 4/6
Week 5

          Final Project Topic Due
Topics: Reading/exercise discussion. International economies: Asia, the Americas, Africa, Europe, Eastern Europe, developing nations.

Case Study/Discussion:
Global Trends 2015
Reading Assignment: Text / Chapters 52-58
Online Readings/Exercises: See course website for additional readings. Visit the CIA World Factbook site.

February 11/13
Week 6

Topics: Reading/exercise discussion. Globalization. Corporate and government drivers. International development organizations and coalitions (e.g., WTO, WB, IMF, USAID, NAFTA, OECD, EU, OPEC).
Case study/discussion:
Marketing Free Markets

Reading Assignment:
Text / Chapters 59-69
Online Readings/Exercises:  See course website for additional readings. Visit the International Forum on Globalization site.

February 18/20
Week 7

Topics: Reading/exercise discussion. Cultural influences in the global economy. Theories of cultural dimensions.
Case Study/Discussion:
Models of Transcultural Relations
Reading Assignment: Text / Chapters 70-82
Online Readings/Exercises: See course website for additional readings. Hofstede's cultural dimensions.

February 25/27
Week 8

Topics: Reading/exercise discussion. Global interrelations: Social, ethical, and environmental issues.
Case Study/Discussion:
Corruption: Name that Nation
Reading Assignment:
Text / Chapters 49-51
Online Readings/Exercises: See course website for additional readings. Browse Center for Study of Ethics.
March 4/6
Week 9
          Final Project Due
Topics: Reading/exercise discussion. The New Economy. Technological promise and possibility.
Case Study/Discussion: Masters of Glocalization
Reading Assignment:
Text / Review glossary, pp. 181-232
Online Readings/Exercises: See course website for additional readings. Browse career links and Bureau of Labor Statistics.

March 11/13
Week 10

          Review of Class Final Projects
Topics:
Reading/exercise discussion. The future of the global economy. Socioeconomic evolution and revolution, utopianism, career choices.


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