Course Descriptions
Course Descriptions
Core
IDE501 Microeconomics for Development (3 credits)
This course introduces to the students the microeconomics for development. It also attempts to show what major development challenges people in developing countries are facing and what policies can help address with these challenges.
Core
IDE502 Macroeconomics for Development (3 credits)
This course introduces to the students the macroeconomics for development. It also attempts to show what major development challenges people in developing countries are facing and what policies can help address with these challenges.
Core
IDE503 Development Economics (3 credits)
This course focuses on the empirical analysis in development economics, particularly at the micro-level. After acquiring basic research and empirical methods commonly used among economists in the field of development, students will then study the cause of poverty and the path to development at individual, household and local levels. This course examines a number of rigorous empirical studies to answer two sets of questions: 1) what are the institutional, behavioral and information gaps to economic development; and 2) what policy measures can effectively improve the livelihood of the poor.
Core
IDE504 International Trade (3 credits)
This course provides a foundation in international trade, theory and policy. The course will aim to explain patterns of world production and trade and ask if international trade is beneficial. This will be done with the help of models from international trade theory that are important components of the toolkit of contemporary trade economists. The course will also explore the phenomena of outsourcing and international mobility of labor (immigration) and capital (Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)). The course will analyse and compare instruments of trade policy and evaluate their impact on domestic and international economies. Finally, this course will study the world trading system, including the World Trade Organisation (WTO), international trade agreements and the Belt and Road Initiative.
Core
IDE505 Current Issues in International and Development Economics (3 credits)
This course will invite a number of guest speakers to deliver a wide variety of current issues ranging from regional to international interactions with other regions in the Belt and Road Initiative. The course will examine a selected set of contemporary development issues and challenges in depth. Proposed topics include urbanisation and the rising numbers of urban vulnerable; the persistence of chronic, rural and urban poverty, including issues of exclusion linked to ethnicity and gender; primary measures to improve skills and health outcomes; government failure, linked to corruption and elite capture; and energy subsidies and pricing policies etc.
Elective
IDE506 International Money and Finance (3 credits)
Today’s financial markets are truly global in nature. No student of economics or finance can fully understand current developments without some background in international finance. This course attempts to cover the practical issues of international finance and summarises the current literature with only elementary math as a prerequisite. The practical questions include, but not limit to, where to borrow and invest internationally, what different types of international bonds and stocks can be used to raise capital, how exchange rates affect cash flow, what can be done to avoid foreign exchange exposure and risk, and the general financial management problems of doing business in the global environment.
Elective
IDE507 Globalisation and Economic Development (3 credits)
The course enables students to understand and critically analyse the essential aspects of the current phase of globalisation both in its real and monetary aspects. In this context, the course focuses on the emergence and the role of international institutions in the regulation of economic relationships between countries. The second part of the course analyses the effects of globalisation on economic development, with particular reference to institutional dynamics and distributive conflicts.
Elective
IDE508 The World Economy (3 credits)
This course explores the major forces and processes that have determined the world economy and its current opportunities and challenges. It begins with an overview of the development of the world economy and its current conditions, treating the world economy as an integrated unit. The course then discusses the performance and experience of major economies or groups of economies, including the US, Europe, newly industrialized economies in East and Southeast Asia, India, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa. Relevant factors that are important for economic successes and failures in individual economies are investigated, including geography, technology, demography, trade and foreign investment, industrial policies, and macroeconomic policies. Based on these understanding, the course ends with an analysis of the future prospects of the world economy.
Elective
IDE509 International Political Economy (3 credits)
The International Political Economy (IPE) offers a multidisciplinary approach to the study of modern society. International Political Economy encourages the integrated analysis of economic problems and issues, using tools and methods of economics, political science, and sociology as informed by an understanding of history and tempered by appreciation of the differences in economic and political systems in the world. This course introduces three standard perspectives in International Political Economy and thus offers a broad and critical vision to look at the world and understand current issues.
Elective
IDE510 The Belt and Road Initiative: History, Politics, Economy and Society (3 credits)
This course offers an introduction to the Silk Road as a driving force in history through its role as a facilitator of cross-cultural, social and political contacts. It first discusses the large number of different stakeholders interested in the historical Silk Road. The second part of this course focuses on the up-to-date issues and current developments related to the Belt and Road Initiative and its impact on different countries. For example, the implications and opportunities for the Belt and Road Initiative in ASEAN, Central Asia, Europe and other regions. An additional operative lens with particular relevance to the rapid growth of management practices in regional and global economic integration. In the end the course discusses some possibilities and challenges in the investment of the Belt and Road Initiative and students are required to work as a team to take the project from the first idea to its possible execution.
Elective
IDE511 Chinese Economic Development (3 credits)
This course aims to help students analyze and understand the transition and development of the Chinese economy since 1979. Specific topics include but are not limited to the economic reform, open-door policy, regional development, economic growth, financial market, innovation, international trade, foreign direct investment, exchange rate, and other contemporary economic issues. The course will discuss both the achievements of the economy and the current problems and challenges it faces. We will introduce some basic knowledge of microeconomics macroeconomics, international economics, and statistics as the basis for systematic analysis of Chinese economic development in the past, present and future.
Elective
IDE512 Political Economy of Economic Development (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to contemporary research on the political economy of development. The major questions to be addressed by the course are: How central is politics to economic development? How do political institutions determine policy choices? How do economic structures in turn impact politics? Why do governments employ policies that hinder development?
Elective
IDE513 Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development (3 credits)
The course applies economic analysis to environmental issues and sustainable development. The market-oriented approach to environmental policy making will be evaluated with the regulation-planning approach. Approaches to green economic growth will also be examined. This course requires a basic knowledge of microeconomics.
Elective
IDE514 Globalisation and Economic Integration (3 credits)
This course aims to familiarise students with the cause, pattern, and nature of the globalisation of production of goods and services, which are taking the form of greater division of labor, increasing specialisation, greater trade and capital flows, and keener international competition. Against this trend, however, is the emergence of trade blocs and regional economic entities. This course will look at the interaction between these two trends. Students will also have the chance to examine the roles of World Trade Organisation (WTO), the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the impact of globalisation on financial stability through the study of the East Asian Financial Crisis and the recent Financial Tsunami.
Core
IDE515 Research Methods (3 credits)
The course is designed to lay the foundations for research in economics or for work as a professional economist. The course covers different aspects of the research toolbox of modern economists. The course will provide an overview of the important concepts of research design, data collection, statistical and interpretative analysis, and final report presentation. Through attending seminars, reading the literature and writing assignments, students will gain exposure to different research methodologies used in economics. Students will learn how to synthesise and critique research on a particular topic by reading academic papers and/or research reports from government and nongovernmental agencies. Last, students will develop their academic skills and empirical econometric skills towards independent economic research, and improve their writing skills in presenting research to a wide variety of audiences.
Elective
IDE518 Industrial Economics and Policy (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to current theory in Industrial economics. It starts by examining the internal structure of firms. It then moves on to the analysis of various aspects of strategic interaction between firms and the determinants of industrial structure. Finally, it discusses the role of policy in the context of competition and industrial policies and regulation. The emphasis will be throughout on understanding how the theoretical tools can be used to analyse real world issues.
Elective
IDE519 Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy (3 credits)
This course provides an introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) and its applications in the digital economy. Students will learn the fundamentals of AI with Python, including supervised and unsupervised learning. Through hands-on projects, students will gain practical experience in applying AI techniques to real-world problems. The course will also introduce advanced topics such as recommender systems, deep learning, and natural language processing. The course will then explore how AI and Generative AI are used in various digital economy applications such as e-commerce, social media, sharing economy, and so on. In addition, the course will examine the ethical considerations of AI in the digital economy, including its impact on jobs and privacy concerns. By the end of the course, students will have a comprehensive understanding of AI and its impact on the digital economy, and will have basic knowledge and skills in applying AI techniques to real-world problems..
Elective
(Offered by MIBF Programme) IBF629 Selected Seminars in Economics and Finance (3 credits)
This course allows students to learn practical, methodological as well as theoretical lessons from leading scholars and practitioners in economics and finance worldwide. Students will follow instructor’s list to attend, either onsite or online, selected lectures and seminars delivered by local and overseas speakers on their expertises. Students are required to respond to the speakers’ presentations and engage in relevant discussions with the course teacher and other students. Students will be expected to evaluate the contents of the presentations in light of relevant courses in the MIBF programme and apply the contents to analyse current events in the real world.
- Core Course
- Elective Course