The history of trade and humanity are intertwined, with the best (e.g. innovation, culture, wealth) and the worst (e.g. war, disease, crime) of humanity being spread along trade routes. The most recent crises (COVID-19 and Ukraine) were no exception to the rule, with global value chains' disruptions, inflationary pressure (e.g. on food and energy), and resurging protectionism. At the same time, the USD 4 trillion SDG financing gap and the debt crisis will not be solved without mobilization of private finance through trade and investment. Yet, errors of the past should not be repeated, and trade-driven growth should be more inclusive and sustainable. This course will explore the links between trade and sustainable development: Could trade contribute to building a better world, facilitate the green transition, reduce the digital divide, promote solutions to protect global public goods (e.g. health, climate)? How did major recent economic and geopolitical trends affect trade patterns and vice versa? Building on 20 years of field work with the World Bank and trade negotiations within WTO, OECD, G20 and G7, this course should enable students to challenge most preconceived ideas about trade and development that flourish in the media and elsewhere. It is particularly suited to students willing to work in development cooperation or sustainable business/finance, with concrete examples of trade development projects and business actions in support of sustainable development.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Better understand and have a critical perspective on major international economic issues pertaining to sustainable development and trade;
2. Better communicate a government or company position on contentious issues (from presentation of in-depth research to elevator pitch);
3. Better understand reality and practicalities of work in the area of development cooperation (in international organizations, government, or private companies trading in developing countries) and be better prepared for starting a career in international development / CSR
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:
Research and analysis; critical thinking; oral communication; written communication; team work