F1GD 4560 - International Economics in New Times (New course)

***UPDATED for 2025/26***

This course provides an in-depth examination of contemporary international economics by focusing on the challenges and opportunities that define today’s global landscape. While the course begins with a concise historical overview, its primary focus is on the current state of economic policy and governance. Students will analyze contemporary issues such as monetary and fiscal policy in the 21st century, EU economic governance, the dynamics of labour markets and migration in a globalized world, as well as emerging topics including AI economics and the transition to a green economy.

The course combines theoretical insights with practical, project-based learning. Through interactive scenario design, role-playing exercises, and guided group discussions, students will be equipped to critically evaluate current economic policies and propose innovative solutions for the future.

Learning Outcomes

• Knowledge to understand and compare contemporary monetary and fiscal policy architectures, including trade-offs around fiscal sustainability and debt management.
• Knowledge to understand how labour-market dynamics, migration and demographic change shape international economic performance and policy choices.
• Knowledge to analyze emerging domains—AI economics and the green transition—and assess their macro, micro and distributional impacts.
• Knowledge to relate historical shifts in economic paradigms (Keynesianism, neoliberalism, post-2020 era) to current debates and decision-making.

Professional Skills

• Skill to extract, interpret and analyze macroeconomic and policy data relevant to international economics in EU and global contexts.
• Skill to present, defend and discuss economic policy options to expert and non-expert audiences.
• Skill to work effectively in teams to co-create scenarios, coordinate research tasks and synthesize findings.
• Skill to engage in structured negotiation/role-play to explore stakeholder incentives and constraints in international policy making, and to iterate based on feedback

Lecture sessions have ample time for Q&A, which will be utilised also to provide feedback on individual contributions to the debate.

Specific feedback will be also provided:

• Session 11: Group exercise - each student will be given individual feedback + group feedback

Participation (end of semester) 10%

Question that tests one aspects of the previous week’s material (10 questions total): 10%

• In Class Presence: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: on average 5 hours a week / 60 hours a semester
• Preparation of Suggested Question: on average 30 minutes per 10 sessions / 5 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 25 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Final Exam: 36 hours a semester