Applied international econmoics: international trade, foreign direct investments and enterprises 2400-PL3SL291A

Aim of the Seminar
This seminar is designed as a capstone experience where participants apply the theoretical knowledge and analytical skills gained during their economic studies to pressing issues in the world economy today. The emphasis is on bridging micro- and macroeconomic perspectives, using advanced empirical and modeling techniques to evaluate real-world policy questions.
Students will be encouraged to:
• Integrate firm-level data (e.g., Amadeus dataset for EU enterprises) with macro-level indicators.
• Employ quantitative tools such as econometric models, computable general equilibrium (CGE) models, and international trade frameworks.
• Conduct policy-relevant analysis that highlights both winners and losers of economic change.
• Explore the interplay of globalization, technology, climate, and geopolitics in shaping economic outcomes.
The theses produced in this seminar should not only demonstrate technical rigor but also provide insights into contemporary debates on trade, growth, inequality, and sustainability.
Example topics:
Trade and Globalization
• Effects of economic integration and disintegration
• Barriers in services trade
• Estimation of non-tariff barriers in merchandise trade
• The impact of new U.S. and EU tariffs on global supply chains
• Reshoring and “de-risking” strategies: implications for EU competitiveness
Firms, Investment, and Productivity
• Foreign direct investment and its role in enterprise productivity.
• Firm-level resilience in EU supply chains under geopolitical fragmentation.
Climate, Energy, and Sustainability
• Distributional effects of the EU climate and energy package.
• Carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAM) and their impact on trade flows.
• Carbon border adjustment mechanisms (CBAM) and global trade flows
• Winners and losers of the green energy transition in Europe
• The economics of critical minerals (lithium, cobalt, rare earths) in the energy transition

summer semester:
Estimated student workload: 11 ECTS x 25 hours = 275 hours
(C) -
contact hours (S) - independent study hours
seminar (consultations): 30h (K) 0h (S)
independent study: 0h (K) 245h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
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Total: 30h (K) + 245h (S) = 275h

winter semester:
Estimated student workload: 3ECTS x 25h = 75h
(K) - contact hours (S) - independent study hours
seminar (consultations): 20h (K) 0h (S)
independent study: 0h (K) 55h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
: h (K) h (S)
Total: 20h (K) + 55h (S) = 75h