MMD003-Economics of International Business

Module Provider: International Business and Strategy
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:NA
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2023/4

Module Convenor: Prof Mark Casson
Email: m.c.casson@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Doctoral

Summary module description:

This course is intended for doctoral and post-doctoral researchers. The course will help researchers to make full use of economic concepts in international business research. 

Aims:

The course has three main goals: 

• It examines the trade-offs that underlie key strategic decisions such as foreign market entry, outsourcing, off-shoring, location of headquarters, and investment in R&D. It links firm-level analysis to industry-level analysis. 

• It shows how changes in strategy are driven by changes in the global business environment caused by globalisation, privatisation and market regulation. 

• It explains what is involved in ‘thinking like an economist’, and shows how to ‘decode’ technical literature that would otherwise be difficult to understand. 

Assessable learning outcomes:

By the end of the module students will be able to: 

• understand and use economic concepts in planning and executing research proposal 

• understand how economic principles are used in International Business 

Additional outcomes:

This module will enhance students’ critical thinking and analytical skills. 

Outline content:

The course will be taught over 2 days. It will consist of 12 formal sessions. It is devoted to introduction to economics, key concepts in economics and their application to international business. 

 

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:

Students will be encouraged to participate in classroom discussions. Topics of these will reflect current conceptual and empirical issues in the International Business. The course will consist of discussions in the classroom and interaction with the course instructor.? 

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

Participants will submit a 5000 word assessed report on how they plan to incorporate relevant economic concepts in their own research. This report can be submitted at any time up to 25 February of the subsequent year, and the assessment process will be completed within one month of submission. 

Formative assessment methods:

N/A

Penalties for late submission:

Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx? 

 

The Module Convenor will apply the following penalties for work submitted late, in accordance with the University policy.? 

 

where the piece of work is submitted up to one calendar week after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for the piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days; 

 

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded. 

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf 

 

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work. 

Assessment requirements for a pass:
A minimum mark of 50%

Reassessment arrangements:

Essay resubmission by 1st October in the year when the assignment was due. 

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):

Required Textbooks- £900 

Last updated: 28 June 2023