ökb251 International economic ties and the European Union (Complete module description)

Students:
• possess basic knowledge of the topics ‘international economic ties’ and ‘European Union’;
• analyse the links between the convergence of economies and economic growth
• recognise that the increase in the number of international economic ties leads to more economic freedoms and diminishes the significance of the borders between them;
• reflect on the fact that this also leads to increases in the number of dependencies and interdependencies as well as international competitive pressure;
• describe the development of the European Union, starting with the monetary union up to and including the present-day EU
• know about the economic and political objectives of the EU.

Explanatory approaches to international trade and global economy institutions:
• Significance and recording of international trade
• Causes of international trade
• Free trade or protectionism
• Liberalisation and regional economic integration
• Currency and exchange rate
• International financial institutions

The European Union:
• Brief history of European integration
• EU institutions, funding and treaties
• Stages of integration
• EU expansion of 2014
• EU constitution

Kruber, K.-P. (2005): Internationale Wirtschaftsbeziehungen, Ökonomische Bildung kompakt Band 6, Braunschweig: Wetsermann.
Krugman, P. R. (2011): Internationale Wirtschaft. Theorie und Politik der Außenwirtschaft, 9. aktualisierte Auflage, München: Pearson.
Holzinger, K u. a. (2005): Die Europäische Union. Theorien und Analysekonzepte, Paderborn: Schöningh.
Pfetsch, F. R. (2005): Die Europäische Union. Eine Einführung. Geschichte, Institutionen, Prozesse, München: Fink.