Course detail

International Economics

FP-iePAcad. year: 2025/2026

This course aims to provide an up-to-date and understandable analytical unified framework for understanding traditional insights as well as the newest findings and approaches in international economics. In analysing both the real and monetary sides of the subject, the approach will help the student to gain and retain the underlying logic of international economics.

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

prof. Ing. Marek Zinecker, Ph.D.

Department

Institute of Economics (ÚE)

Offered to foreign students

Of all faculties

Entry knowledge

Knowledge in macroeconomics and microeconomics.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Students attending the lectures will be evaluated on the basis of an individual oral exam and a group assignment based on the relevant literature. The course is classified according to the ECTS: Final exam - 70% of final grade (the comprehensive combined exam covering the entire module), assignment - 30% of final grade.
Control of results of independent work on assigned tasks. In case of excused absence from seminars, the teacher can set additional condition if appropriate, usually elaboration of partial written task.

Aims

The course focuses on the understanding main concepts linked to the trade and monetary issues of international economics. Applications are also discussed while using relevant case studies.
At the end of the curricular unit the students will be able to understand international trade theories, determinants of international trade, international flows of goods and capital and national income accounting and the balance of payments, real and nominal exchange rates and theory of exchange-rate determination, supply and demand for loanable funds and for foreign-currency exchange, equilibrium in the open economy, structure of the foreign exchange-market, optimum currency areas and the European experience and how policies and events affect an open economy.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Griffin, W. R., Pustay, M. W. (2015). International Business. Pearson. ISBN 978-1-292-01821-8. (EN)
Krugman, P. R., Obstfeld, M. International Economics. Berkeley: University of California, 2003. 754 s. ISBN 0-321-11639-9. (EN)
Mankiw, N. G. (2015). Principles of Macroeconomics. Cengage Learning, ISBN 978-1-285-16591-2. (EN)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MGR-EBF Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme MGR-IBM Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory
  • Programme MGR-UFRP Master's 1 year of study, summer semester, compulsory-optional

  • Programme MGR-Z Master's

    branch MGR-Z , 1 year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Marek Zinecker, Ph.D.

Syllabus

International Trade Theories – Classical Country-Based Trade Theories and Modern Firm-Based Theories. International Investment Theories.
Determinants of International Trade: The Winners and Losers from Trade, the Effects of a Tariff and a Quota. Benefits of International Trade. Arguments for Restricting International Trade.
International Flows of Goods and Capital. National Income Accounting and the Balance of Payments.
Prices for International Transactions: Real and Nominal Exchange Rates. Theory of Exchange-Rate Determination based on Purchasing-Power Parity.
Supply and Demand for Loanable Funds and for Foreign-Currency Exchange.
Equilibrium in the Open Economy: Money, Interest Rates, and Exchange Rates.
Structure of the Foreign Exchange-Market.
Optimum Currency Areas and the European Experience
Formulation of National Trade Policies.
How Policies and Events Affect an Open Economy.
International Cooperation Among Nations – Theory of Economic Integration.

Exercise

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

prof. Ing. Marek Zinecker, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Determinants of International Trade: The Winners and Losers from Trade, the Effects of a Tariff and a Quota. Benefits of International Trade. Arguments for National Income Accounting and the Balance of Payments.
Real and Nominal Exchange Rates.
Supply and Demand for Loanable Funds and for Foreign-Currency Exchange.
Equilibrium in the Open Economy: Money, Interest Rates, and Exchange Rates.
Optimum Currency Areas and the European Experience