course-details-portlet

SØK2006

International Trade I

Choose study year

Assessments and mandatory activities may be changed until September 20th.

Credits 7.5
Level Intermediate course, level II
Course start Spring 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

The course provides an introduction to international trade. The first part treats the theory of comparative advantages with an emphasis on the consequences on economic welfare, income distribution, and industry composition. The second part deals with intra-industry trade based on imperfect competition and economies of scale. The last part is on trade policy

Learning outcome

Knowledge

You learn

  • economic theory about international trade and international division of production
  • driving forces behind international trade and international mobility of factors of production
  • why international trade gives welfare gains and has distributional consequences
  • the importance of "comparative advantages"
  • causes of intra-industry trade and the importance of economic geography
  • the relationships between trade, industry structure and patterns of specialization
  • the importance of different types of economies of scale in production
  • the effects of trade policies for countries and industries
  • the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Skills

You should be able to

  • use graphs and some algebra to analyze economic questions related to international trade
  • master general equilibrium theory in order to understand relationships between industry structure, product prices, and factor prices
  • understand interrelated forces in single markets and analyze trade policy effects
  • analyze the impact of trade on industry structure and welfare independently judge arguments about effects of international trade

General competence

You should be able to

  • follow economic reasoning related to the course in the public debate and professional reports

Learning methods and activities

2 hours of lectures every week and 2 hours of practical assignments every other week. The course has compulsory activity. Specific requirements will be announced at the beginning of the term.

Compulsory assignments

  • Approved term paper(s)/exercise(s)

Further on evaluation

In semester when the course is not taught, the examination form may change from written to oral.

Compulsory activity must be completed in the semester the course is taught. The approval also applies to later semesters.

Required previous knowledge

None

Course materials

Announced at the beginning of the term.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
SØK2003 7.5 sp Autumn 2010
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Social Science
  • Economics
  • Social Sciences

Contact information

Course coordinator

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Economics

Timetable

Timetable

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List view
Show detailed timetable in TP Download .ics file iCal

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Autumn 2025

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code H Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room
The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

Ordinary examination - Spring 2026

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code H Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment
Place and room
The specified room can be changed and the final location will be ready no later than 3 days before the exam. You can find your room location on Studentweb.

All about examinations at NTNU