Course Outline: ECON 2543 –
International Trade
Georgetown
University Qatar
Fall
2025
Instructor: Dennis C.
McCornac, Ph.D.
Office: #0D27 Email: dm1231@georgetown.edu
Office
Hours: Sunday and Tuesday, 2:15 p.m. to 3:15
p.m. I am also available by appointment and via Zoom conferencing. Please email
me if you would like to meet via Zoom.
Teaching Assistant: Fatima Hamady Email: fh311@georgetown.edu
TA Office Hours: This will be posted on Canvas.
Required Text:
Robert C. Feenstra and Alan M Taylor, International Trade, Fifth
edition. Macmillan Publishers. ISBN:9781319218454. 2021. The textbook is complementary to the lectures.
Course Outline: All
information is available on the course outline and on Canvas.
http://dcmccornac.com/ATRADESFall2025/InternationalTradeFall2025.htm
Course
Description: This course will equip you to objectively analyze issues in
international economics. The first part
of the course develops the analytical tools of international trade theory. The second part examines trade policy and
current debates over the consequences of free trade for income distribution
within and among countries. You are encouraged to follow developments in
international trade as they appear in the news.
Students are expected to prepare for
class by completing all reading before
each class meeting. Thoughtful and constructive class participation is
expected, as it will both help you to better understand the material and
enhance the learning process for all.
1. Problem Sets:
Eight (8) problem sets will be assigned, each worth 4 points. Problem Sets 3, 6,
and 8 will not need to be handed in. Thus, five (5) problem sets will be graded.
Working on problems is really the only way to learn the material in this
course. The assigned problem sets must by handed in and the due date/time is indicated for every assignment. Late work will not be
accepted (do not ask the TA to violate this rule). YOU ARE EXPECTED TO DO
YOUR OWN WORK AND NOT RELY ON AI SOURCES OR PAST PROBLEM SETS. Graphs
should be drawn by hand. Submit the assignment as one file only in Canvas by
the due date.
2. Surprise Quizzes.
During the semester, there will be a total of three (3) surprise quizzes, each
worth five (5) points. These quizzes are unannounced, and NO MAKE-UP quizzes
will be allowed. Your lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Thus, the total point
allocated to quizzes will be ten (10).
3.
Exams: There will be two
midterm exams worth 50 points each on the date specified on the course outline.
The final exam is worth 65
points and will be cumulative. Make-up exams
will only be allowed for serious medical or personal problems and documentation
is required.
4.
Class
Participation: Class Participation is worth 5
points. You are expected to attend and participate in all class meetings and
recitations. Attendance will be randomly taken and counted towards your class
participation grade. Leaving in the middle of class will be counted as an
absence.
|
Method of Evaluation |
Points Possible |
|
Eight (8) Problem Sets Assigned, Each Worth Four
(4) Points. Five (5) Problem Set Grades Recorded |
20 |
|
Unannounced Quizzes - Three (3) Quizzes, Each
Worth Five (5) Points. The Top Two (2) Quiz Grades Will Be Recorded. |
10 |
|
Exam 1 |
50 |
|
Exam 2 |
50 |
|
Class Participation and Attendance |
5 |
|
Final Exam |
65 |
|
Total |
200 |
Class
Policies:
1. Problem
Sets:
Problem Sets must be uploaded on Canvas by 11:59 pm day of the due date.
2. Absences: You
are expected to attend all class meetings.
3. Electronics:
Cellphone use is prohibited during class. Laptop use during class is
permissible for viewing course readings only. Surfing the internet, chatting,
or working on other projects is prohibited. I reserve the right to alter this
policy and ban laptop use entirely if conditions make it necessary.
4. You are
expected to NOT leave and come back to class during the class period
unless it is an emergency.
Honor
Code: Every student has the responsibility to abide by the
GUQ Honor System. Please review it at
Suspected infractions of the Honor
System will be referred to the Honor Council.
If a student is found in violation, we
reserve the right to award a failing grade on the assignment or the course, in
addition to any sanction that the Honor Council and the Dean may apply.
Title
IX & Non-Discrimination: As faculty at Georgetown University, we are
committed to our responsibilities under Title IX, as well as the University’s
non-discrimination policies. For details
of University policies, please refer to the following
links:
https://titleix.georgetown.edu/#
https://bulletin.georgetown.edu/regulations/antidiscrimination
Numerical grades
will be converted to a letter grade according to the following scale:
|
Score |
Grade |
|
93-100 |
A |
|
89-92 |
A- |
|
86-88 |
B+ |
|
82-85 |
B |
|
79-81 |
B- |
|
75-78 |
C+ |
|
71-74 |
C |
|
67-70 |
C- |
|
63-66 |
D+ |
|
58-62 |
D |
|
0-57 |
F |