UNIVERSITY of ALBERTA

School of Business

Department of Marketing, Business Economics and Law

BUEC 542, B1 and X50 Term II, 2018/2019

Instructor: Rasmus Fatum

Classroom: B1: BUS 1-09 Mon 14–16.50; X50: BUS 1-09 Mon 18.30–21.30
Office hours: By appointment.
Email: rasmus.fatum@ualberta.ca
Website: eclass

Note: Classes cancelled Monday February 25

Course description:
This course introduces and analyzes key issues of the international business environment,
including international trade, foreign direct investments, political and economic aspects
of integration, foreign exchange markets and products, and the international monetary
system, including aspects of the European Monetary Union and the Euro.

The objective of the course is to identify challenges and opportunities of the international
business environment and to provide an international perspective on economics and
finance.

Required readings:

 Lecture notes posted on the course webpage

 Case studies and hand-outs

Note: While the course largely follows the structure of the first half of the Hill textbook
(listed under Supplementary Readings), purchase of the Hill textbook is not required.
Supplementary readings:
The Hill and Hult textbook may be useful. You can obtain the textbook by purchase or
you can borrow a copy from me.

 International Business: Competing in the Global Marketplace”, McGraw-Hill,

12th Edition, 2019, or any other edition

Course structure:
Generally, a class will consist of lecture as well as student presentations and classroom
discussion.

Course assignment:
At the first class meeting students are asked to form groups and, during subsequent class
meetings, one group is responsible for leading the discussion of a presentation case. At
the last class meeting, each student is required to turn in a homework assignment based
on the presentation case for which he or she was leading the discussion. The assignments
can be handed in individually or by groups.

Course participation:
Classroom participation is a key element of this class, and a large proportion of each class
will involve discussion and debate.

Evaluation:
Your course evaluation will be based on one homework assignment (30%), two exams
(30% each), and your course participation (10%).

Exam dates: Exam I (in class): February 11; Exam II (in class): April 8.

Note: All homework assignments are due April 8 (hard-copy, in class). Late assignments
will not be graded and will receive a score of 0.

University policies:
University policies on academic matters: http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/governance/
Course outline: (Chapters refer to Hill and Hult, 2019)

Week 1 (January 7) Globalization and National Differences

Readings: Lecture notes for Week 1 (corresponding to ch. 1 to 5)

No presentation case for Week 1

Week 2 (January 14) International Trade

Readings: Lecture notes for Week 2 (corresponding to ch. 6 and 7)

No presentation case for Week 2

Week 3 (January 21) Foreign Direct Investment and Economic Integration

Readings: Lecture notes for Week 3 (corresponding to ch. 8 and 9)

Presentation Case: COUNTRY CASE: JAPAN

Week 4 (January 28) Foreign Exchange Markets I

Readings: Lecture notes for Weeks 4-6 (corresponding to ch. 10)

Presentation Case: COUNTRY CASE: THE UNITED STATES

Week 5 (February 4) Foreign Exchange Markets II and REVIEW I

Readings: Lecture notes for Weeks 4-6 (corresponding to ch. 10)

Presentation Case: COUNTRY CASE: CHINA

Week 6 (February 11) Foreign Exchange Markets III and EXAM I

Readings: Lecture notes for Weeks 4-6 (corresponding to ch. 10).

No presentation case for Week 5

Week 7 (March 4) Foreign Exchange Markets IV

Readings: Lecture notes for Weeks 4-6 (corresponding to ch. 10)

Presentation Case: COUNTRY CASE: UNITED KINGDOM

Week 8 (March 11) The International Monetary System I

Readings: Lecture notes for Weeks 7-8 (corresponding to ch. 11)

Presentation Case: COUNTRY CASE: GERMANY

Week 9 (March 18) The International Monetary System II

Readings: Lecture notes for Weeks 7-8 (corresponding to ch. 11)

Presentation Case: COUNTRY CASE: SOUTH KOREA

Week 10 (March 25) The Global Capital Market

Readings: Lecture notes for Week 9 (corresponding to ch. 12)

Presentation Case: COUNTRY CASE: INDIA

Week 11 (April 1) Current Topics and REVIEW II

Readings: Handouts and everything covered in class

No presentation case for Week 11.

Week 12 (April 8) Exam II

Readings: Everything covered in class during weeks 1 - 11.

Presentation Case: No presentation case for week 12.