Making Sense of International Economic Relations: Training Course
1Summary
When a tariff decision in one country costs jobs in another, or a development-aid package shifts the balance of power in a region, what looks like a local economic event is almost always the outcome of a much wider network of trade, investment and cooperation between states. Making sense of that network is no longer optional for anyone working across borders.
This training program from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy covers the major trends shaping international economic relations today, the forces driving them, and the role international organizations play in regulating this interdependence and pushing sustainable economic development forward worldwide.
2Objectives and target group
After Completing the Program, You Will Be Able To:
- Understand the key concepts and terminology of international economic relations.
- Analyze the economic, political and social factors that shape relations between countries.
- Assess economic policies and their impact on countries and markets.
- Address challenges such as trade protectionism, globalization and climate change, and how to manage them.
- Develop strategies to strengthen international economic cooperation, and understand the role of bodies like the World Bank and IMF.
Who Should Attend?
- Students of economics, political science and international relations.
- Economists and researchers in government or non-government institutions.
- Employees of companies dealing with international markets.
- Government officials, parliament members, and staff of NGOs and development agencies.
3Course Content
Module 1: Trade and Globalization — Setting the Scene
- Defining international economic relations: trade, investment and aid
- How these relations have evolved over time
- Globalization's economic dimensions, and its effect on developed and developing countries alike
Module 2: How International Trade Actually Works
- Core trade concepts: comparative advantage and competitiveness
- Trade models (Ricardo, Heckscher-Ohlin) and their economic impact
- Protectionist and preferential trade policies, and agreements like NAFTA, the EU and RCEP
Module 3: Money Crossing Borders — Investment and Aid
- Direct and indirect investment, capital flows and what drives investment decisions
- Political, economic and environmental investment risks, and how they're managed
- Types of international aid (development, humanitarian, technical) and the role of the World Bank and UN
Module 4: Sustainable Development and Global Finance
- Sustainable development's economic dimensions and its link to international aid
- The role of central banks and monetary policy in the international economy
- How the IMF and World Bank shape national policy, and the challenges they face
Module 5: New Pressures on the Global Economy
- E-commerce, technology and their impact on international trade, including cybersecurity challenges
- Climate change's effect on international economic relations
- International cooperation strategies and the role of the green economy
Module 6: Where This Is All Heading
- Forecasting the future of international economic relations
- The impact of technology and innovation on the global economy
- Why international cooperation matters more than ever for global challenges