Course

Globalization and the World Economy

Faculty
Commerce and Business Administration
Department
Economics
Course code
ECON 1103
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 Weeks X 4 Hours per Week = 60 Hours
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Course designation
Certificate in Global Competency
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
Globalization and the World Economy provides an overview of the broad economic trends in the development of the world economy since the second world war. The course will address the major debates relating to economic interdependence, economic development and growth, the patterns of international trade and investment, global financial markets, natural resource scarcity, and the role of major multilateral economic institutions such as the World Bank and IMF. The course will also introduce some of the main economic theories which have played a significant role in these debates. The material presented in this course will appeal to anyone looking for a deeper understanding of contemporary world events in the economic, political and social spheres.
Course content
  1. Facts relating to the global economy in the 21st century
  2. Review of economic concepts relating to markets
  3. Overview of world trade
  4. Protectionism vs free trade
  5. Commercial Policy since the second world war
  6. Foreign direct investment and locational competition between governments
  7. Economic growth, income distribution, poverty and population growth
  8. Energy and the world oil market
  9. Global financial markets
  10. World monetary system and financial imbalances
  11. Climate change and economic outcomes
  12. The global information economy
Learning activities

Lecture and/or Seminar.

Means of assessment

Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in the course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.

Paper

  0% - 30%
Assignments  0% - 30%
Participation/Presentation  0% - 10%
Term Tests/Quizzes 10% - 40%
Midterm Exam       20% - 40%
Final Exam 20% - 40%
Total        100%

Students may conduct research as part of their coursework in this class. Instructors for the course are responsible for ensuring that student research projects comply with College policies on ethical conduct for research involving humans, which can require obtaining Informed Consent from participants and getting the approval of the Douglas College Research Ethics Board prior to conducting the research.

Learning outcomes

The student will be able to: 

  1. Discuss and explain the state of the world economy at the beginning of the 21 st century;
  2. Evaluate the issues surrounding the debate over protectionism vs free trade;
  3. Compare and differentiate between the major international agreements governing commercial policy;
  4. Explain the major issues associated with direct foreign investment;
  5. Analyze the issues associated with economic growth, income distribution and poverty, and population growth;
  6. Explain the growth of global financial markets;
  7. Evaluate the role played by major multilateral institutions such as the IMF and World Bank.
Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

To be chosen from:

Acemoglu, Daron and Simon Johnson. (2023). Power and Progress. Hachette.

Baldwin, Richard. (2016). The Great Convergence. Harvard Press. 

Instructor compiled materials and articles 

or a textbook approved by the Department.

Requisites

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:

  • No equivalency courses

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.

Institution Transfer details for ECON 1103
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU ECON 1XX (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU ECON 1XXX (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG ECON 1XXX (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC ECON 1XX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU ECON 102 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU ECON 1XXX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO ARTS_O 1st (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV ARTS_V 1st (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC ECON 1XX (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV ECON 1XX (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC ECON 1XX (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU ECON 1st (3)

Course Offerings

Summer 2026

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
0
Remaining seats:
35
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - North Bldg.
Room
N4213
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
15:20