240102 SE VM1 / VM2 - International Environment and Economic Development (2020W)

This course studies how the international economic environment affects the development of countries, and discusses the policies that can be adopted in the face of these forces as well as their effects. The course will be taught at an introductory level. Theory, history, empirical evidence, and policy implications will be discussed. Students will develop skills to analyse and think independently about factual information regarding the economic effects of the international environment as well as about the design of policies.

In view of the uncertainty surrounding the evolution of covid-19, at the moment (late August) I can only describe a contingent plan for the course’s format. The plan maximizes the amount of physical presence subject to two principles: i. Defense of the interests of students who, in the context of covid-19, might be high-risk patients or might not be allowed in Austria. ii. Respect of the University’s regulations.

1. If all students can attend and the class-room can accommodate all students with the required social distance, the course will be taught with physical presence.

2. If not all students can attend, the class-room can accommodate the rest of them and has the required equipment, the format will be hybrid: I will teach both for students in the class-room and online (synchronously) via Collaborate or equivalent.

3. If the class-room cannot accommodate all students but has the required equipment, I will divide the students than can attend in groups and do as in 2, with one group in the class-room and the rest online (synchr.). Groups will take turns in the class-room.

4. If the class-room does not have the required equipment and the circumstances in 1 do not hold (or should we all be sent home as in the 2020S) I will teach online (synchr.).