Volkswirtschaftslehre (Urbane, Regionale und Internationale Wirtschaftsbeziehungen)

In this seminar we are going to analyse various aspects of the Economics of Digitisation in order to obtain a better understanding of the impact of the internet, in particular social media and international interconnectedness on any forms on economic activity. One important factor is that the internet mitigates information costs considerably as well as often rendering space insignificant. Students can largely decide which particular topic they find most interesting. However, it is essential that topics are analysed using state of the art scientific literature as well as empirical analysis. Ultimately, we want to carry out an empirical project in student groups on a topic to be chosen by the students.

Potential areas of interest could be:

• Does the internet render physical proximity unnecessary?
• Is the internet replacing or complementing stationary economic activity?
• How important is the internet for innovation?

Update re: Coronavirus / Digital Teaching

 This seminar will be offered via digital teaching due to the social distancing measures in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you would like to enrol in this seminar, please follow the standard registration and enrolment procedure. Please note that your registration in the seminar is binding.

• Economics students should should complete the registration form (available in the Moodle room) and email the completed form to the lecturer.
• Spatial planning students should email the lecturer to enrol in seminars, as registration via LSF is now closed.

Students may self-enrol in the Moodle room. The course materials may not be available in the Moodle room before the first day of lectures. All announcements regarding the digital learning process will be made via the Moodle room. 

Course Description

In this seminar, students will engage with Brexit from a whole new perspective – their own. Students will represent selected EU countries (such as the UK, Germany, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain) and lead their own Brexit negotiations. As part of this seminar, students will investigate a country’s trade policy and the ways in which that country is tied to the British economy (i.e. economic/trade dependencies and surpluses) and defend that country’s perspective in Brexit debates.

The seminar will include several introductory lectures about the EU policy-making process with a special focus on international trade, including:

• Review of international trade theory: customs union, single market, etc.;
• Overview of various trade agreements between EU and other countries;
• Overview of the complex trade interdependencies between EU countries and UK; and
• Overview of the EU institutions and legal processes involved in the Brexit process (European Commission, MEPs, etc.).

As part of this seminar, students will be required to produce and present a policy document summarising their country’s policy position. Students representing the EU member states will debate their position with ‘the EU’ and decide on a common negotiation position to give the European Commission to negotiate with the UK. The UK and European Commission student representatives will submit final policy documents and have a plenary discussion over whether a compromise text can be found.

This seminar aims to build on students’ prior knowledge of international trade, factor market integration, tariff policy, and regional competition and industrial policy. Students will apply this knowledge to a practical, real-world example – Brexit. In this setting, students will:

• Gain a deeper understanding of complex trade interdependencies between EU and other countries;
• Learn about the economic framework of decision-making within the EU, particularly with respect to how EU trade policies are set within the EU and between EU and other countries;
• Explore the European Union’s legal framework and legislative process with respect to developing trade policies;
• Learn how to evaluate current economic policy debates by synthesizing country-specific trade policy and data and producing a policy report from that country’s perspective.