Università Roma Tre

This course offers students an analytical framework to examine international trade and migration, structured in two main parts. The first part focuses on international trade, covering classical theories as well as modern models that incorporate imperfect competition and firm-level evidence. Trade policy, its determinants, and effects - including preferential trade agreements - are also discussed in depth.
The second part explores international migration, analyzing its characteristics, evolution, causes, and economic effects. Students engage with both theoretical perspectives and empirical research to understand the complexities of migration.
The course also addresses key methodological issues related to the measurement and estimation of trade and migration flows.
To promote active learning, students participate in article discussions, group work, and presentations on current issues and case studies related to trade and migration.

Outline
First part:
International trade: stylized facts
- Facts, changes and history of globalization
Trade Theories
- The Ricardian Model
- The Specific-Factors Model
- Factor endowments and the Heckscher-Ohlin Model
- Movement of labor and capital
- The New Trade Theories
- Offshoring and Global Value Chains
- Firm Heterogeneity

Trade policy
- Import Tariffs and Quotas
- Non-tariff measures
- Preferential agreements, Multilateral trade integration, the World Trade Organization
Second part:
Migration
- Stylized facts on migration
- Characteristics and evolution of international migration flows
- Determinants of migration
- Economic impact of migration on countries of origin and destination
Practical laboratory sessions
- Collecting data on trade, trade policies, and migration
- Working with trade and trade policy data: country trade reports and gravity model applications
- Reading and presenting articles and reports on migration

Feenstra R. C. and A.M Taylor (2017), International Trade, Fourth Edition, Worth Publishers, chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

Clemens, M. A. (2011). “Economics and Emigration: Trillion-Dollar Bills on the Sidewalk?”, Journal of Economic Perspectives, Vol. 25, No. 3, pp. 83-106

World Bank (2023), Migrants, Refugees and Societies, (Chapters 2, 3 and 4), World Development Report 2023.

Course materials, including lecture slides and articles, will be made available for download on the course's webpage. Additionally, articles on current topics will be presented during class to encourage discussion and engagement among students.