All programmes > Global Value Chains

Global Value Chains (B-KUL-D0S09A)

6 ECTSEnglish26 Second termCannot be taken as part of an examination contract
Van Biesebroeck Jo
OC Handelsingenieur en Handelsingenieur in de beleidsinformatica FEB Campus Leuven

Aims

At the end of this course the student is able to:

  • Provide an overview of the extent and the nature of inter-connectivity of economic activities across countries
  • Analyze the optimal organization of a firm’s global production network using state-of-the-art economic theories
  • Explain which factors lead to different types of international activities: trade, outsourcing, FDI, offshoring, etc.

Previous knowledge

At the beginning of the course, students should at least have followed one intermediate (BA level) class in each of economics, mathematics, and statistics.

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

6 ects. Global Value Chains (B-KUL-D0S09a)

6 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture26 Second term
Van Biesebroeck Jo
OC Handelsingenieur en Handelsingenieur in de beleidsinformatica FEB Campus Leuven

Content

The course will cover the following topics:

  • Models that predict what different countries produce and trade
  • International fragmentation of the production process
  • Impact of outsourcing & technology on labor markets
  • The organization and governance of supply chains
  • The role of multinationals

Course material

The course will use survey papers from the academic literature that are not too technical, e.g. from the Journal of Economic Perspectives or the Annual Review of Economics, supplemented with lecture slides and policy reports. All material will be made available through Toledo.

Language of instruction: more information

Advanced (MA-level) class that will touch on current research which is predominantly in English.

Format: more information

The weekly lectures will cover theoretical expositions by the instructor, followed by tutorial sessions applying the theory to real world situations that will require active class participation.

Evaluation

Evaluation: Global Value Chains (B-KUL-D2S09a)

Type : Continuous assessment without exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Report, Skills test
Type of questions : Open questions
Learning material : Course material

Explanation


Nature of the evaluation

  • Each week, almost half of the class time is devoted to applying the theory in specific, real-world cases. Students work in small groups on this and we have a class discussion to gather insights. A report of this discussion session, answering specific questions, needs to be submitted each week by the start of the next lecture. Students who did not attend the lecture still submit a written report based on the questions that are posted on Toledo, but work individually on this.
  • In the last lecture, there will be a set of similar exercises. Students will work on them individually and turn in their written report. They can use any course material, but no computer or cellphone, during this test. It will consist of open questions that require the application of the class material to real-world examples as well as true/false statements that need to be discussed.

Determination of final result:

  • The grade is calculated and communicated as a whole number on a scale of 20.
  • The final grade is a weighted score and consists of:
    • 3.5% per lecture based on the weekly submitted report (total of 31.5%)
    • The balance of the weight, expected to be 68.5%, on the test in the final lecture. 
  • If the student does not submit a report on the in-class discussion session, the grades for these partial evaluations will be a 0-grade within the calculations of the final grade.

Information about retaking exams

  • The nature of the evaluation and determination of grades are identical to those of the first examination opportunity
  • Students can submit a new written report on any weekly exercise, e.g. when they received a failing grade or those they did not submit during the semester. These need to be submitted before the start of the 2nd exam period. If no new report is submitted, the grade of the first examination session will be used for the weighted score.