One cannot pick up a newspaper or magazine without reading about something directly related to the word economy: Is the recovery going to take hold or will there be a double dip? What are central banks doing to regulate financial institutions and prevent the next crisis? Will the US dollar appreciate or depreciate against the yen and the euro? What is the effect of the macroeconomic environment on firm's internationalisation decisions and private business performance? How does it affect internal strategy-setting?

This course develops the analytical framework required for understanding these issues and their impact on business. At the end of the course you will be expected to assess critically how possible developments in the world economy will affect the economic environment and your businesses. You should finish the course with a clear understanding of the arguments for and against specific policies, and you should be able to analyse their effects on consumers, employees and businesses.

The course has two characteristics: firstly, it has an international slant. The vast majority of examples and case studies will deal with the international economy and multinational companies. Secondly, this course is extremely practical; concepts and models will only be discussed to the extent that they have a direct bearing on the understanding of real-life situations.