Hands-on Research Offers New Perspectives
International trade and globalization have profoundly transformed our society over the past three decades, contributing to an unprecedented generation of wealth and lifting millions of people out of poverty.
Professor Hâle Utar’s own research reveals how international trade influences the way business is done, job polarization, gender equality, and even family structure. These transformative changes have come at a high price for many people, with dramatic consequences for our politics and culture. In ECN 374, you will discuss these trends and study how this transformation has affected all income classes, labor markets, and industries.
In Seminar in International Trade (ECN 374), you will have the opportunity to study the theories of international trade, as well as to discuss and analyze trade policy issues and current research on international trade. Most important, you’ll conduct your own independent research under the guidance of Professor Utar and present your results.
As a student in this course, you will benefit from Professor Utar’s extensive knowledge and research on international trade. The carefully constructed syllabus will help you develop an understanding of how international trade, globalization, and technology affect firms, industries, labor markets, society, and individuals.
Students who have taken the Seminar in International Trade speak highly of Professor Utar and the class. As a student in ECN 374, you, too, will appreciate the relevance of the course material and the thought-provoking class discussions. The opportunity to conduct individual research and peer reviews will allow you to practice rigorous science and objectively critique the work of others. Some past ECN 374 students have been invited to present and publish the research they conducted in this course in professional venues, such as the Midwest Economic Association Meetings or the Lawrence M. Jepson Undergraduate Conference on International Economics.
ECN 374 will be a valuable part of your liberal arts education, enhancing your understanding of different perspectives and your mastery of important research skills. Along with an awareness of the connections between economic theory and the policies controlling international trade, you will gain knowledge and skills useful for a career or continued higher education.