You'll explore how countries trade goods and services, and how this affects economies worldwide. Topics include exchange rates, trade policies, global financial markets, and economic development. You'll analyze why some countries are rich while others are poor, and how international trade impacts jobs, prices, and economic growth.

Is International Economics hard?

It can be challenging, especially if you're not great with math or graphs. The concepts aren't too bad, but applying economic models to real-world scenarios can get tricky. That said, if you keep up with the readings and practice problem sets, you should be fine. Most students find it manageable with consistent effort.

Tips for taking International Economics in college

Use Fiveable Study Guides to help you cram 🌶️
Stay on top of current events - they're great real-world examples
Practice drawing supply and demand curves for international markets
Watch "The Big Short" to understand global financial crises
Read "The Undercover Economist" by Tim Harford for accessible explanations
Form a study group to discuss complex trade theories
Use online resources like Khan Academy for extra help with tricky concepts

Common pre-requisites for International Economics

Principles of Microeconomics: Covers basic economic concepts like supply and demand, market structures, and consumer behavior. It's the foundation for understanding how individual economic decisions impact markets.
Principles of Macroeconomics: Focuses on big-picture economic issues like inflation, unemployment, and economic growth. This class helps you understand how entire economies function and interact.
Intermediate Microeconomics: Dives deeper into consumer and producer theory, market equilibrium, and game theory. It builds on the basics to give you a more nuanced understanding of economic decision-making.

Classes similar to International Economics

Development Economics: Examines economic growth and development in low-income countries. You'll learn about poverty, inequality, and strategies for improving living standards in developing nations.
International Finance: Focuses on global financial markets, exchange rates, and international monetary systems. It's like International Econ but with more emphasis on the financial side of things.
Global Business Strategy: Explores how companies operate in international markets. You'll learn about multinational corporations, cross-border trade, and global supply chains.
Comparative Economic Systems: Analyzes different types of economic systems around the world. You'll compare capitalism, socialism, and mixed economies in various countries.

Economics: Focuses on understanding how resources are allocated and how economies function. Students learn to analyze economic data, develop models, and make predictions about economic trends.
International Business: Combines business fundamentals with a global perspective. Students learn about cross-cultural management, international trade, and global marketing strategies.
Global Studies: Examines global issues from multiple perspectives, including economics, politics, and culture. Students gain a broad understanding of international relations and global challenges.
Political Economy: Blends economics with political science to analyze how political institutions and economic systems interact. Students explore topics like trade policy, economic development, and globalization.

What can you do with a degree in International Economics?

Economic Analyst: Collects and analyzes economic data to help businesses or governments make informed decisions. You might forecast market trends or assess the impact of economic policies.
International Trade Specialist: Helps companies navigate the complexities of global trade. You could advise on import/export regulations, tariffs, or international market entry strategies.
Policy Advisor: Works with government agencies or NGOs to develop and evaluate economic policies. You might focus on issues like trade agreements, development aid, or financial regulations.
Foreign Exchange Trader: Buys and sells currencies in the global forex market. You'd need to stay on top of global economic news and analyze how it affects currency values.