Course 2024-2025

Seminar in Contemporary Economic Issues [ECONM820]

  • 5 credits
  • 30h
  • 1st quarter
Language of instruction: English
Teacher: Houssa Romain

Learning outcomes

At the end of the seminar students will be able to demonstrate:

  • Understanding of recent developments and policy issues related to the global markets of key commodities;
  • Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively in written and oral;
  • Ability to manage a project;
  • Ability to integrate and work within a team and also to exercise leadership.

 

Objectives

The seminar aims to introducing students with recent developments and policy issues related to the markets of key commodities in both developing and advanced countries. Specific topics include: markets forces in determining global commodity prices; welfare impacts for household and business as well as public policies of support against adverse effects of commodity prices; international and regional agreements, volatility and implications for risk management strategies and the challenges for macroeconomic stability (monetary and fiscal policies); and globalization.

Content

Commodities play an important role in the daily decisions of households, firms and the government. As such, business, policy makers and analysts keep a close watch on the fluctuation in their prices. The prices of commodities are set on the world market based on the confrontation between demand and supply forces.  Commodities traded on the world market include raw materials, intermediate or semi-processed goods that are used to manufacture other products. The most commonly traded commodities on the global market comprise crude oil, gold, copper, cotton, silver, natural gas, sugar, coffee, and cereals such as wheat, corn and rice.


Teaching methods

In this seminar, students will develop projects within a group. The size of groups will be three to four students and can vary depending on the numbers of students in class. At the beginning of the seminar, students will obtain a list of topics from which each group has to make a choice. Thereafter, each group will develop its project of which report will be submitted at a pre-defined time. Subsequently, each group will present the summary of the findings in class. For each presentation in class, there will be another group that will be assigned as discussant. After the presentation and discussions by the two groups there will be an open floor for general discussions on the topic.

 

Evaluations

The evaluation includes the following four elements:

1. Definition of the project: 10%

2. Presentation of the findings on the project: 20 %

3. Discussion on another project: 10%

4. Participation in general discussions: 20 %

5. Final report on the project: 40%

 

Recommended readings

The course is based on research articles as well as specialised economic and financial newspaper articles. Key references will be provided in class during the introduction of the seminar.

Language of instruction

English

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales et de gestion
Rue de Bruxelles, 61
5000 NAMUR

Degree of Reference

Master's Degree