IDENTIFYING DATA 2023_24
Subject (*) INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE Code 16214219
Study programme
Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and Management (2009)
 Cycle 1st
Descriptors Credits Type Year Period
6 Optional Third 2Q
Language
Català
Department Economics
Coordinator
CONTI MARTÍ, HUMBERT
SALDAÑA BUESA, FRANCISCO
 E-mail mercedes.teruel@urv.cat
francisco.saldana@urv.cat
Lecturers
TERUEL CARRIZOSA, MERCEDES
SALDAÑA BUESA, FRANCISCO
Web
General description and relevant information This course provides an analysis of the theories of international trade, the labor movement (migration), the movement of firms (FDI) and trade in intermediate goods (outsourcing). It also analyzes trade policy and the operation of the main instruments of this policy. The first part of the course presents business models that explain why countries trade and what gains from trade. Some of the models examined include the Ricardian model and the Heckscher-Ohlin and the new trade theories based on economies of scale and imperfect competition and outsourcing of goods and services. The second part of the course deals with trade policy. Specifically, it discusses the implementation of tariffs and import quotas and export subsidies, in perfect competition as a market structure with imperfect competition. We study the effect of these instruments on the welfare of the countries involved. Finally, the course ends with a discussion of international trade agreements and their implications in areas such as the volume of trade, labor rights and the environment.

Competences
Type A Code Competences Specific
 A2 Find, analyze and interpret quantitative and qualitative information of a financial, accounting, economic, social and legal nature that is relevant to the taking of business decisions.
 A6 Draw up projects about overall management or the functional areas of a company that reflect their ability to identify and carry out business initiatives.
 A7 Scientifically analyze case studies of businesses and business problems and can draw up consultancy reports that respond to these problems.
Type B Code Competences Transversal
 B2 Effective solutions to complex problems
 B3 Critical, logical and creative thinking, and an ability to innovate
 B4 Autonomy, responsibility and initiative
Type C Code Competences Nuclear
 C4 Be able to express themselves correctly both orally and in writing in one of the two official languages of the URV

Learning outcomes
Type A Code Learning outcomes
 A2 Search for sources of statistical and business information.
 A6 Create a plan for managing an innovation project.
Manage company R+D+I projects.
 A7 Write sectorial studies on the dynamics of specific markets.
Be able to write reports on the internals evolution of companies.
Type B Code Learning outcomes
 B2 Identify problems and take decisions to solve them.
Provide alternative solutions to a problem and evaluate risks and advantages.
Adopt realistic strategies for solving problems.
 B3 Be aware of the limitations and weak points of their work processes and methods.
Identify the results of innovation.
Analyze the risks and benefits of innovation.
Be aware of who is affected by innovation and how.
 B4 Present results before the stipulated deadlines.
Recognize the good and bad points of their approach to a particular task.
Type C Code Learning outcomes
 C4 Produce well structured, clear and effective oral texts.
Produce well-structured, clear and rich written texts

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
UNIT 1. Introduction.
 1.1. Reasons for trade.
1.2.Trade flows, movement of people (migration) and movement of capital (FDI) nowadays.
UNIT 2. Trade and technology: the Ricardian model.
2.1. Absolute advantage and comparative advantage.
2.2. Trade and wages.
2.3. Application: Labor productivity and wages.
2.3. Other applications.

UNIT 3. Gains and losses from trade: the specific-factor model.
3.1. Mobile and specific factors.
3.2. Determination of wages.
3.3. Earning of capital and land.
3.4. Redistributive effects of trade.
3.5. Applications.

UNIT 4. Trade and resources: the Heckscher-Ohlin model.
 4.1. Model assumptions and model predictions.
4.2. Application: the Leontief paradox.
4.3. The effect of trade on factor prices.
4.4. Model extensions: many goods, factors and countries.
4.5.More empirical tests of the model.

UNIT 5. Movement of labor and capital between countries.
5.1. Migration.
5.2. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
5.3. Applications.
5.4. Gains from migration and FDI: theory and empirical evidence.

UNIT 6. Intra-industry trade: economies of scale and perfect competition.
6.1. Monopolistic competition.
6.2. Trade and monopolistic competition.
6.3. Applications: the gravity equation and the adjustment costs due to the opening to trade.

UNIT 7. Foreign outsourcing of goods and services.
7.1. The value chain and outsourcing.
7.2. Application: outsourcing and the skilled-unskilled wage premium.
7.3. A simple model of outsourcing.
7.4. Gains from outsourcing.
7.5. Outsourcing of services.

UNIT 8. Trade policy I: tariffs and quotas under perfect competition.
8.1. A brief history of WTO and the key provisions of GATT.
8.2. Tariffs for a large and a small country.
8.3. Quotas for a large and a small country.
8.4. Applications: the Multifibre arrangment and others.


Planning
Methodologies  ::  Tests
  Competences (*) Class hours
 Hours outside the classroom
 (**) Total hours
Introductory activities
2 2 4
Lecture
A2
A7
 22 22 44
Assignments
A6
B2
B3
B4
C4
 22 50 72
Debates
B3
C4
 4 16 20
Problem solving, exercises
A2
A6
A7
 0 0 0
Personal attention
6 0 6
 
Extended-answer tests
A2
A6
A7
 2 0 2
 
(*) On e-learning, hours of virtual attendance of the teacher.
(**) The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies
  Description
Introductory activities Introduction to the material and goals of the course.
Lecture Lectures presenting the material with the help of power point prsentations.
Assignments Els treballs pràctics tenen com a objectiu facilitar a l'estudiant/a l'apresentatge en la redacció d'informes, l'anàlisi de dades i la presentació de resultats empírics sota el suport de les respectives teories.
Debates En aquests espais es preten crear ambients per a debatre aspectes relacionats amb temes actuals de les nostres societats, en especial relacionats amb la innovació i la ciència.
Problem solving, exercises Anàlisi i resolució d'un problema o exercici pràctic concret relacionat amb la temàtica de l'assignatura.

Participació i assistència.
Personal attention In order to solve doubts and problems related to the material, the professor will hold office hours whose timetble will be announced at the cbeginning of the course.

Personalized attention
Description
In order to solve doubts and problems related to the material, the professor will hold office hours whose timetble will be announced at the beginning of the course.

Assessment
Methodologies Competences Description Weight        
Assignments
A6
B2
B3
B4
C4
 treball en equip sobre una empresa innovadora


 40%
Problem solving, exercises
A2
A6
A7
Resolució de problemes i participació 		10%
Extended-answer tests
A2
A6
A7
 Prova final eliminatòria (tots els temes) 50%
Others  
 
Other comments and second exam session

La nota final del curs estarà determinada per la participació activa de l'alumne a classe (assistència, participació en els debats, lectura de referències bibliogràfiques, etc.). Es valorarà especialment el rigor i la originalitat del treball realitzat.

La segona convocatòria està adreçada per als alumnes que no superin la primera, al llarg del curs. Consistirà en un prova escrita i es tindran en consideració els treballs pràctics fets durant el curs. Els alumnes podran obtenir la qualificació màxima.

Sources of information

Basic

--
Complementary

Sala-i-Martin, X. (1994): Apuntes de crecimiento económico, Antoni Bosch Editor, Barcelona.

Schumpeter, J. (1945):  Capitalismo, Socialismo y Democracia, (edició en castellà a Edicions Aguilar, Madrid, 1968).

Audretsch, D. and Acs, Z.J. (1991): “Innovation and Size at the Firm Level”, Southern Economic Journal, vol. 57 (3), pp. 739-744.

Sthephan, P.E. (1996): “The Economics of Science”, Journal of Economic Literature, 34: 1199-1235.
Recommendations
(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.