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Elective: Foreign Direct Investment, Multinational Companies and the Political Economy of Emerging Market Counries

Vak
2016-2017

Admission requirements

This course is only available for students in the BA International Studies who have succesfully completed the second year elective course.
The number of participants is limited to 25.

Description

This aims of this course are to provide an understanding of the factors driving the recent development of emerging market economies, paying particular attention to the political economy of industrialisation, foreign direct investment and innovation. The main themes covered include: (i) concepts and recent trends in foreign direct investment (FDI) and internationalization, (ii) the nature and characteristics of multinational corporations (MNCs), (iii) the impact of MNCs on the development process of emerging market economies, (iv) the development of emerging market-based MNCs, (v) the development of indigenous technological capabilties in emerging market, and the role that MNCs and the state can play in this process. A particular emphasis will be placed on comparisons and contrasts between experiences in Latin America and in East and South Asia.
The teaching materials will comprise lecture slides (to be provided via Blackboard) as well as selected texts (please see reading list below)

Course objectives

The elective courses for International Studies are designed to teach students how to deal with state-of-the-art literature and research questions. They are chosen to enhance the students’ learning experience by building on the interdisciplinary perspectives they have developed so far, and to introduce them to the art of academic research. They are characterised by an international or comparative approach.
Academic skills that are trained include:
Oral presentation skills:
1. to explain clear and substantiated research results;
2. to provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course
a. in the form of a clear and well-structured oral presentation;
b. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
c. using up-to-date presentation techniques;
d. aimed at a specific audience;
3. to actively participate in a discussion following the presentation.
Collaboration skills:
1. to be socio-communicative in collaborative situations;
2. to provide and receive constructive criticism, and incorporate justified criticism by revising one’s own position;
3. adhere to agreed schedules and priorities.
Basic research skills, including heuristic skills:
1. to collect and select academic literature using traditional and digital methods and techniques;
2. to analyze and assess this literature with regard to quality and reliability;
3. to formulate on this basis a sound research question;
4. to design under supervision a research plan of limited scope, and implement it using the methods and techniques that are appropriate within the discipline involved;
5. to formulate a substantiated conclusion.
Written presentation skills:
1. to explain clear and substantiated research results;
2. to provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course
a. in the form of a clear and well-structured written presentation;
b. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
c. using relevant illustration or multimedia techniques;
d. aimed at a specific audience.

Timetable

The timetable is available on the BA International Studies website

Mode of instruction

This course will provide instruction via Seminar and supervised research.

Course Load

Total course load for the course: 10 EC x 28 hours= 280 hours, broken down by:

  • Hours spent on attending lectures and seminars: 24 hours

  • Time for studying the compulsory literature:156 hours

  • Researching and writing final paper: 100 hours

Assessment method

Assessment

  • Written examination with essay questions

  • Paper

Weighing

To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following:
the final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average (Written exam at end of course 60%; Paper 40%)

To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following: the final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average.

To pass the course, the weighted average has to be 5.5 at least.

Resit

In case of resubmission of the final essay (insufficient grade only) the final grade for the essay will be lowered as a consequence of the longer process of completion. The deadline for resubmission is 10 days after receiving the grade for the final essay.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used. For tutorial groups: please enroll in blackboard after your enrolment in uSis
Students are requested to register on Blackboard for this course.

Reading list

  • Amann, Edmund & Cantwell, John (2012) Innovative Firms from Emerging Market Economies, Oxford: Oxford University Press (Chs. 1 and 2.)

  • Caves, Richard, (2007), Multinational Enterprises and Economic Analysis, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press (Ch. 2)

  • Dunning, John & Lundan, Sarianna (2008) Multinational Enterprises and the Global Economy, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Chs. 2 and 4)

  • UNCTAD (2015), World Investment Report 2015 (Chs. 1 and 2)
    Note: These are introductory readings and further readings in connection with sub-topics will be recommended once the course begins. It is recommended, though not essential, that students review the chapters cited above prior to the commencement of the course.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.
General information about uSis is available in English and Dutch

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Not applicable

Contact

Prof. Dr. E. Amann

Remarks

The deadline for submission of the final essay is 9 June 2017.