ASSIGNMENT: INTERNATIONAL TRADE

QUESTION

Should importing countries use trade restrictions to pressure exporting countries into improving their labour standards? Discuss in 1200-1500 words.

Your discussion should include the four sections below following the instructions provided for each.

1) Issues: Identify and explain the main economic and ethical issue(s) related to using trade restrictions to pressure exporting countries into improving their labour standards.

2) Analysis: Analyse the issue(s) you identified in 1). You must include relevant concepts/theories/arguments discussed during the lectures.

3) Position: Derive your position on the issue(s) you identified in 1). You must support your position based on the analysis done in 2).

4) Critique: Identify the best possible argument(s) that may be raised in opposition to your position derived in 3) and defend your position against it. In doing so, you must consider the assumptions and implications of your analysis and position.

Use the following resources to articulate and enrich your discussion. Links for all resources except for Resources #2 and #8 are available on iLearn.

Resource #1. Lecture slides from weeks 1-10.

Resource #2. Chapters/sections of the prescribed textbook that are relevant to lecture topics

Resource #3. Pages 182-193 of the following book.

• Gerber J., (2014) International Economics (6th ed). Pearson

Resource #4. Chapter 7 Intro and Sections 7.3, 7.5 and 7.6 of the following book.

• Hausman, D. & McPherson, M. (2006) Economic Analysis, Moral Philosophy and Public Policy (2nd ed). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge UniPress.

Resource #5. Prentice, R. & De Neve, G. "Five years after deadly factory fire, Bangladesh's garment workers are still vulnerable", The Conversation. November 23, 2017.

Resource #6. Greenhouse, S. "Obama to suspend trade privileges with Bangladesh", The New York Times, June 27, 2013.

Resource #7. Follet, C., "Restricting trade after factory explosion would hurt Bangladeshi women", Forbes, October 17, 2013.

Resource #8. Any other resources relevant to your discussion.

PURPOSE

This assessment task relates to the following Learning Outcomes:

• Be conversant with major international trade theories.
• Understand and appreciate current major world trade and policy issues.
• Fully appreciate the impact of major trade issues on countries with a focus on the trade-off between efficiency and equity.
• Critically analyse, compare and examine the motives behind trade disputes.