This course examines the global struggle for power and wealth among governments, firms and other actors. In particular it investigates the historical origins of the international economy, the causes of trade disputes, the power of multi-national corporations, the pressures created by international financial flows, the causes of poverty and underdevelopment in the third world, and the role played by international institutions in reducing conflict. There are no pre-requisites. The relevant economic theory will be explained as necessary. Students who believe that they could use some preparation before taking this class should consider PS 231, Introduction to International Relations and /or EC 348, Introduction to International Economics. Links to the web pages for these classes are provided below.
 

The international links page
Paul Krugman's Home Page   Res ipsa loquitur.
The Asia Crisis Homepage   The mother-of-all web pages to do with the Asia crisis.  Maintained by Nouriel Roubini at NYU, it contains chapter and verse on the debate within the economics profession on what happened and why.  Many of the pieces are technical, but do not be deterred.
NBER Working Papers Good, detailed research on different aspects of financial crises.
Major Current Policy Debates in Macroeconomics Excellent web-based collection of writings on current policy themes--timely and accessible. Roubini, again.
NBER International Finance and Macroeconomics Program Research program on the interrelationship of international finance and economic stability.  Frankel's summary especially useful.
Archer Daniels Midland: A Case Study in Corporate Welfare   An outstanding case study by the CATO institute on the ability of ADM to farm in Washington D.C. for fun and profit.
International Political Economy    A list of newspapers, journals and sources useful for the study of I.P.E.
Glossary of Business Cycle Indicators Which indicators mean what, with what lag, etc.
Economagic   Neat website that generates free GIF and PDF charts of various time series data.
EC 348 - Introduction to International Economics Web site for a class offered by Dr. McElroy. Even if you don't take the class, the syllabus and other links maintained on this site should be very useful.
PS 231 - Introduction to International Relations

N.C. State Department of Political Science and Public Administration