The course starts with the general theories and stylized facts on globalization and puts them in their historical context. The focus, however, is on understanding the mechanisms of globalized industrial and technical activity – trade, financial flows, production/sourcing and knowledge formation/transfer – which seem to be more intensive now than was earlier the case. Processes of catching up, leapfrogging and branding policies of new industrial actors are analyzed as are the activities of transnational firms in sourcing production as well as R&D and design over the world.
The course is based on theories of international economics and of international firms as well as on parts of the general globalization discourse. The teaching consists of lectures and seminars.