Spain and the European Union

Course Information

Program(s):

Madrid - Language & Area Studies

Discipline(s):

Economics

Terms offered:

Fall, Spring

Credits:

Language of instruction:

Spanish

Contact Hours:

Prerequisites:

Although there are not previous prerequisites, students are encourage to have a basic knowledge of International Economics, Economic Integration, Macroeconomics, Economic History or International Relations.

Description:

This course provides a broad overview of international economics, focusing on Spain and the European Union. It is designed to develop the student’s knowledge of economic integration ideas, in the context of contemporary issues and using the tools of elementary economics analysis. Students are shown how to apply economic reasoning to a range of problems relevant for understanding the mechanisms and institutions which allocate and distribute resources into the European Union. They also study how several economic and social policies are implemented, using Spanish examples as case studies. Special attention will be placed on the current integration problems and the theoretical and empirical answers –and particular policies– implemented to try to solve these problems. Students are also introduced into the study of the determinants which rules relationships into the European Union, in the context of general globalization.

Attendance policy:

Attendance is mandatory for all IES Abroad classes, including course-related excursions. Any exams, tests, presentations, or other work missed due to student absences can only be rescheduled in cases of documented medical or family emergencies. If a student misses more than two classes in any course half a letter grade will be deducted from the final grade for every additional absence. Seven absences in any course will result in a failing grade.

Learning outcomes:

By the end of the course students will be able to:

Understand the history and the development of the European process of integration.
Have a better knowledge of the Spanish Economic Structure and its current changes due the European Union.
Understand the euro (financial, economic and monetary integration, who decide the policy mix in the European Central Bank?) and the external European policies (common trade policy and the system of European external relations).
Have a better knowledge of the European policies and means of actions, as well as its objectives and its effects on the Member States.
Non-economic items: social transformation in Spain and Europe, perspective for the external relations of Spain, and situation of the European Union in the context of globalization.

Method of presentation:

All the content integrated in the course is supported by different materials provided through the Moodle platform. Files should be checked by the students before class to improve the complexity of discussion and debate. The bibliography and power point files linked in to Moodle provide students different points of view about the chapters. All the classes begin with a presentation by the Instructor and the possibility to discuss current events appearing in mass media about the European Union. All the students have the possibility to make presentations about the following topics: the institutions of the European Union, the economic structures of its member countries, the historical development of the European common policies, the effects of European policies and actions on its member States or on the global economy. Students should complete four written assignments (2-3 pages) –about selected topics–, and they must be submitted to the Instructor before the exams. The course includes a course related excursion, which will be determined by the professor each semester.

Required work and form of assessment:

Written Assignments: 20%
Presentations and debates: 20%
Midterm Exam: 30%
Final Exam: 30%

content:

Session	Content	Required Readings
Session 1 & 2	Introduction to the European Integration.	Doce Lecciones sobre Europa, chapter 1: Nieto 2005, chapter : 1 Oral Presentations
Session 3 &4	The History of the European Integration and Spain.	Buitrago y Romero, chapter 2 Nieto 2005, chapter 2 Oral presentations Written Assignments
Session 5 & 6	Analysing the European Integration: Theory and Practice.	Buitrago y Romero, chapter 1 Nieto 2005, chapter 3 Written Assignment 2
Session 7 & 8	The economy of the Member States and de Spanish economy.	Eurostat 2013 (Basic figures) 20 años de España en la UE Oral Presentations 2 Written Assignment 3
Session 9 & 10	The European Institutions and it rules.	Nieto 2005, chapter 5 Doce lecciones sobre Europa, chapter 4: OR and VC Oral Presentations 2 Written Assignment 4
Session 11 & 12	The European Budget and Spain.	Buitrago y Romero, chapter 7 Nieto 2005, chapter 7 Written Assignment 5
Session 13 & 14	The European Internal Market and it rules.	Buitrago y Romero, chapter 3 and 4 Nieto 2005, chapter 6 Written Assignment 6
Session 15 & 16	European Monetary Integration: The euro and the EBC.	Buitrago y Romero, chapter 5 and 6 Doce lecciones sobre Europa, chapter 7 Written Assignment 7
Session 17 & 18	European Internal Policies and Spain.	Buitrago y Romero, chapter 9 Nieto 2005, chapter 8 Oral Presentation 3
Session 19 & 20	The importance of Cohesion Policies in Europe.	Buitrago y Romero, chapter 8 Nieto 2005, chapter 9 Oral Presentation 3 Written Assignment 8
Session 21 & 22	The European External Policies and Spain.	Nieto 2005, chapter 10 Comisión Europea 2013, UE en el mundo Oral Presentation 4
Session 23 & 24	Perspectives for the European Integration and Spain.	Doce lecciones sobre Europa, chapter 12 Comisión Europea 2009, Hacer negocios Oral Presentation 4

Notes: Two specific sessions, one for each exam. One external activity (to be determined). Additional summaries, power points, statistics and complementary readings provided by the Instructor.

Required readings:

Basic readings:

Buitrago, E. and Romero, L. (2013): Economía de la Unión Europea. Análisis económico del proceso de integración europeo. Ed. Pirámide: Madrid. (427 pg.).
Nieto, J.A. (2005): La Unión Europea. Una nueva etapa en la integración económica de Europa. Ed. Pirámide: Madrid (263 pg., 1ª ed. 2001, 2ª ed. 2005) – Free access: Moodle (courtesy of the author/Instructor: chapters 1 to 3 and 5 to 10).

Other readings:

Comisión Europea (2009): Hacer negocios con la Comisión Europea.
Comisión Europea (2013): The EU in the World. A Statistical Portrait. Eurostat.
Piedrahita, S., Steinberg, F. and Torreblanca, J.I. (2006): 20 años de España en la Unión Europea (1986-2206). Real Instituto Elcano (Madrid).
Eurostat (2013): Basic figures on the EU. Comisión Europea. Bruselas (12 pg.)
Unión Europea (2011): Doce lecciones sobre Europa. (Nueva edición actualizada de la obra escrita por Pascal Fontaine para la Comisión Europea: 82 pg.)