ECB3121 Economics of international trade and finance
Faculty of Business and Economics
ECB3121 Economics of international trade and finance is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Business and Economics, offered in 2025 in Semester 1 at Peninsula. It needs (ECC2000, ECF2731, ECW2731 or ECB2731) and (ECC1100, ECF1200, ECW1102, ECB1102 or ECX1200).
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 1
- Peninsula
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 1 other task
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before ECB3121
Prerequisites
Pass these before you enrol.
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After ECB3121
No unit lists ECB3121 as a prerequisite in the 2025 handbook.
Enrolment rules
To be successful in this unit, background knowledge and application of maths is required at the equivalent of VCE Year 12 level. You may have satisfied this by completing relevant prerequisite unit/s, or you have covered relevant topics in your final years of secondary study. You should self-assess your maths competency prior to enrolling in this unit.
Overview
This unit develops an understanding of the theory of international trade. It explains how international trade creates gains for a nation and the effect this has on its economic outcomes, such as economic growth and income distribution. The unit discusses the role of trade policy; tariffs, quotas, subsidies and import discrimination on trade patterns. The unit also looks at the international finance and the foreign exchange markets, with emphasis on stability of the foreign exchange market, exchange rate determination, the balance of payments and the role of exchange rate policies.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Peninsula | On campus |
Assessment
- Within semester assessment60%
- Examination40%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
understand and critically evaluate contemporary policy debates in international trade and finance
- 2
use analytical tools to predict the impact of global economic, political and social policies on Australia as a small open economy
- 3
recognise the positive welfare effects of worldwide unrestricted trade.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities. You are expected to complete all pre-class activities prior to your scheduled class, and post-class activities should be completed after your scheduled class. Learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed, peer directed and online engagement activities.
This unit includes problem-based learning approaches, where you engage in research, integrate theory and practice and apply knowledge and skills to develop viable solutions in response to a problem or set of problems.
This unit engages you in actively applying your knowledge, skills and attributes in interactive, collaborative and reflective activities.
Where it fits
ECB3121 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2025 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Jackie So
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for ECB3121?
You need (ECC2000, ECF2731, ECW2731 or ECB2731) and (ECC1100, ECF1200, ECW1102, ECB1102 or ECX1200) before you enrol. Enrolment rules also apply.
When is ECB3121 offered?
In 2025, ECB3121 runs in Semester 1 at Peninsula.
How much work is ECB3121?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does ECB3121 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 1 other task.
Which majors and minors include ECB3121?
ECB3121 is part of Economics and business decisions; and Finance and economics.