Trade Statistics

Trade Statistics is a course designed to assist students in the analysis and application of international trade and economic statistics in the postgraduate programs of the Institute for International Trade. The course will review and revisit the principles of international trade from an applied perspective. It will show how robust data and statistics play an important role in decision making in economic and trade policy. The concept of comparative advantage will be discussed, the relationship between trade and economic growth analysed and the impact of trade barriers highlighted. The course will also focus on statistical concepts relevant to international trade and economic analysis. Students will be introduced to several publicly available economic and trade databases and their relevance. The course will provide students with the theoretical framework for trade and economic analysis. This will include, but not be limited to, the theoretical foundations of the general equilibrium models and partial equilibrium models such as the gravity model of international trade. The course will provide students with the tools and skills to undertake their own trade statistical research. Students will be introduced to several statistical methods such as trade indicator analysis, trade preference indicators, trade diversion and trade creation and the gravity model to international trade. Activities of this course include the evaluation of trade-related economic reports and a class exercise using online access to trade data sets to develop a trade strategy for countries negotiating trade agreements.