US Canada Aluminum trade

ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVE

The objective of this assignment is to give you an opportunity to:

1. Apply analytical skills and economic concepts to examine whether a specific trade theory (i.e. Theory of Comparative Advantage, Heckscher-Ohlin Theory etc.) matches what is seen in data.

2. Learn how to write a formal report underpinned by economic logic and evidence.

EXPECTATIONS FOR THE ASSIGNMENT: Your report should include the economic analysis of a one of the trade theories we have discussed in the class, and your own insight. Topic: US Canada Aluminum trade. You should test whether your theory is supported by the data. Survey or descriptive papers (reporting other people’s work/ideas on issues, historical events) or hypothetical scenarios are not acceptable. Your final report must be typed, double spaced, and between 8 and 10 pages. Your target audience for the report is educated college graduates. All assignments are to be turned in on the due dates at the time listed. No assignments will be accepted after that.

In this assignment, you should try to answer the following questions:

1. What are the trade theory, and good that I am trying to analyze? (analyze or examine or investigate or evaulate) and what are the variables to be tested

2. Why is the question interesting? What is the empirical motivation?

3. Is data available? Is it from a reliable source? Make sure you can get 20 years of data to analyze. A clear introduction describing the trade theory you chose and the way you have decided to analyze it. Remember that your thesis statement should be included in your introduction and it should answer the question: what am I trying to prove/show?

4. A summary of your essential ideas or arguments. Try to limit yourself to 3 main points. You could report the effects of the trade issue on the two countries and agents. Feel free to make subsections where needed.

5. Make sure you include a theoretical analysis where you discuss the theory you will use

6. A conclusion in which you restate the thesis, summarize the main points you developed and present the results you drew from your analysis.

7. A bibliography where you list the references and data used. You may add an appendix for graphs, data, or mathematical derivations. You MUST have access to 20 years of data Please make sure you can obtain at least 17-20 years of data for the countries and issues involved. Remember that your paper must examine the trade issue from bilateral or multilateral viewpoints. You MUST show the cause and effects of certain events on the economies (sectoral and aggregate impacts).

I. INTRODUCTION

II. LITERACTURE REWIEW

III. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

IV. DATA AND METHODOLOGY

V. EMPIRICAL RESULTS

VI. CONCLUSION