COURSES

Content

PART I: HISTORY, FACTS AND INSTITUTIONS

• History, Facts, law, institutions and the budget
• Decision making

PART II: THE MICROECONOMICS OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

• Essential microeconomic tools
• The essential economics of preferential liberalisation
• Market size and scale effects
• Growth effects and factor market integration
• Economic integration, labour markets and migration

PART III: EU MICRO POLICIES

• The Common Agricultural Policy
• Location effects, economic geography and regional policy
• EU competition and state aid policy
• EU trade policy

Learning outcomes

1. To interpret the efficiency and allocation of (European) decision-making
2. To interpret the trade-effects of economic integration migration
3. To interpret the effects of economic integration on growth, labour markets
4. To interpret different policy areas of the EU: common agricultural policy, regional policy, competition policy and external trade policy.
5. To be able to translate theoretical concepts to causal empirical validation
6. To be able to interprete and crticially evaluate the results of causal empirical validation
7. To analyse the impact of new developments in the European integration

Teaching methods

Lecture, Independent work

Assessment

Assessment moments: end-of-term

Examination methods in case of end-of-term assessment during the first examination period: Written Assessment

Lecturers

Merlevede, Bruno: Lecturer-in-Charge 

Course dates

This course takes place in the second semester of academic year 2026-2027: 

• Educational activities: 08/02 - 15/05 
• Easter recess: 29/03 – 10/04 
• Catch-up activities: 17/05 – 22/05 
• Examination period: 24/05 – 03/07 
• Resit examination period: 16/08 – 18/09

There will be one (online) lecture per week from February 8, 2027, to May 1, 2026. Lectures start at 13h00 on Monday. The exact schedule will be announced later. Lectures will be recorded.

Entry requirements: Knowledge of the most important macro- and microeconomic principles and at least an elementary background in statistics

How to apply

1. Check whether you meet the entry requirements listed above. You cannot apply if you don’t meet the entry requirements.
2. Check with your home faculty or study programme to confirm whether this course can be included in your curriculum, so the ECTS credits will be recognized. If you are unsure who to contact, reach out to your home university’s ENLIGHT office (contact details below). 
3. Apply by completing the Ghent University form by January 18th. 
4. Register at Ghent University. Registration instructions will follow after application. 

Information per university

• University of the Basque Country: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   
• University of Bern: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., see application instructions for students at the University of Bern  
• University of Bordeaux: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.     
• Comenius University Bratislava: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , see application instructions for students at the Comenius University Bratislava 
• University of Galway: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.    
• University of Groningen: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., see information about BIPs and application form  
• University of Göttingen: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (for BIP’s) or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (other courses)  
• University of Tartu: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., see information about BIP’s and virtual courses  
• Uppsala University: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., see application instructions for students at Uppsala University 
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For information regarding the procedure to take part in this course: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

For information regarding the course content: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.