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ECON 231Introduction to International Economics

Units
0.50
Faculty
Arts
Subject
Economics

When it runs

  1. F24
  2. W25
  3. S25
  4. F25
  5. W26
  6. S26
  7. F26
  8. W27
  9. S27

Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: scheduled, 2 lecture sections. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course explores international trade in goods and services, as well as the international exchange of financial assets. Economic theories will be examined, which help explain how international transactions affect the world's economies. Topics include the theory of comparative advantage and the gains from trade, tariff theory, concepts and measurement of balance of payments, exchange rate systems, and the international monetary system.

Prerequisites

  • Complete 1 of the following
    • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
      • COMM103 - Principles of Economics (0.50)
      • ECON100 - Principles of Economics (0.50)
    • Complete all of the following
      • Complete 1 of the following
        • Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
          • ECON101 - Introduction to Microeconomics (0.50)
          • MSE263 - Managerial Economics (0.50)
        • Must have completed the following:
      • Complete all of the following
        • Must have completed the following:
          • ECON102 - Introduction to Macroeconomics (0.50)
        • Must have completed the following:

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

Winter 2027 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
SectionClassEnrolledMeets
LEC 00141480 / 60TTh 10:00–11:20
LEC 701163211 / 9999Online or by arrangement

Reviewed on UW Flow

59% liked it53% easy54% useful

From 37 ratings and 8 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • I want to make it clear for those that want to take this course as a bird course - It's not that bird, and it also depends on your prof. For Viv Yang, it was certainly a bird course. Midterm 1 average was 89%, midterm 2 average was 83%. I went into the final exam with a 98%. Studied one day for the final and still had 90s. So if you see Viv Yang, don't hesitate and take this course. She's also very helpful, knowledgeable and kind to her students. We all loved her. Her notes/ppt are also so organized and detailed that you do not have to buy a textbook for this course. Textbook is actually a bad investment, since you'd only be using certain chapters only. Finally, a lot of AFMers take this…

    Dec 2016 · liked it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • The course had three exams and a final. It was useful material and was interesting, which would be relevant to international trade models.

    Jan 2018 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • one of my favourite econ courses to date. course had 2 midterms, 2 quizzes (i think??), and a final. all questions are derived directly from the slides, however that's not to say that all of the questions are IN the slides. Rather, all of the information you need to answer any question is contained within. There are zero tricks on any exam. the prof is amazing too. I definitely wouldn't say this is a bird course, but its not overly difficult either.

    Jul 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Wokia Kumase is one of the best ECON profs at UW. Made the course/content super easy to understand and follow.

    Apr 2021 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I was told this would be a pretty birdy course, and even received the test banks from a friend so I would be able to study. It did not end up being birdy at all because of the prof. She does not post her slides before her lectures claiming she is not organized enough (why are you a prof then?), even when they are released the lecture slides are full of mistakes. THe exams were confusing because her lectures were confusing and her instruction was never clear.

    Feb 2020 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

63 posts and comments in 54 threads mention ECON 231, February 2012 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2022

Spring 2022

Economics courses 2 points, 7 comments

“doing a minor in economics and have 5 courses already done, does anyone know if there are any level 200 or above econ courses that don't require much math?”

u/Doizi01: “Econ 231 is a good course. No math.”

u/Doizi01: “Are you taking econ 231 right note now?”

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Fall 2021

Spring 2021

Winter 2021

Fall 2020

Spring 2020

Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026

Calendar versions

Undergraduate Calendar