Why do some countries receive more foreign direct investment (FDI) than others? Why do workers in some countries welcome foreign investors with open arms, while protests erupt in others? Why does FDI sometimes have positive effects on economic development while is appears exploitative in other contexts?

This course seeks to answer such questions by analyzing both the causes for FDI flows as well as their economic, political, and social consequences.

Specifically, this course examines the interplay of how politics shapes FDI, and in turn how FDI affects politics.

As we work our way through these issues, we will touch upon larger sustainable development issues such as, foreign investment and inequality, multinational corporations and food security, impact of FDI policies on human development, as well as the power between firms and workers.

After successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Apply International Political Economy theories to identify real-world puzzles in the context of FDI and social development.
• Develop hypotheses that offer explanations to questions related to foreign direct investment, politics, and development.
• Adjudicate between competing hypotheses to recommend solutions to policy problems.
• Defend proposed solutions using reasoned arguments.

This course will be useful for students who plan to continue their study to the master level (e.g., international economics; development; political science) or develop a career path in the field of economic consultancy (research), public institutions, and corporate strategy (e.g., corporate social responsibility, market analyst).

In addition, this course is part of the Seminar Series on "Sustainable Economics II" (In German, "Zukunftsfähiges Wirtschaften II," frequently abbreviated as "ZuWi II"). The present course shares several overarching goals with all other courses in the ZuWi II sequence. Specifically, every ZuWi II course aims to increase students' awareness of economic activities' social and environmental context. Moreover, students learn to consider the impact of their actions on society and the natural environment, their social responsibility, and their contribution to long-term sustainable development. This includes the ability to consider the ethical, social, and environmental issues implied in their decisions. ZuWi II courses achieve this by encouraging students to practice self-reflection, openness and sensitivity to diversity, and understanding of complexity.  By the end of any ZuWi II course, students should be able to process new information, understand ideas and problems, develop solutions, and communicate them to both expert and non-expert audiences.

This course is classified as "Examination-immanent" (in German, "Prüfungsimmanent," often abbreviated as "PI"). As a general rule, PI courses have compulsory attendance. However, one class can be missed without negatively affecting the grade. If known in advance, absences must be announced by email to the lecturer ahead of time (e.g., in cases of conflicting class schedules). Missing class for medical reasons (e.g., accident or illness) will not count against the participation requirements as long as a doctor's note can be provided. No makeup assignments will be provided in case of missed assessments. More details on absenteeism rules will be explained in the first class.

Course language is English. Learning activities consist in preparatory readings, instructor's input, discussions and other activities in class, small individual assignments and quizzes, written group work or individual assignment.

• Reading assignments completed before class sessions (20%)
• Active participation during class (20%)
• Creative illustration of core concept (20%)
• Short writing assignments (40%)
   

Course enrollment is based on the "first-come, first-served” principle. If you have registered but cannot participate in the course, please de-register via LPIS during the registration period so that your place is available to students on the waiting list. 

If there is a waiting list for enrollment in the course, students on the waiting list will be notified after the end of the enrollment period and will be allocated to available places. Students will be ranked by progress in their studies, not by their rank on the waiting list. This procedure, however, is not to be understood as a guarantee of class space
 

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