ECN410: Comparative Economics & Global Business 1800 – Present
Credit Hours:
3
Contact Hours:
This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of
material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can
expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as
well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per
week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing
papers, completing projects, and doing research.
Faculty Information
Name:
Phone:
CSU-GC Email:
Virtual Office Hours:
Course Description and Outcomes
This course focuses on the history of business, technology and innovation in a variety of comparative economic
systems from 1800 to the present. Major topics include ethics, culture, industrial revolution, technology and
innovation, as well as government and the impact of business practices across time and the globe in these
systems. Many expert economists will be cited throughout the course, giving the student a broad, academic
view of economic systems, focusing especially on transition economies, and encouraging the student to analyze
the future of our current and global economic systems.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate a global understanding of national and international events from 1800 to the present.
2. Describe the beginnings of industrialization and its impact on nations and their economies, societies,
culture, and governments.
3. Explain the challenges of nation building in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
4. Compare and contrast Imperialism, Communism, Democracy, Socialism and other forms of governments
from a variety of local, national, and international perspectives.
5. Discuss and demonstrate how history impacts and influences relationships and business practices in the
twenty first century.
6. Assess other societies in a comparative context and assess one’s own society in the context of other
societies.
7. Synthesize the influence of global forces and identify their connections to local and national
developments.
Participation & Attendance
Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus.
Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some
reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor.
Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget
your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical
problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your
instructor know as soon as possible.
Course Materials
Required:
Gregory, P. R., & Stuart, R. C. (2004). Comparing economic systems in the twenty-first century. Mason, OH:
South-Western, Cengage Learning. ISBN- 13: 9780618261819
Course Schedule
Due Dates
The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday.
 Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 12 midnight MT and Peer
Responses posted by Sunday 12 midnight MT. Late posts may not be awarded points.
 Mastery Exercises: Students may access and retake mastery exercises through the last day of class until
they achieve the scores they desire.
 Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 12 midnight MT.
Week #
1
Readings

Chapters 1, 2 & 3 in Comparing Economic Systems in
the Twenty-First Century

Chapters 5, 6, & 7 in Comparing Economic Systems in
the Twenty-First Century

Chapters 8, 9, & 10 in Comparing Economic Systems in
the Twenty-First Century
2
3
Assignments
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
Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)
Portfolio Project: Portfolio Project
Topic Approval (0 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
Critical Thinking (100 points)

Chapters 11, 12 & 13 in Comparing Economic Systems
in the Twenty-First Century

Chapters 4, 14 & 15 in Comparing Economic Systems in
the Twenty-First Century

Chapters 16, 17 & 18 in Comparing Economic Systems
in the Twenty-First Century

Chapters 19 & 20 in Comparing Economic Systems in
the Twenty-First Century

Chapters 21 & 22 in Comparing Economic Systems in
the Twenty-First Century
4
5
6
7
8
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

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Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (20 points)
Portfolio Project: Outline (0 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
Critical Thinking (100 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
Critical Thinking (75 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (10 points)
Discussion (25 points)
Mastery (20 points)
Portfolio (350 points)
Assignment Details
This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Module 2
Critical Thinking Activity: Poverty, Property and Underpinnings (75 points)
Critically evaluate and respond to each of the following three questions:
1.
2.
3.
Poverty is a major problem in many parts of the world. To what extent and in what ways will the dramatic
movement away from planning toward markets alter the systemic arrangements used in developing
nations? Will these changes influence levels of living? (25 points)
Probably the single most important characteristic by which different economic systems have been
classified is property rights. Why are property rights considered so important in the classification of
economic systems? (25 points)
Unlike the market economic system, for which the competitive ideal serves as a theoretical underpinning,
the socialist economic system has no theoretical underpinning. Agree or disagree, providing rationale and
your argument. (25 points)
Each response should be approximately one page in length for a total length of 2-3 pages. Your paper should be
well written and formatted according to CSU-Global guidelines for APA style. Cite at least one credible course
other than the required textbook. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to search for credible sources.
Portfolio Project: Topic Approval (0 points)
Submit your Portfolio Project topic to your instructor via email for approval. Though you will not receive points for
this submission individually, it is a part of the Portfolio Project requirements, and points will be deducted from the
final project score if you fail to complete this part of the project.
Module 3
Critical Thinking Activity: Theory of Economic Systems (100 points)
Using your text and at least three outside, credible sources (which can be found in the CSU-Global library), build
upon what you have learned in Module 2 and Module 3, summarizing the main features of the theoretical
foundations of capitalism, planned socialism and market socialism, and then compare and contrast the strengths
and weaknesses of each system in practice, evaluating at least two economists with opposite opinions.
Your paper should be 3-5 pages in length, well written, incorporate textual references from your textbook in
addition to three credible outside sources, and be formatted according to CSU-Global guidelines for APA
formatting.
Module 4
Portfolio Project: Outline (0 points)
Prepare a detailed outline of your Portfolio Project, highlighting some main points you intend to cover for each of
the following criteria (as found in the final Portfolio Project description):
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
Description of the current state of economic condition of your selected country or region, based on at
least a couple of credible sources, which can be news or scholarly.
Examination of the historical evolution of the economic system of your selected country or region--how it
originated and came to its current status, what are the issues and obstacles encounter in transition.
Discussion of the implications of the system change in your selected country or region on the standard of
living, well-being of its citizens and competitiveness of its enterprises in a global economy.
Evaluation of the economic performance of your selected country with countries in similar economic
system and contrast the economic outcomes with countries in different countries, too.
Summation of your findings, including at least two policy recommendations for future improvements.
You should also include a list of resources you have found so far that you think you might use in your paper. You
need not demonstrate proper APA citation style at this point, but provide enough information so that your
instructor can find the sources to help ensure their credibility. Proper APA citation style and formatting will be
expected in the final project, however.
To aid in the outlining process, see this resource:
http://learningcommons.sfu.ca/sites/default/files/179/Academic%20WritingCreating%20Effective%20Outlines.pdf
To aid in the thesis generating process, see this resource:
http://www.irsc.edu/uploadedFiles/Students/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingLab/E13-Writing-an-EffectiveThesis-Statement.pdf
To aid in generating a reference list per CSU-Global APA standards, see this resource:
http://csuglobal.blackboard.com/bbcswebdav/library/CSU%20Global%20Library/Basics%20of%20Citing%20in%20
APA%20Handout.pdf
FAILURE TO SUBMIT THIS DELIVERABLE WILL RESULT IN POINT DEDUCTIONS FROM THE FINAL PORTFOLIO PROJECT
SCORE.
Module 5
Critical Thinking Activity: Economy in Transition (100 points)
Critically evaluate the approaches, main obstacles and issues of economic reforms of the Soviet Union (Russia) and
China, and assess the role of government in assuring the smooth transition from a planned economy to a market
economy. Draw on at least two economists’ studies and evaluate their arguments and findings.
Your paper should be 4-6 pages in length, well-written, and formatted according to CSU-Global guidelines for APA
Style. Additionally, cite at least two economists’ studies. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to search for
credible sources.
Module 6
Critical Thinking Activity: Deficits, Approaches & Systems (75 points)
Critically evaluate and respond to the following three questions:
1.
Despite decreased state spending after the collapse of command economies, most governments ran
deficits. Explain the cause of these deficits. Are transition economies still running deficits? Support your
response with at least one credible source. (25 points)
2.
How does the evolutionary approach help economists study transition in ways that the “big bang” does
not? What useful perspectives does the evolutionary approach provide? Support your response with at
least one credible source. (25 points)
3.
A dominant theme of socialist economic thought has always been the desirability of reducing income
differentials. Although there are both theoretical and practical difficulties in measuring income
inequalities across different economic systems, does the available evidence support the view that income
inequality was less in planned socialist systems than in market capitalist systems? Discuss. Support your
response with at least one credible source. (25 points)
Each response should be approximately one page in length for a total length of 2-3 pages. Your paper should be
well written and formatted according to CSU-Global guidelines for APA style. Cite at least one credible course
other than the required textbook. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to search for credible sources.
Module 8
Portfolio Project: Economic Systems: A Research Project (350 points)
A final project for the course requires that students select and critically evaluate a research topic based on the
concepts covered in any module (or modules) of the course. This topic should include but not be limited to specific
issues about economic systems currently or recently (within three years) covered in the news media.
Students should use and cite at least five credible published sources to support their positions, arguments and
analyses in addition to citing at least one discussion of economic system theory in the textbook. At least three of
the sources should be written by economists in academic journals, and at least two of the sources should present
arguments or perspectives that differ from or oppose each other. The CSU-Global Library is a good place to find
these sources.
The completed project will include the following elements:


Description of the current state of economic condition of your selected country or region, based on at
least a couple of credible sources, which can be news or scholarly.
Examination of the historical evolution of economic system of your selected country or region--how it



originated and came to its current status, what are the issues and obstacles encounter in transition.
Discussion of the implications of the system change in your selected country or region on the standard of
living, well-being of its citizens and competitiveness of its enterprises in a global economy.
Evaluation of the economic performance of your selected country with countries in similar economic
systems, identifying both similarities and differences between your country and those being compared to
it.
Summation of your findings, including at least two policy recommendations for future improvements.
Papers will be 8-10 pages in length, well written, and formatted per CSU-Global guidelines for APA Style.
The following Module 2 and 4 assignments are required deliverables for the Portfolio Project:
Module 2: Submit your Portfolio Project topic to your instructor via email for approval.
Module 4: Prepare a detailed outline of your Portfolio Project. (See Week 4 Assignments page for details.)
Course Policies
Late Work
Students are permitted a 7 day grace period during which they may submit a Critical Thinking assignment after
the original due date without penalty. Papers submitted between 8 and 14 days after the original due date will
be accepted with a potential 10 percent reduction in grade for late submission. Papers submitted 15 or more
days beyond the original due date may not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the
instructor. No Portfolios will be accepted late and no assignments will be accepted after the last day of class
unless a student has requested an incomplete grade in accordance with the Incomplete Policy.
Course Grading
20% Discussion Participation
10% Mastery Exercises
35% Critical Thinking Activities
35% Final Portfolio Paper
Grading Scale and Policies
A
95.0 – 100
A-
90.0 – 94.9
B+
86.7 – 89.9
B
83.3 – 86.6
B-
80.0 – 83.2
C+
75.0 – 79.9
C
70.0 – 74.9
D
60.0 – 69.9
F
59.9 or below
FN*
Failure for Nonparticipation
I**
Incomplete
* Students who stop attending class and fail the course for nonparticipation will be issued the “FN” grade. The FN grade may have
implications for financial aid and scholarship awards.
** An “I” grade may be assigned at the Instructor’s discretion to students who are in good standing (passing) in the course. Students
should have completed a majority of the coursework in order to be eligible for the “I” grade. Students should request an "I" grade from
the Instructor with a written justification, which must include explanation of extenuating circumstances that prevented timely
completion of the coursework. If the request is approved, the Instructor will require a written agreement consisting of a) the specific
coursework to be completed, b) the plan to complete the coursework, and c) the deadline for completion. The agreement will be kept on
file at CSU-Global Campus. An incomplete course must be satisfactorily completed within the time frame stipulated in the agreement, but
no later than the end of the following semester from the date the “I” was given. An incomplete not removed within one year shall
convert to an F and be included in the computation of the student’s grade point average.
Academic Integrity
Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other
work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating,
plagiarism, unauthorized possession of academic materials, and falsification. The Student Handbook
provides information on how students can avoid plagiarism by understanding what it is and how to use library
and internet resources appropriately with proper citation. Please refer to the Academic Catalog for complete
policies regarding plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
APA
Students are expected to follow the CSU-Global APA requirements when citing in APA (based on the APA Style
Manual, 6th edition). For details on CSU-Global APA style, please review the APA resources located under the
Library tab in Blackboard.
Netiquette
All posts and classroom communication must be conducted in a professional and respectful manner in
accordance with the student code of conduct. Think before you push the Send button. Did you say just what you
meant? How will the person on the other end read the words?
Any derogatory or inappropriate comments regarding race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, are
unacceptable and subject to disciplinary action.
If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know.
Institutional Policies
Refer to the Academic Catalog for comprehensive documentation of CSU-GC institutional policies.