THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG
DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY
MA in China Development Studies
GEOG7128: Geography of International Trade and FDI in China 2023-2023
1. Course Description
This course introduces students with the changing paradigms in theorization of international
trade and FDI (foreign direct investment) as well as its profound implications to this
globalizing world and China. The impact of foreign trade and investment in terms of China's
regional economic development and outward investment flows are also addressed.
2. Course Objectives
This course has four primary learning objectives:
1. Gain a working knowledge of traditional and contemporary theories of international
trade, foreign direct investment and multi-national enterprises.
2. Critically apply these theories to the regional development in the Mainland of China.
3. Identify the characteristics and spatial discrepancies as a result of China’s opening up
policy and modernization.
4. Develop and enhance critical thinking skills as well as written and oral communication
skills.
3. Lecture Schedule and Topics
Date Topic
1. 18 Jan Introduction
2 25 Jan Theories on international trade, globalization and FDI I
3 01 Feb Theories on international trade, globalization and FDI II
4 08 Feb Theories on international trade, globalization and FDI III
15 Feb Spring Festival (No class)
5 22 Feb Theories on international trade, globalization and FDI IV
6 29 Feb Theories on international trade, globalization and FDI V
7 07 Mar Supplemental lecture on globalization
14 Mar Reading week (No class)
8 28 Mar Workshop: Trade, technology and inequality
9 04 Apr Student seminar sessions I: China’s foreign trade (A, B, C & D)
10 11 Apr Student seminar sessions II: MNCs in China (A, B, C & D)
11 18 Apr Student seminar sessions III: FDI in China (A, B, C & D)
12 25 Apr Student seminar sessions IV: China’s outward FDI (A, B, C & D)
23 TBD Student seminar sessions V: China’s international trade and FDI
challenges (A, B, C & D)
4. Assignments and assessment
Final Examination (50%):
The final exam will encompass two sections. The first one will be comprised of multiple
choice and true and false questions. The second section will be to answer a comprehensive
essay question.
Seminar Presentation (25%):
Students in groups of five (20 in total) are expected to give a 20-25-minute presentation during
one of the ‘student seminar sessions’. Each student is required to present for at least four
minutes. The topics will be randomly assigned and four presentations for each general theme
(groups A, B, C and D) will take place. Each group will meet with the instructor well in
advance to discuss the general theme of their session and potential sub-themes to investigate
further, especially regarding locational characteristics and spatial disparities.
Please submit your power point slides to me in hard copy format (four slides per page with
light background) before you present.
Critical Reflective Essay and seminar presentation critiques (25%):
Students (individually) are expected to prepare a reflective essay regarding the entire seminar
series and the workshop. The objective here is for the student to reflect on their experiences
and analytically share what they learned and enhance their critical thinking skills.
In addition, students (individually) need to include written critique on several (amount to be
determined) of the presentations given in sessions that they are not presenting in. It will
consist of two parts. The first part will be to evaluate the presentation on a scale that consists
of: content, organization, presentation skills, analysis, synthesis and originality. The second
part is to provide a short paragraph with some constructive, but critical comments on what
you liked about the presentation, what could have been done better and so forth. The
objective here is for the student to develop skills in regard to being able to evaluate and critique
one’s peers and properly present them in a report format.
The assignment is due by 5:00 PM Friday May 03, 2024. Please upload a soft copy under
the Turnitin submission link on the course Moodle and submit a hard copy with a copy of your
Turnitin similarity score via the MAChDS assignment collection box.
Reflective Essay and critique requirements
1. The paper should be approximately 2,500 words (plus or minus 10%).
2. Text should be double spaced, with one-inch margins, 12 pt. Times New Roman font
and printed on both sides of the paper with the exception of the title page.
3. All charts and figures (separate from the original word count) should be placed at the back
of the paper before the references section. Do not intermix them within the main body of
the document.
4. Properly signpost your document. Due to the length of the document, it is not necessary
to number sections.
5. Please list an overall word count at the very end of the main body of the paper.
6. Please carefully proofread your paper well and double check the formatting, spelling,
grammar and so forth. These are some of the criteria under my assessment rubric. Keep
in mind that I realize that English is a second language for most of you; however, not
running the spelling and grammar check as well as an effort on formatting is sloppiness!
7. The paper should contain proper citations in a format that you are comfortable with should
you desire to incorporate them; however, this is not an academic paper and citations are
not required. Should you decided to include them, please do not cite using footnotes (I
hate them!) and the references should be listed as a separate section at the end of the paper
should you decide to incorporate them.
8. The paper should have an adequate title page.
9. It is NOT necessary to provide a protective cover, but it should be stapled.
10. The paper needs to be run through Turnitin before submission.
Things that shouldn’t have to be stated, but unfortunately, need to be stated
• Attendance and tardiness: Students are expected to attend class regularly and be on time.
Please do your best to arrive before the class starts. All deadlines should be adhered to.
Should you not be able to meet one, please notify the instructor well in advance. Late
assignments will be penalized per the Department of Geography regulations.
• Instructor/Student issues: Should you have any problems with the course or the instructor,
please don’t hesitate to bring them to my attention via a written email or in person. I am
always readily available to discuss things like this with you.
• Academic integrity: Please do your own work and give proper credit to others work in
your writing. Plagiarism is a serious academic offense and the consequences of
participating in such an activity can be very severe. Please familiarize yourself with the
universities guidelines on what constitutes plagiarism and other types of academic
misconduct. For your convenience, the links are listed below.
http://www.gradsch.hku.hk/gradsch/f/page/476/1667/plagiarism.pdf
http://www.rss.hku.hk/plagiarism/page2s.htm
• Tidy classroom: I am not going to institute a draconian policy regarding eating and
drinking in the classroom. However, please clean up after yourself and leave your work
area as you found it or even tidier!
5. Assessment:
Assessment Methods Assessment Ratio (%) Aligned Course Learning
Outcome
(the item number of CLO)
Examination (two hours) 50% 1-4
Group Project – Presentation 25% 1-4
Individual Reflective Essay 25% 1-4
Penalty for late submission
All assignments should be submitted on time. According to the Departmental regulations, late
submission of assignment will receive the following penalties:
Late for % of marks to be deducted
1 day 5%
2 days 10%
3 days 15%
4 days 20%
5 days 25%
6 days 30%
7 days 35%
8 days 40%
9 days 45%
10 days 50%
More than 10 days No mark will be given
6. Alignment of Course Learning Outcomes and Assessment Methods with programme
Learning Outcomes
Upon the completion of the MAChDS programme, students:
1. should have the competence to understand broad issues of current development in
contemporary China critically
2. should have acquired the cutting edge knowledge for critical scholarly enquiry into broad
development issues in economic, social, cultural, environmental and geographical/regional
context
3. should be able to synthesize and apply theories into broad business and professional practice
in areas of trade & investment; spatial/regional sustainable economic development; urban
and regional planning and studies; environmental assessment and resource management; and
tourism.
4. should have possessed analytical capability to identify, analyze, and solve practical problems
and contribute to planning and policy making
5. should be able to learn the methods and skills in logical and critical thinking, presentation
via individual and group projects, and conducting field study and research.
Course Learning Outcomes
(after taking this course, students
are expected to be able to……)
Alignment with Programme Learning
Outcomes (PLOs)
Course
Assessment
Methods
PLO1 PLO2 PLO3 PLO4 PLO5
1 Gain a working knowledge of
traditional and contemporary
theories of international trade,
foreign direct investment and
multi-national enterprises.
√ √ √ √ √
Examination,
Group
Project and
Individual
essay
2 Critically apply these theories to
the regional development in the
Mainland of China. √ √ √ √ √
Examination,
Group Project
and
Individual
essay
3 Identify the characteristics and
spatial discrepancies as a result
of China’s opening up policy. √ √ √ √ √
Examination,
Group Project
and
Individual
essay
4 Develop and enhance critical
thinking skills as well as written
and oral communication skills. √ √ √ √ √
Examination,
Group Project
and
Individual
essay
7. Course Grade Descriptors
A+
• Evidence of originality in terms of critical appraisal and/or an
original finding.
A
• Deep understanding and comprehensive knowledge of the relevant
issues and relationships.
A-
• Extensive use of data/literature/evidence beyond the given course
materials/references and can evaluate their quality.
• Able to incorporate information/ideas from other disciplines.
• Well focused, relevant and coherent argument demonstrating strong
critical and analytical abilities.
• Very well written/illustrated with good use of academic/professional
terminology.
B+
B
B-
• Evidence of broad understanding and engages with the major
issues/relationships.
• Good use of data/literature/evidence and demonstrates ability to
evaluate the quality of the sources.
• Focused with good structure and generally coherently argued,
containing some evidence of critical and analytical abilities.
• Well written/illustrated including appropriate use of
academic/professional terminology.
C+
C
C-
• Demonstrates a good understanding but is largely descriptive and the
answer is based largely upon lectures and other taught materials.
• No evidence of students’ own reading/research/investigation.
• Little evidence of critical thinking or insight, although the answer has
some structure/coherence.
• Reasonable writing style with some use of academic/professional
terminology.
F
• Partial answer to the question and may have major omissions reflecting
limited awareness of current geographical literature/issues.
• No evidence of students’ own reading/research.
• Arguments are poorly focused and not supported by
literature/data/evidence.
• Poor writing style and poor structure.
8. Required/Recommended Readings & Online Materials
Berry, B., Conkling, E., & Ray, D. (1997). The global economy in transition (2nd ed.). Upper
Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall. 330.9 B53. Chapters one, nine and eleven.
Krugman, P., Obstfeld, M., & Melitz, M. (2015). International economics: Theory and policy
(10th ed.). Boston: Pearson. 337 K943 i61.
Sun, H. (1998). Foreign investment and economic development in China: 1979-1996. Aldershot,
Hants, England: Ashgate. 332.6730951 S95. Chapters one and two.
World Trade Organization: http://www.wto.org/
Hong Kong Trade Development Council: http://www.tdctrade.com/
Ministry of Commerce (China): http://english.mofcom.gov.cn/
Trade Flows: http://www1.worldbank.org/wbiep/trade/data/tradedata.htm
Tariffs and FDI: http://www1.worldbank.org/wbiep/trade/data/TR_Data.html
9. Contact
Dr James H Lenzer Jr
E-mail: jim.lenzer@gmail.com; jlenzer1@hku.hk
Office: Room 925, 9/F, The Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus, The University of Hong Kong
Phone: +852 6249 6738