CCGL9019 Global Issues

Economic Globalization: Issues and Challenges

[This course is under the thematic cluster of ‘Sustaining Cities, Cultures, and the Earth’.]


Non-Permissible Combination:
CCGL9022 Globalization in Question: Human and Economic Consequences

Course Description

This course covers the economic dimensions of globalization, which is broadly taken as the movement of economic activities or their output across national and geographical boundary. These activities involve production, consumption, trade, investment, finance and migration, etc, which trigger international movements of raw materials, commodities, services, money, assets and labour. As economic activities go global, the power of individual states and the effectiveness of domestic policies could be compromised, giving rise to the issue of global governance. At the same time, economic globalization necessarily lead to benefits and costs to different individuals and areas, thus invoking concerns about inequality and poverty. The above issues will be discussed in the course, and for each issue, we will look into the forces behind globalization, the current situation, pros and cons, gainers and losers, as well as future prospects.

Course Learning Outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

  1. Discuss the economic, social, institutional, technological and other underlying forces that drive globalization.
  2. Apply basic economic concepts to understand the economic benefits and costs of globalization.
  3. Analyze the pros and cons of economic globalization for different stakeholders from multiple perspectives, such as economic, social, and political economy.
  4. Evaluate the impact of economic globalization on the conflict between nations, social classes, and how international organizations mitigate or aggravate such conflicts.
  5. Demonstrate a sense of global citizenship and social responsibility.

Offer Semester and Day of Teaching

Second semester (Wed)


Study Load

Activities Number of hours
Lectures 24
Tutorials 10
Reading / Self-study / Preparation for tutorials 50
Assessment: Group report writing 18
Assessment: Presentation (incl preparation) 18
Assessment: Examination 2
Total: 122

Assessment: 60% coursework; 40% examination

Assessment Tasks Weighting
Examination 40
Tutorials 25
Group presentation (incl written report and oral presentation) 35

Required Reading

  • Sparke, M. (2013). Introducing globalization: Ties, tension, and uneven integration. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.

Recommended Reading

  • Bhagwati, J. (2004). In defense of globalization. Auckland: Oxford University Press.
  • Stiglitz, J. E. (2003). Globalization and its discontents. New York: W. W. Norton.

Recommended Websites


Course Co-ordinator and Teacher(s)

Course Co-ordinator Contact
Dr Y.F. Luk
School of Economics and Finance, Faculty of Business and Economics
Tel: 2859 1050
Email: yfluk@hku.hk
Teacher(s) Contact
Dr Y.F. Luk
School of Economics and Finance, Faculty of Business and Economics
Tel: 2859 1050
Email: yfluk@hku.hk