Your passport to understanding international economics

The MOOC International Economics by Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (Inalco) offers a captivating immersion into the world of global trade and its inner workings. It explores the practices and dynamics of economic globalisation in depth, offering a rich and varied overview that is suitable for both curious minds and students wishing to specialise in these issues (grandes écoles, IEP, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees).

A comprehensive and progressive introduction

The MOOC covers the fundamentals of international trade and its professions: importers, exporters, logisticians, bankers, customs officers, insurers, etc. It traces the history of trade since the industrial revolutions of the 19th century and examines the tools used to monitor global trade, such as the trade matrices of the WTO, IMF and World Bank, and the balance of payments, which records monetary flows between countries.

Key concepts and essential practices in international trade

International Economics clarifies essential concepts such as free trade and protectionism, and reviews the types of products traded, major international regulations and regulatory bodies (GATT, WTO, international trade agreements, etc.). Learners will also explore how these practices have changed with global economic developments.
For more advanced learners, the course goes beyond the basics by exploring the major international economic theories of the ‘classical’ authors. The concepts of Adam Smith (absolute advantages), David Ricardo (comparative advantages) and the theorems of Heckscher-Ohlin, Stolper-Samuelson, and Rybczynski, among others, are highlighted to explain the forces that shape global trade. The theoretical, ‘neo-technological’ approaches of more recent authors are also introduced.

An interactive and dynamic approach

Designed to be diverse and stimulating, this MOOC stands out for its original approach, alternating between theoretical concepts, regulations, case studies, statistics, profiles of key authors and quizzes. Everyone will find knowledge to explore and resources to feed their curiosity: definitions of key concepts, illustrations, creative games, profiles of key authors in international economics, references for further learning, and examples rooted in Inalco's areas of study.
This MOOC will provide you with the essential knowledge to understand the mechanisms of global free trade and the reasons that have led to the current economic globalisation.

To find out more and register, click here.
Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales (Inalco)
Enrollment : From January 12, 2026 to March 31, 2026
Course : From February 9, 2026 to April 8, 2026

Editor's note: The illustration for this article was created using an artificial intelligence-based tool.