Bachelor
2026/2027
International Economic Law
Type:
Elective course (Law)
Delivered by:
School of International Law
Where:
Faculty of Law
When:
4 year, 1, 2 module
Open to:
students of one campus
Instructors:
Vladimir Talanov
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
6
Contact hours:
80
Course Syllabus
Abstract
International Economic Law (IEL) is a two-modules course designed to be an introduction to a multifaceted family of disciplines at the intersection of law and economics. The course begins with a general framework for considering positive and normative economics of public international law, in particular thinking about States as rational actors, and then in an initiatory manner addresses specific topics including international finance and financial institution, the right to development, international trade and international investments.Pre-requisites: Familiarity with Public International Law is presumed. No prior familiarity with IEL is necessary.
Learning Objectives
- The main objective of the course is to provide students with the necessary tools to navigate within the IEL field, to prepare them to deal with different norms of IEL, including soft law, make research and present legal argumentation on selected key issues of the contemporary IEL.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- Be able to formulate basic conceptual features of the IEL, its structure and mechanisms;
- demonstrate substantial knowledge of the fundamental principles, rules and institutions governing the international economic order; identify the sources and hierarchy of the IEL norms; demonstrate understanding and the ability to use specific terminology of the IEL;
- demonstrate practical tools of research, analysis of the legal documentation and academic papers in the sphere of the IEL;
- be able to work with information (search, evaluate, use information, necessary for fulfilment of academic and professional tasks, from various sources, including application of the systematic approach), critically evaluate the relevant documents;
- be able to search, analyse, and work with legally relevant information by using the juridical, comparative and other specific methods; be able to describe legal problems and situations in the field of IEL;
- demonstrate substantial knowledge of recent developments and current challenges in this sphere and apply a critical approach to the analysis of the existing problems, engage in debates involving the subject-matters of the course.
Course Contents
- Topic 1. Introduction to the IEL. Interrelation of Law, Politics and Economy
- Topic 2. Basic Principles of the IEL.
- Topic 3. International Monetary Law. Governance and Accountability
- Topic 4. International Financial Architecture
- Topic 5. IEL and Development
- Topic 6. International Trade Law
- Topic 7. International Investment Law
- Topic 8. Unilateral Coercive Measures of Economic Character (Sanctions) and IEL
- Topic 9. International Financial System in the Age of Sanctions
Assessment Elements
- Written assessmentIn-class written assessment takes form a resolution of a practical case, based on the material covered in class and during self-study. The in-class written assessment is closed book; students could not use any materials or devices. The duration of the assessment is 45 minutes. The assessment can be done via the LMS platform with using the video conference platforms. In such cases, in the course of assessment forms student must have a laptop or a PC with a stable Internet connection and working (turned on) video camera. Failure to fulfil these conditions as well as the instructions of the professor including ensuring proper control procedures (checking identity card of the student, status of the workplace, etc.) is equivalent to absence at the control element and is graded as 0.
- Multiple choice testThe test takes form of a test of 10 multiple choice questions with at least 4 answer options for each. The test is aimed at checking the student’s knowledge and understanding of the issues discussed in class and during self-study. Return to the previous questions of the test and changing the answers is not possible. The number of the correct answers (correct answer options indicated by a student) is equal to the grade for the test. The WTO case law test is closed book; students could not use any materials. The duration of the test is 10 minutes. Assessment can be performed via the LMS platform with using the video conference platforms. In such cases, in the course of assessment forms student must have a laptop or a PC with a stable Internet connection and working (turned on) video camera. Failure to fulfil these conditions as well as the instructions of the professor including ensuring proper control procedures (checking identity card of the student, status of the workplace, etc.) is equivalent to absence at the control element and is graded as 0.
- Oral InterviewThe assessment takes form of an interview. In the course of an interview, a student is asked to answer two practical questions covered in class or in the assigned self-study materials. Any follow-up questions could be also asked in the course of the interview. The use of any materials and devices is not permitted during the interview. Oral interview may be performed via the LMS platform or with using the other video conference platforms. In such cases, in the course of assessment forms student must have a laptop or a PC with a stable Internet connection and working (turned on) video camera. Failure to fulfil these conditions as well as the instructions of the professor including ensuring proper control procedures (checking identity card of the student, status of the workplace, etc.) is equivalent to absence at the control element and is graded as 0.
Interim Assessment
- 2026/2027 2nd module0.6 * Oral Interview + 0.2 * Multiple choice test + 0.2 * Written assessment
Bibliography
Recommended Core Bibliography
- Desierto, D. A. . (DE-588)1074901177, (DE-576)257976051. (2015). Public policy in international economic law : the ICESCR in trade, finance, and investment / Diane A. Desierto. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edswao&AN=edswao.426102398
- Elgar encyclopedia of international economic law, , 2017
- International economic law : The Max Planck encyclopedia of public international law, , 2015
- International economic law and the digital divide : a new silk road?, Kariyawasam, R., 2007
- Julien Chaisse, & Tsai-yu Lin. (2016). International Economic Law and Governance : Essays in Honour of Mitsuo Matsushita. OUP Oxford.
- Mitchell, A. D., Sornarajah, M., & Voon, T. (2015). Good Faith and International Economic Law (Vol. First edition). Oxford, United Kingdom: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1200898
Recommended Additional Bibliography
- International economic law and monetary measures : limitations to states' sovereignty and dispute settlement, Viterbo, A., 2012
- International economic law, Lowenfeld, A. F., 2003