In this course, you will explore globalization and its impact on trade, capital, culture, and politics around the world. A particular focus is placed on European economies and challenges faced by the EU and its neighbors. You will gain a deeper knowledge of theories within the field, and go on to apply and challenge economic thinking through discussions, Field Studies, and Study Tours.
One course in intermediate or advanced micro- or macroeconomics at university level.
Travel on Study Tour
You only take one Core Course per semester, and each Core Course includes two Study Tours: one Short Study Tour to a nearby destination for three days, and one Long Study Tour to another European country for six days.
Led by your faculty, Study Tours take you into real-world settings where you will apply what you’ve learned outside the classroom.
PhD (Economics, Western University, 1996). Senior Researcher, VIVE, 2024-2025. Associate Professor (tenured), Aarhus University, 2006-2023. Assistant Professor, University of Copenhagen, 2003-2006.With DIS since 2025.
Holger Sandte
Senior Economist at EIFO, Denmark’s Export and Investment Fund. Job experience from banks, asset management and the Danish Finance Ministry. Ph.D. with a thesis on whether moderate inflation harms growth. Main professional interests: macroeconomics, (de-)globalisation, Europe, financial markets. With DIS since 2019.
Adrian Mongan
Master’s in Economics (International Macroeconomics), UW Madison, Wisconsin. Master’s in Economics (International Trade), University College Dublin, Ireland. Worked in multinational conglomerates for over 10 years with roles as company macroeconomist, strategy director, and in strategic communication. Experienced university lecturer in international trade, macroeconomics, and microeconomics. With DIS since 2019.
Lavanyan Thedchanamoorthy
Cand.oecon, Syddansk Universitet, 2012. Trainee, Trade Council, Bangalore, India, 2010, Assistant professor, Erhvervsakademi Kolding, 2014-2017, Economist, Danmark Statistik, 2017-2022, Freelance teacher, Aspiri, 2016-present, Senior Analyst, EKF Danmarks Eksportkredit, 2022-present. With DIS since 2022.
Ralph Cadan
Cand.Polit, Copenhagen University, 1988. VP Strategy and Business Development, NETS & MasterCard, 2016-2020. With DIS since 2022.
Amanda Lapadat-Nordström
M.I.B (Queen’s University Canada, 2010). Bachelors (Business Administration, Honours, Wilfrid Laurier University, 2007). Consultant and Co-Founder, Do Business Nordic, 2020- Present. Commercial Manager Sweden, MG Real Estate, 2020-2022. FDI and Business Development Advisor, Invest in Skåne, 2017-2020. Trade Advisor, The Trade Council, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark in Canada, 2013-2017. Trade Journalist, Global Business Reports, 2011-2013. Strategic Communications Consultant, Kreab Worldwide London, 2010-2011. Global Program Coordinator, Blackberry (RIM), 2007-2009. With DIS since 2023.
Long Study Tour
About this tour
Milan stands as a global beacon of design, finance, and innovation. This week-long Study Tour to Italy’s economic and cultural powerhouse will immerse you in the dynamic forces shaping globalization today. From the heart of the fashion and luxury industry to cutting-edge technology and sustainable urban development, Milan exemplifies how a historic European city can reinvent itself as a modern global hub.
Once the industrial engine of Italy, Milan has evolved into a cosmopolitan city at the forefront of digital transformation, international business, and green urban planning. Today, it is home to the Italian Stock Exchange, major multinational headquarters, and a thriving startup ecosystem. Milan’s strategic location and business-friendly environment have attracted global players in finance, design, and technology, contributing to Italy’s re-emergence as a key destination for foreign direct investment (FDI).
In addition to its economic significance, Milan offers a unique cultural experience, blending Renaissance art with contemporary architecture, historic cafés with tech incubators, and traditional craftsmanship with digital innovation. The tour will also explore the impact of international events such as the Milan Fashion Week (September 2025), which catalyzed infrastructure upgrades and accelerated Milan’s rise as a smart city and global destination.
Learning outcomes
Understand the transformation of Milan from an industrial center to a modern global business and innovation hub
Analyze the role played by the city in leading the green transition attracting European grants such as ERC, etc.
Explore the intersection of tradition and innovation in key sectors such as fashion, food, design, and sustainability
Engage with Italian firms and international corporations to understand their global strategies and leadership approaches
Examine how major events like the Milan Fashion Week serve every year as catalysts for economic and urban development
Possible activities
Visit major financial institutions such as the Italian Stock Exchange (Borsa Italiana) and meet with representatives from Italy’s sovereign investment bodies
Workshop and tour innovation at entrepreneurship hubs and /or research centers such as PoliHub (Politecnico di Milano), MIND (Milan Innovation District), and Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change (CMCC)
Engage with global fashion and design brands headquartered in Milan to explore their global supply chains and branding strategies
Attend a guest lecture or seminar at Bocconi University or Politecnico di Milano, two of Europe’s top academic institutions
Take a guided tour of the Porta Nuova and CityLife districts to examine Milan’s green architecture and smart city planning
Meet with sustainability-focused companies or visit the Circular Economy Lab to learn about Italy’s green transition
Explore Milan’s cultural landmarks, such as the Duomo, La Scala, and the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, to understand the historical depth that underpins its modern identity
About this tour
Portugal was one of the earliest driving forces in globalization since the Age of Discovery. Now, this week-long Study Tour to Lisbon and Porto brings us to the heart of globalization in a modern context. We will journey through the history of the country’s development and see for ourselves how Portugal is establishing itself as one of Europe’s top FDI destinations and a driving force for tech and innovation, with several global companies now calling it home.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to experience the unique culture of one of Europe’s oldest cities – Lisbon. While Lisbon is historically a global trading center, it faced turmoil for decades, culminating in the country’s EU and IMF bailout in 2011. The recent recovery of the Portuguese economy has attracted attention and investment from some of the world’s largest companies. Today, Lisbon is the home of technology hubs for acclaimed, modern corporations such as Google, Amazon, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen, while also serving as a vibrant, young, hub for digital nomads. The city boasts panoramic views, spectacular architecture, a seaside location, and much more.
Porto has also become a magnet for FDI in recent years, even earning the title of ‘Europe’s best large city for FDI strategy’ by the Financial Times in 2023. Portugal produces 50% of the world’s cork supply and Porto is home to one its oldest cork manufacturers, exporting globally. During our tour we will visit the culture at the heart of this impressive country and unlock the stories of both colonial and modern globalization at play.
Learning outcomes
Trace the legacy of mercantilism in seventeenth-century Portugal
Investigate the strategies and outcomes underpinning Portugal’s ever-evolving economic situation, looking at the causes and impacts of economic turmoil and the growth of Portugal’s economy from ‘PIGS’ status to a popular magnet for international investment
Study modern and historical leaders and entrepreneurs in Lisbon, searching for the keys to good leadership and strategic planning
Visit firms to learn about the methods and strategies of modern corporations based in Lisbon
Learn about Portugal’s ‘Golden visa’ and ‘Digital Nomad visa’ schemes and the goal of attracting affluent, highly skilled individuals from across the globe
Possible activities
Visit national public institutions such as the National Bank of Portugal, Invest Porto, Assembleia da Republica, the University of Lisbon, and the University of Porto
Take a walking tour through historical Lisbon to see early globalization brought to life by spots such as the Toree de Belém, the launch site major world navigators at the time
Meet with companies of varying sizes that are involved in Portugal’s economic evolution to hear about their journey in growing on a global scale
Visit a nomad coworking space
Explore a port wine vineyard and distillery, as well as a cork museum, to understand Portugal’s world of wine, a major global export
About this tour
Globalization is reshaping the world. On this Study Tour, we examine the forces behind globalization using economic theories of international trade, capital markets, institutions, and labor economics. We learn about the troubled history of Ireland as well as the country’s economic rise and fall and rise again. We gain insights into Irish competitiveness and productivity.
We also learn more about Europe and the EU, the euro, global competitiveness, the financial crisis, and the present economic outlook. We look into how Ireland is impacted by Brexit and how it is coping in the European Union without the support of its largest trading partner, the United Kingdom. We examine the consequences of economic integration and barriers of markets in goods, factors of production, and financial flows as well as the impacts of increased interdependence in these markets for economic policy decisions in Europe and the world.
Learning outcomes
Learn about the rich history of Ireland from ancient times to the Celts, Vikings, and Normans, alongside colonialism, independence, and modern times
Broaden your knowledge of the economic characteristics of Ireland and how the country has been shaped by globalization
Compare and contrast Denmark, the U.S., and Ireland in their economic structure and performance
Possible activities
Attend the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council Secretariat to get an overview of the Irish economy
Visit the Smurfit Business School, University College Dublin to understand the role of multinationals in Irish business transformation
Tour Belfast to gain unique insight into ‘the troubles’; attend traditional Irish sports in Dublin; listen to traditional Irish music in Galway; attend Sheep Dog Trials In Donegal
About this tour
This week-long Study Tour takes you to two dynamic political centers and economic hubs of Europe: Brussels and Paris. Brussels is the center for European decision making, while Paris is one of Europe’s largest city economies In Brussels, you will develop a deeper insight to the global culture of the city, and learn how political institutions, think tanks and lobbying organizations influence economic policy decisions. At the headquarters of the European Union, you will discover how policy decisions from Brussels not affect only the EU, but the entire world. In Paris, you will examine ways globalization affects the French financial markets, as compared to the U.S. and Denmark. You will gain insight into how France, one of Europe’s largest economies, views the role of the EU and its perspective on economic decisions and trends.
This multiple destination Study Tour utilizes Europe as your classroom. You will see first-hand how economic theory is practiced in various contexts, and you will gain insight into Belgian and French culture and history. Drawing on this cultural context will allow you to better understand and analyze the intersection of ideas, politics, and economies in the European Union.
Learning outcomes
Experience two important European cities at the center of creating European economic and political policy
Examine the way international trade, economic integration, and comparative advantage link together to provide an overview of how globalization impacts European economies
Gain insight into how the euro zone currency has been impacted by globalization during the financial crisis
Possible activities
Visit various government institutions, economic-focused organizations, think tanks, and national banks
Tour the European Parliament and networking with foreign dignitaries, scholars, and lobbyists
Attend lectures and discussions at the EU Commission, Bruegel Think Tank, National Bank of France, and OECD and interview lobbyists from various institutions around Brussels
About this tour
This week-long Study Tour brings us to two central European capitals. Austria’s capital Vienna is a very international city: The city hosts a number of important international organizations, and more than 40% of the population were born abroad. Like Copenhagen, Vienna is highly ranked in surveys for quality of living. Geographically and economically, Austria is the bridge between Western and Eastern Europe. When the iron curtain fell, Austria-based companies were first in line to grasp new opportunities and to face new challenges. Despite close historical links to Germany, Austrian culture is distinct from that of the Northern neighbor.
Just some 60 km away from Vienna lies Bratislava, the capital of the Slovak Republic. Slovakia became an independent state after the peaceful dissolution of Czechoslovakia in 1993. In 2004, the country joined the European Union and in 2009 the Euro area. With a small population size comparable to Denmark’s, Slovakia is a leading European car exporter and a fast-growing economy. How did the transition from a planned to a marked-based economy play out? Why did Slovakia join the Euro area while other post-communist countries like Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic so far didn’t? These are some of the questions we will study in Bratislava.
Learning outcomes
Study globalization and European economies from two national perspectives – making Europe your classroom
Learn about European integration in an “old” and a “new” EU country
Learn about business strategies in Central and Eastern Europe
Get an impression of the cultural wealth of the region
Learn from Discussions with local experts and decision makers
Possible activities
Meet with Scandinavian companies doing business in the region
Visit national public institutions like central banks, ministries, or universities; as well as economic research institutes
Visit international organizations like OPEC or the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Short Study Tour
About this tour
Core Course Week, including short Study Tour, enhances the Global Economics curriculum by giving you a more nuanced understanding of how classroom theories apply to a real world context.
The itinerary is designed to illustrate how Danish companies compete in a global market, specifically by looking at regional locations of companies. Through visits to companies that have strong roots in Denmark, as well as companies based in nearby Sweden, or those that have expanded to locations throughout the world, you will gain a better understanding of the challenges Danish companies face when competing in a European context, and their perspective of the role of globalization in shaping the future.
Core Course Week is designed to exhibit classroom economic theory, as well as expose you to Danish and Swedish culture, art, history, and cuisine.
Learning outcomes
Introduce the Danish perspective on international trade, globalization, and competition
Grasp the benefits and costs of international trade by engaging in dialogue with corporations and organizations based or operating in Denmark and Sweden
Examine the motivation behind engaging in global markets
Possible activities
Possible activities will be listed here soon.
About this tour
Core Course Week, including short Study Tour, enhances the Global Economics curriculum by giving you a more nuanced understanding of how classroom theories apply to a real world context. The itinerary is designed to illustrate how Danish companies compete in a global market, specifically by looking at regional locations of companies. Through visits to companies that have strong roots in Denmark and those that have expanded to locations throughout the world, you will gain a better understanding of the challenges Danish companies face when competing in a European context, and their perspective of the role of globalization in shaping the future.
Core Course Week is designed to exhibit classroom economic theory, as well as expose you to Danish culture, art, history, and cuisine.
Learning outcomes
Introduce the Danish perspective on international trade, globalization, and competition
Grasp the benefits and costs of international trade by engaging in dialogue with corporations and organizations based or operating in Denmark
Examine the motivation behind engaging in global markets
Possible activities
Meet executives from multinational companies with large global presence, such as Suzlon Wind Energy, Danish Crown, and TOMS
Visit relevant organizations such as Denmark’s Export Credit Agency (EKF), Esbjerg Regional Business Development Center, and local universities
