GAIP: Microeconomic Foundations and Policy Applications
Understand Policy in a Global Context
Duration
10 Days Residential
Age
14+ years
Programme Fee
USD 2,599
[Excl. Flights]
Completion Documents:
SMU
Who Is This Programme For?
Designed for high school students who are curious about economics, public policy, and how global markets work.
Future Economists
Students interested in understanding how economies function and how policy decisions impact society
Policy Enthusiasts
Young minds curious about public policy, international trade, and how governments shape market outcomes
Aspiring Business Leaders
High school students aged 14+ who aspire to careers in business, finance, or international relations
About GAIP: Microeconomic Foundations and Policy Applications
This course introduces undergraduate students to the basic ideas and frameworks used to understand public policy in a global context. Students will learn how individuals, governments, and institutions make policy-related decisions, and how these decisions affect economic and social outcomes.
Through lectures, guided discussions, simple case studies, and group presentations, students will gain a foundational understanding of public policy analysis and develop the ability to discuss global policy issues in a structured and informed way.
Whether you're interested in international trade, economic policy, or global market dynamics, this programme provides the analytical tools and frameworks to understand how economies work in an interconnected world.
Key Learning Outcomes
Economic Decision-Making
Describe how individuals and firms make basic economic decisions in a globalised environment
Government & Market Dynamics
Explain the role of governments and institutions in shaping markets and policy outcomes
International Trade
Understand key ideas behind international trade and global economic interactions at an introductory level
Programme Structure
Residential at SMU (10 Days)
15 Academic Hours with SMU Faculty
Decision-Making
Globalised economy choices
Market Equilibrium
Gains from trade
Trade Theories
Distributional effects
Strategic Trade
Game theory & cooperation
Final Presentation
Group presentations
Session Schedule
5 comprehensive sessions with SMU Faculty (3 hours each)
SMU Faculty Session Schedule
| Session | Duration | Topics Covered |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 hours | Decision-Making in a Globalised Economy Buyer's optimisation problem: consumption choice under globalisation (imported vs domestic goods). Seller's optimisation problem: production and export decisions in open economies. Example: small firms in Vietnam and Bangladesh in global supply chains. |
| 2 | 3 hours | Market Equilibrium and the Gains from Trade Market equilibrium in open economies. Social planner's optimisation problem under trade. Comparative advantage and the pattern of specialisation. |
| 3 | 3 hours | Theories of Trade and Distributional Effects Heckscher–Ohlin model and factor endowment differences. Trade-induced inequality and factor price equalisation. Efficiency analysis in the presence of international spillovers. |
| 4 | 3 hours | Strategic Interactions in International Trade Game theory workshop: trade wars, tariff retaliation, and coordination failures. Prisoner's dilemma and repeated games in international cooperation. Coase theorem and strategic bargaining between nations. Application: ASEAN cooperation in trade liberalisation. |
| 5 | 3 hours | Final Presentation Student group presentations. Course wrap-up and key takeaways. |
Schedule: Intensive residential sessions at Singapore Management University
What Makes This Programme Unique
SMU Partnership
Learn at Singapore's premier business and economics university renowned for interactive pedagogy
Global Perspective
Understand international trade, policy-making, and how globalisation shapes economic outcomes
Analytical Skills
Develop structured thinking and policy analysis skills through case studies and discussions
SMU Certificate
Receive an official Certificate of Completion from Singapore Management University
Programme Completion Documents
Certificate of Completion
Official certificate from SMU upon successful programme completion
Assessment Report
Detailed evaluation of your performance, progress, and economic analysis competencies
Letter of Recommendation
For Top Performers
Personalized letter highlighting your achievements and contributions during the programme
Ready to Understand the Global Economy?
Join us at SMU and develop the analytical skills to understand policy and economics in a globalised world