International Services Trade Assignment

Need help in preparing a comprehensive assignment in accordance to the following description and guidelines:

Course: International Services Trade

In this course, you have looked at services from two perspectives, namely from the macro perspective where you focused on international services trade and from a micro perspective where you focused on marketing and services management.

Since today’s global markets are heavily centred on services trade, both macro and micro perspectives will increase your understanding of services trade in an international context and how you can optimally manage the services mix within the dynamics of the international market forces in order to increase customer lifetime value, goodwill and the profitability of your company.

Objective:
The objective of this assignment is to develop students’ ability to critically analyse how international trade in services affects the competitiveness and development of a specific service sector within an EU country.

Students are expected to apply concepts from GATS and services trade theory while integrating empirical evidence, policy analysis, and real-world examples.

The assignment also aims to strengthen students’ skills in using academic, statistical, and policy sources, critically evaluating regulatory barriers and trade restrictiveness, and assessing how digitalisation and technological change may transform service industries in the future.

For the assignment you are expected to choose:

ONE EU country, and ONE service sector from the list below:
- Financial Services
- Telecommunications
- Transportation & Logistics Services


Write a paper titled:

“Evaluating the Role, Challenges, and Future of Services Trade Through the Lens of [sector] in [country]”

The paper must analyse how international trade in services affects the competitiveness and development of the chosen sector within the selected EU country.

The complete paper should not exceed 2500 words (excluding the summary, annexes, and literature list). Make sure that the analysis in each section is clear, focused, and well-supported with examples and references so that you can provide practical recommendations for international services trade

Required elements

- Explain which GATS Modes of Supply are most relevant for the sector and why.
- Analyse the sector’s economic importance using empirical evidence (GDP contribution, employment, exports, productivity, investment, etc.).
- Evaluate at least two regulatory or non-tariff barriers affecting cross-border services trade.
- Use OECD STRI data to assess trade restrictiveness and critically evaluate whether the index reflects actual business conditions.
- Analyse one real company, organisation, or policy case relevant to the sector.
- Evaluate how WTO rules, GATS commitments, and/or EU trade agreements influence the sector.
- Assess how digitalisation and emerging technologies are likely to transform the sector over the next decade.


Mandatory source requirements

The paper MUST include:

1 - minimum 2 peer-reviewed journal articles,
2 - minimum 2 policy or regulatory documents,
3 - minimum 1 statistical dataset,
4 - minimum 1 industry or company source.


Mandatory appendix MUST Include:

1- search strategy,
2- databases consulted,
3- AI-use declaration (incl. a detailed description of used prompts),
4- and a short reflection (300 words) explaining the most difficult analytical decision you made.

*Course slides attached for reference
** references for the course material

https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2020/07/the-costs-of-regulatory-barriers-to-trade-in-services_50759fc1/bae97f98-en.pdf

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-services-trade-restrictiveness-index-2026_db87d74e-en/full-report/component-2.html

https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/1c761aa5-2ea2-5657-a3e4-e0544e8866e9

https://www.jcer.or.jp/jcer_download_log.php?f=eyJwb3N0X2lkIjoxMTE0NDYsImZpbGVfcG9zdF9pZCI6IjExMTQ0OSJ9&post_id=111446&file_post_id=111449