International trade is the exchange of products, services, and currencies between different countries. For centuries, international trade has allowed countries to trade their surplus resources for the resources they needed. At its best, international trade can bring economic and employment growth, market diversification, and cultural sharing - the promises, profits, and rewards of globalization.

International trade is important to learn about because the reality of globalization and the relationships between multinational organizations and countries can be complex and challenging. For example, the strategic management of global marketing requires adept cross-cultural communication as well as economic and legal expertise to navigate the taxes, trade barriers, and trade agreements that regulate international business. Political risks must also be considered, since trade can result in resource depletion, economic dependence, or other dynamics that can cause tensions between countries and companies.

Many different types of business participate in or depend on international trade, so the breadth and depth of careers available is remarkable. Enabling businesses to cross borders requires personnel to understand international trade issues across the full extent of an organization’s operations, from supply chain managers to global marketing specialists, currency exchange analysts to international lawyers.

Economists are invaluable to governments as well as multinational corporations, with their ability to research, evaluate, and analyze price indexes, interest rates, currency fluctuations, and other aspects of macroeconomics and global trade. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they make a median salary of $105,020 per year, and their job growth is expected to be faster than average for all occupations as the global economy becomes more complex and financial regulations more numerous.

Certainly. Coursera has a wide range of online courses and Specializations on international business and trade, as well as related topics such as globalization, international law, and supply chain management. You’ll be taking these courses from top-ranked institutions from around the world including the University of New Mexico, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of London, and IE Business School, so you won’t have to sacrifice the quality of your education to learn online.