Policy Implications of Supply Chain Challenges

This course introduces students to supply chain risk, examining how complex global supply chains support economic prosperity and strategic power amid rising geopolitical competition. Students analyze strategic trade policy, including key laws and regulations, and assess how government actions influence corporate supply chain design and sourcing decisions.

The course explores how major corporations employ artificial intelligence and other technologies to identify vulnerabilities and manage geopolitical and economic risk. By the end of the course, students understand why global supply chains are more complex and less controllable than many policymakers assume, how competitive and profit-driven incentives shape corporate behavior, and why geopolitical risk—alongside other supply chain risks—poses a growing challenge for effective U.S. policy.