OVERVIEW

The course covers the fundamental concepts of microeconomics.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course must provide students with the basic tools allowing them to understand the specific fields of economic policy, public economics, public choice, economics of family and culture, industrial economics, which they will study in their cursus.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims providing students with the basic conceptual and analytical tools to understand and deepen the specialized economic subjects.

Training objectives and learning results: The course aims to teach the theory of the rational choice of economic agents and its outcomes in a market economy characterized by different forms of competition (perfect competition, monopoly, oligopoly ...). Thanks to these bases, the student will be able to better understand the contents of macroeconomics, economic policy, finance science.

Knowledge and understanding Students must acquire adequate knowledge and effective understanding of the main conceptual categories of modern microeconomics.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding Students must be able to apply the knowledge acquired in analyzing the behavior of various operators in competitive / non competitive markets.

Autonomy of judgment Students must be able to use the knowledge acquired with independent assessment ability, realizing the possibility, and the limits, of the rational representation of economic behaviour.

Communication skills The discipline has a specific technical language, which is present in most of economic disciplines: students must master it.

Learning skills: students must learn the basics of the technical language of microeconomics, also in geometric and algebraic language, and obtain the ability of using it.

PREREQUISITES

 Solid preparation acquired in Higher Secondary School and habit of assiduous study conducted with active attitude are indispensable prerequisites, which should be satisfied by all students who have obtained a High School Diploma or recognized qualification and choose to continue their studies.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures and exercises with the active participation of students.

In principle, lessons are to be held in classroom. However, in accordance with the rules for access to university premises adopted to counter the spread of the COVID pandemic, they might be held on TEAMS. 

Lectures are face-to-face and, in accordance with the rules of access to university premises adopted to counter the pandemic spread by COVID, lectures may possibly be conducted on TEAMS. The Teams code is p1a12w7. Classes will begin on Tuesday 14 September at 10.00 a.m. and will continue according to the teaching schedule that will be communicated, together with the classrooms where the course will be held.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Quick review of the basics of algebra and geometry

Compatibility between individual choices and well-being

Fundations of the choice under uncertainty

Consumer's behavior

Entrepreneur's behavior

Competitive market

Monopoly and oligopoly

Externalities and information asymmetry

Social preference

Applications of what has been learned

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Italo LAVANDA, Giorgio RAMPA, Microeconomia: scelte individuali e benessere sociale, Roma, Carocci, 2015

Other readings and complements will be indicated in class and on aulaweb; students must check aulaweb frequently and regularly.

On demand, texts in English or in French will be indicated.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

RICCARDO SOLIANI (President)

LUCA GANDULLIA

GIULIA BIANCHI (Substitute)

ENRICO IVALDI (Substitute)

ALESSANDRO LE DONNE (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The course takes place in the first semester, according to the calendar that will be communicated by the Department. There will be 6 hours per week, and 54 hours totally.

Lectures are face-to-face and, in accordance with the rules of access to university premises adopted to counter the pandemic spread by COVID, lectures may possibly be conducted on TEAMS. The Teams code is p1a12w7. Classes will begin on Tuesday 14 September at 10.00 a.m. and will continue according to the teaching schedule that will be communicated, together with the classrooms where the course will be held.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written test with a number of questions varying between 5 and 7, which might be divided into sub-questions

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written exam consists of exercises and questions open, but on specific points, or closed (multiple choice; true or false). The exam is intended to ensure that the content is assimilated by the student, as regards: the definition of the conceptual categories; the technical aspects of the discipline; the ability to apply what they learned to concrete cases.

There are no intermediate tests, but self-assessment procedures will be indicated during the course

On request, one can take the test in English or French.

On request, English textbooks can be indicated.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

https://unige.it/off.f/2015/cds/8776.html