OVERVIEW

Economics aims at studying economic phenomena both at the individual level (microeconomics) and at the aggregate level (macroeconomics). The discipline uses inductive and deductive methods based on the construction of theoretical models. These methodological tools represent the analytical foundation for analyzing individual choices, social well-being, public economy, the opportunity of a possible intervention of the State on the economy, as well as economic policies.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course of Economics offers the essential tools required to understand the incentives behind the choices of rational economic agents operating in a certain market.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course of Economics offers the essential tools required to understanding the incentives behind the choices of rational economic agents.
The course of Economics intends to offer the basic notions of microeconomics and macroeconomics by highlighting their practical applicability to current economic issues. Special attention will be paid by the teacher to the aspects of the discipline that lead to a better knowledge of the institutional mechanisms underlying national and international economic policy. At the end of the course, students will be able to have their own orientation within the current economic debate and will have developed a broad awareness of the limits of the discipline. The acquisition of the main tools exploited by the economic theory, will allow students to carry out independent research and analyze current economic events from a new perspective and with greater discernment.

PREREQUISITES

In order to attend in the most profitable way the course of Economics a basic knowledge about relations between algebraic variables is strictly necessary. The concepts studied by economists can be often conveyed in numerical form and economic variables can be illustrated by means of graphs (or Cartesian diagrams) which are the main tools for analyzing their patterns. Graphs and diagrams serve mainly two purposes. First, in the formulation of economic theories they offer a synthetic and a visual representation of the theoretical frameworks taken into consideration, which is usually more easily understood than the corresponding analytical expressions that instead relies on systems of equations. Moreover, in the analysis of economic data, graphs allow students to highlight how economic variables are correlated with each other and establishing their temporal trend.

TEACHING METHODS

The course is taught with frontal lectures, for a total of 54 hours (corresponding to 9 CFU), during the lessons the main microeconomic and macroeconomic models will be presented and discussed.
Any changes will be announced on Aulaweb.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Microeconomics Basic concepts. Individual choices. Competition and efficiency. Market failures.
Macroeconomics Basic concepts. The market for goods. Financial markets. The IS-LM model and short-run equiibrium.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

- Bertola G., Lo Prete A. (2020), Istituzioni di economia, seconda edizione, Il Mulino, Cap. da I a VIII.
- Blanchard O., Amighini A., Giavazzi F. (2021), Scoprire la macroeconomia. Volume I: Quello che non si può non sapere, Il Mulino, Cap. da I a VI.
Further teaching material provided during the lectures.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

CONCETTA MENDOLICCHIO (President)

ANNA BOTTASSO

MAURIZIO CONTI (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

I semester, from September to December.

Class schedule

ECONOMICS A

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

With regard to the educational objectives set, the verification of the acquisition of knowledge by the students will be carried out at the end of the course through a written exam, that might replace all or part of an oral exam. Any changes will be announced on Aulaweb.
In case of special requirements, students with disabilities and/or learning  disabilities are requested to contact - at the beginning of the semester - the Student Disability Services and the teacher.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written (and eventually the oral) exam aims at verifying the students’ skills and the acquisition of the basic theoretical notions addressed during the course. Through the answers given to general questions, it will be verified whether students are able to:

- identifying and defining economic concepts using the appropriate technical language;
- reasoning in an independent manner by using the conceptual models studied during the course.

In general, students should demonstrate that they understood the importance and the meaning of the various topics covered in the course of Economics by discussing microeconomic and macroeconomic models.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Attending lecturers is not compulsory but strongly suggested. The program of the course is the same for attending and non-attending students.
It is strongly recommended to register for the course on AulaWeb, to receive information and download the teaching material analyzed in class.