LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides a good knowledge of the localization theory of productive activities, of the analysis models of regional economics and development policies with a special focus on local development.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

In particular, the course at providing knowledge on a series of topics including:  that will allow the students to understand the general micro- and macro-economic context, as well as different economic phenomena such as local development, unbalances in regional development, and globalization:

• Microeconomics: consumption, production, market organization;
• Macroeconomics: the aggregate demand and supply; general equilibrium;
• Economics in the geographical space;
• the city as an economic space;
• Regional economic policies.

At the end of the course, the students should be able to understand the general micro- and macro-economic context, as well as different economic phenomena such as local development, unbalances in regional development, and globalization:

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

6-credit Couse (fully carried out by Enrico Musso):

INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS -  The economic system – microeconomics and key actors: individuals (families) and companies, demand and supply of goods and factors  – macroeconomics: production, GDP, income, expenditures - circular income flow  – consumption, savings and investment- currency and interest rate - the role of the State: taxes and public expenditures – the big "open questions" and economic policy.

REGIONAL ECONOMICS -  Economics in the geographical space: territorial systems in the global economy – economic regions, productive specialization, localization factors – localization and local development theories and models – industrial districts (introduction) – globalization and growth unbalances.

THE CITY AS AN ECONOMIC SPACE:  - The economics of territorial concentration - City formation and value of the urban space theories – urban cycle, technological revolutions, city localization drivers –  innovation, city networks, city and productive localization (introduction). 

TERRITORIAL ECONOMIC POLICIES (SOME HINTS) - Regional and urban development, benefits and costs – political goals and instruments of the territorial planning policy. 

9-credit Course: 

The first 6 credits will follow the structure explained above and carried out by Enrico Musso. The remaining 3 credits will be taught by Cécile Sillig, and they include in depth studies on:

GLOBALIZATION AND FIRMS INTERNATIONALISATION: evolution of the international division of labour, globalisation process, development of multinationals, foreign direct investment (FDI)

LOCAL DEVELOPMENT: basic concepts, exogenous development, endogenous development

WORLD CITIES: growth of world cities, the role of Advanced Producer Services, the World Cities network

MARKET AREAS: Hotelling and Palander models

Note: students attending and non-attending the lectures share the same syllabus. 

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The references for the part of Introduction to Economics will be given at the beginning of the course.  For the part of regional economics:

6-Credit Course: Flavio Boscacci (2011), Economia del territorio, Pitagora Editrice, Bologna, Chapters 1-7

9-Credit Course:

• Like above for the first 6 credits
• For the remaining 3 credits: for those who DO NOT attend the lectures: the remaining chapters of the book; for those who attend the lecture: indications will be provided by the professor in class.