OVERVIEW

The teaching unit introduces the most significant and current topics of the discipline, focusing

on the introduction of distance as a variable in the study of the functioning of the economic

system, and analyzes the manifestation of economic laws in transport activities and in the

relationships between transport and the rest of the economic system.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course provides the most relevant specific skills in this sector and at the same time it focuses on its contribution to general economics. It also provides the knowledge of specific features of different transport modes, of competition and industrial organization in the markets where these firms operate, as well as of the economic policy guidelines relevant to this sector.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide the student with the fundamental and
propaedeutic knowledge for the in-depth analysis of the functioning of the transport system, and
partially also useful for the purposes of the different disciplinary approaches to the topic. In particular, as
more extensively described in the program/content of the course, the topic of transport is
analyzed from the point of view of microeconomic aspects (demand theory, theory of the
firm, markets) and macroeconomic and political-economic ones (aggregate supply and
demand, market regulation and public intervention). In-depth studies are dedicated to the
organizational methods and specificities of the different modes of transport (maritime, air,
road, rail) and to the complex scenario of urban and metropolitan transport, as well as
the topic of technological innovation in the different transport systems. The course also aims to provide, at a basic level, functional literacy
(ability to communicate effectively in written and oral form, with the use of suitable sources
and aids), personal competence (ability to identify one's own skills and ability
to concentrate and reflect critically on a topic) and learning ability
("learning to learn", learning strategies, organization and evaluation
of personal learning) also applying active, interactive and
constructive teaching methodologies.
At the end of the course, the student must be able to analyze
transport problems from the perspective of the categories of economic analysis, and to identify problems,
critical issues and solutions within the scope of possible case studies submitted to his/her attention.

PREREQUISITES

Basic knowledge of microeconomics and macroeconomics.

TEACHING METHODS

General part: face-to-face lectures, with the use of Aulaweb and the most suitable audiovisual

aids.

Special part: use of active, interactive and constructive teaching methodologies, in particular

Cooperative Learning (Debate, Think-Pair-Share) and group and/or project-based teaching.

Attendance is not compulsory.

Students with certification of disability, specific learning disorders (DSA), or special educational needs should contact, at the beginning of the course, both the instructor and the Department’s disability liaison, Prof.ssa Elena Lagomarsino (elena.lagomarsino@unige.it) to agree on teaching and examination arrangements that, while respecting the objectives of the teaching unit, take into account individual learning needs and allow the use of compensatory tools if necessary.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Part I: Introduction – transport, economy, society; transport macroeconomics; sustainability

and innovation.

Part II: Transport microeconomics – economics of service, demand, production, costs;

economics of infrastructure and planning issues; market organization, competition, oligopoly,

monopoly, pricing; market regulation.

Part III: Transport sectors – freight and passenger transport; complex cycles; modal choices,

intermodality and unitization; maritime transport and ports; road transport; rail transport; air

transport and airports.

Part IV: Transport governance – urban and metropolitan transport: city formation, urban and

regional development; transport and industrialization; transport and globalization – transport

policies: balance between public intervention and market, market failures, externalities and

natural monopolies, liberalizations and privatizations, trends in transport policy.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The textbook to prepare for the exam is:

Enrico MUSSO, Trasporti. Economia, storia, imprese, ambiente - Giappichelli, Torino, 2024

For students who regularly attend lectures, the slides published on Aulaweb are also useful.

Any further bibliographical indications will be communicated during lectures and published on

Aulaweb. It is strongly discouraged to use notes of uncertain origin, often found on the

internet, usually collected by students and in any case never reviewed or approved by the

instructor.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The course takes place in the second semester (February-May) according to the timetable issued by the Department.

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exams are based on written tests carried out in the classroom with the support of Aulaweb and on oral examinations. The details are communicated in due time on Aulaweb and in the classroom.

On a voluntary basis, individual students or small groups can agree on insights through workshops and laboratories - conducted with active, interactive and constructive teaching methodologies (cooperative learning, group or project teaching) - on topics that combine concepts and problems addressed in the course with specific topics also linked current affairs, giving rise to short essays or presentations at the end of the work. Interested students contact the teacher to agree on the topics.

The exam structure is mandatory for all students.

Registration for exam sessions on the unige.it platform is mandatory.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written tests, mainly structured through closed or open questions, graphs and numerical examples, aim at assessing (A) the learning of the basic concepts and information delivered in the course or through the textbook or teaching material, and (B) the ability to set up simple applications of such basic concepts and information, correctly interpreting numerical examples, statistics, practical cases, applications of the rules presented in the theoretical part.

The oral test is based on a more in-depth and articulated reflection that takes its cue from the basic concepts and information to evaluate the student's ability to apply them to complex cases, thus demonstrating a mature assimilation of knowledge transmitted.

For both parts, and in particular for the oral interview, preparation on the reference textbook (E.Musso, Trasporti. Economia, storia, imprese, ambiente, Giappichelli, Turin, 2024) is strongly recommended.

The workshop, with consequent short essay or presentation, aims at assessing the student's ability to interpret a problem and independently set up (individually or in teamwork) research project combining the application of concepts addressed in the course with specific topics related to current events in the world of transport.

The specific evaluation criteria are: the ability to analyse the problems presented, the ability to contextualise the information, clarity of exposition, and the use of appropriate terminology.

Please note signing up for the exam through the University website (www.unige.it) is mandatory.

FURTHER INFORMATION

All students are invited to periodically consult the page of this teaching unit on the AulaWeb

e-learning portal (accessible from the University website or at the address:

http://www.economia.aulaweb.unige.it/). All information and materials relating to this teaching

unit are published exclusively on this site.