OVERVIEW

This is a course in economic policy with a low content of modeling and analysis and more focused on the discussion of current issues with a rigorous but predominantly discursive approach. The course aims to provide elements of economic policy in a perspective relevant to a management course.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

 The course mainly deals with economic policy issues associated with ageing, innovation policy, monetary policy and behavioural policy.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Consistent with the nature of the master's degree course in management, the teaching favors a rigorous but not very formalized analysis of issues of great relevance not only in the economic policy debate but also for the life of companies.

The teaching aims to enable students to understand the scientific literature on the proposed topics and to formulate autonomous opinions, also on the basis of data to be collected independently from primary sources.

The classroom discussion of highly current issues is aimed at providing cultural elements together with an ability to understand the ongoing debate in the media by developing dialectical skills and grasping the implications of major economic and technological trends on the concrete life of companies.

PREREQUISITES

Basic contents of undergraduate micro and macro courses.

TEACHING METHODS

Attendance is recommended.
The teaching lasts 48 hours.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the teacher (luca.beltrametti@unige.it) and with the Department’s disability liaison, Prof.ssa Serena Scotto (scotto@economia.unige.it).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The course mainly addresses two major topics:

1. the economic and economic policy implications of the aging population
2. the economic implications of the digitalisation of the economy

Theme 1) provides an introduction to the topic of the determinants of demographic change (fertility rates, mortality ...) and a discussion of the implications of these changes on pension systems, long term care policies and some markets. A detailed explanation of the operating principles of the different types of pension systems and the implications of demographic changes on their sustainability is offered. The discussion of topic 1) leads to understanding the decisive role of productivity dynamics in the sustainability of the demographic transition and, consequently, leads to the identification of digitalisation processes as a fundamental element with respect to the objective of productivity growth.

Theme 2) therefore investigates the mechanisms through which digitalisation, the so-called "industry 4.0" and artificial intelligence can translate into increases in productivity. A theoretical treatment of these issues is also accompanied by an analysis based on real life examples.The teaching also includes a short part dedicated to the theory of voting and a part dedicated to current economic policy issues which is detailed at the beginning of the course.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

1) Voting theory:
- N. Acocella, Fundamentals of Economic Policy, NIS, 1994, par. 3.6.

2) Elements of demography and economic policy implications of the aging population:
- Demographic elements (materials to be uploaded on Aulaweb)
- The economics of pension systems (materials to be uploaded on Aulaweb)
- Aging and distribution of wealth (materials to be uploaded on Aulaweb)

3) Economic policy implications of the digitalisation of the economy:
- Slides to be uploaded on Aulaweb
- Articles to be uploaded on Aulaweb

4) Readings made in class on current economic policy issues
- Materials to be uploaded on Aulaweb.

Non-attending students can replace the parts referred to in point 2 by reading one book choosen from a list to be uploaded on Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

The course is taught from february to may (second semester), following the calendar and schedule defined by the Department of Economics.
Schedule and classrooms are available at the easyacademy.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Written exam, open questions, in English.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written exam will assess the ability to develop a text based on the content of the lectures, while also demonstrating the capacity for independent processing of the material.

FURTHER INFORMATION

The teacher analyzed and considered the results of the teaching evaluation questionnaires relating to the previous academic year.