Economics
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The course offers students an introduction to the basic principles of microeconomics and macroeconomics, providing the skills needed to analyze economic issues and economic policies at the center of public debate, both nationally and internationally.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, the student will be able to master the fundamental language of political economy and understand and analyze: consumer choice, market functioning through supply and demand, and price formation processes; major economic aggregates, such as unemployment, inflation, and gross domestic product; the purposes and effects of fiscal and economic policies in closed economy settings; and the determinants of the business cycle. He/she will also be able to effectively understand, analyze and present data on economic variables. The course will provide the analytical tools to interpret the functioning of modern market economies, enabling the student to discuss and critically evaluate the effects of various economic policies.
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Prerequisites for admission
- Basics of mathematics and statistics
- "Quantitative Methods and Statistics for the Social Sciences" as set out in the Programme descrition (Manifesto).
- "Quantitative Methods and Statistics for the Social Sciences" as set out in the Programme descrition (Manifesto).
Assessment methods and Criteria
The examination consists of two modules organised as follows
- Microeconomics: 5 multiple-choice questions with 3 options, 1 exercise.
- Macroeconomics: 5 multiple-choice questions with 3 options, 1 exercise/open question.
Assessment:
- Each multiple-choice question has one correct answer worth two marks. There are no penalties for incorrect answers. If more than one answer is given, no marks will be awarded.
- Each exercise/open question, divided into sub-questions, receives a maximum mark of six points.
- The maximum mark is 32 points (equivalent to 30 honours), i.e. 16 points for each module.
- The exercises/open questions are only corrected for those who score six points in the multiple-choice questions of each module.
- To pass the examination, students must obtain a minimum mark of 9 points in each module, i.e. correctly answer 3 quizzes and score 3 points in the microeconomics and macroeconomics open questions.
- Microeconomics: 5 multiple-choice questions with 3 options, 1 exercise.
- Macroeconomics: 5 multiple-choice questions with 3 options, 1 exercise/open question.
Assessment:
- Each multiple-choice question has one correct answer worth two marks. There are no penalties for incorrect answers. If more than one answer is given, no marks will be awarded.
- Each exercise/open question, divided into sub-questions, receives a maximum mark of six points.
- The maximum mark is 32 points (equivalent to 30 honours), i.e. 16 points for each module.
- The exercises/open questions are only corrected for those who score six points in the multiple-choice questions of each module.
- To pass the examination, students must obtain a minimum mark of 9 points in each module, i.e. correctly answer 3 quizzes and score 3 points in the microeconomics and macroeconomics open questions.
Module Microeconomics
Course syllabus
1. Fundamental principles
2. Economic models: trade-offs and exchange
3. Demand and supply
4. Consumer and producer surplus
5. Price and quantity controls: interfering with markets
6. Elasticity
7. Decision-making by individuals and firms
8. The rational consumer
9. Behind the supply curve: factors of production and costs
10. Perfect competition and the supply curve
11. Monopoly
2. Economic models: trade-offs and exchange
3. Demand and supply
4. Consumer and producer surplus
5. Price and quantity controls: interfering with markets
6. Elasticity
7. Decision-making by individuals and firms
8. The rational consumer
9. Behind the supply curve: factors of production and costs
10. Perfect competition and the supply curve
11. Monopoly
Teaching methods
Lectures, tutorials, case studies in presence, synchronous online, and asynchronous.
Teaching Resources
Krugman P. e R. Wells. 2022. Microeconomia. Terza Edizione. Zanichelli
Ebook at publisher: https://www.zanichelli.it/ricerca/prodotti/microeconomia-001
Chapters: 1-6, 9-13
Ebook at publisher: https://www.zanichelli.it/ricerca/prodotti/microeconomia-001
Chapters: 1-6, 9-13
Module Macroeconomics
Course syllabus
- Goods market.
- Financial markets
- The IS-LM model
- The labour market
- The Phillips curve, the natural rate of unemployment and inflation.
- Financial markets
- The IS-LM model
- The labour market
- The Phillips curve, the natural rate of unemployment and inflation.
Teaching methods
Lectures, tutorials, case studies in presence, synchronous online, and asynchronous.
Teaching Resources
Blanchard, O., Giavazzi, F., & Amighini, A. (2021). Scoprire la macroeconomia: Quello che non si può non sapere. Il Mulino.
- Chapters: 2-5, 7-8
- Ebook: https://www.pandoracampus.it/store/10.978.8815/366351
- Chapters: 2-5, 7-8
- Ebook: https://www.pandoracampus.it/store/10.978.8815/366351
Module Macroeconomics
SECS-P/02 - ECONOMIC POLICY - University credits: 6
: 6 hours
: 14 hours
Lessons: 20 hours
: 14 hours
Lessons: 20 hours
Module Microeconomics
SECS-P/01 - ECONOMICS - University credits: 6
: 6 hours
: 14 hours
Lessons: 20 hours
: 14 hours
Lessons: 20 hours
Educational website(s)
Professor(s)