Economics and Regional Policy of the European Union

A.Y. 2024/2025
6
Max ECTS
40
Overall hours
SSD
SECS-P/03
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The aim of the course is to provide students with the theoretical justification of the regional and urban policies of the European Union and the tools to evaluate these policies with rigorous methodologies, in order to understand how public actions work in supranational ornaizations. The course frames European regional policies in the light of regional economic theories providing an overview of the analytical tools to carry out an assessment of the economic impact of the policies actually implemented. The course is complemented by practical examples of recent EU regional policies.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course the student will have acquired the theoretical bases, analytical methods and terminology to understand and evaluate public policies at regional and urban level, particularly in a supranational context such as the European Union. In particular, the student will be able to understand and interpret formal models of regional economics and interpret analyses related to problems of economic evaluation of public policies at the regional and urban level, through the reading and interpretation of graphical analyses, data tables and policy reports.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
Third trimester
Course syllabus
- Regional economics
agglomeration economies;Accessibility; Urban hierarchy; Urban growth and development
- Evaluation methods
Evaluation of public policies; experimental methods; non-experimental methods
- EU regional policies
European regional policies; evaluation of regional policies; smart cities; smart specialization
Prerequisites for admission
Formal prerequisites: as per faculty guide
Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of economics (ability to interpret models in analytical form and economic graphs) and basic knowledge of statistics / data analysis (ability to read and interpret data tables and graphs, regression analysis: basic knowledge and skills are recommended to interpret the estimated coefficients).
Teaching methods
Lessons
Teaching Resources
NOTE: the official and updated program and references will be available on the course's Ariel page in correspondence with the start of the lessons. Students are therefore invited to consult the latest program on Ariel in the third trimester.

Textbooks:
- Capello, Roberta (2015). "Economia Regionale", Bologna: Il Mulino.[Capitoli: 1; 2; 3; 4
(paragrafi 1;2); 7; 8 (paragrafi 1; 2; 4)]
- Martini, Alberto e Marco Sisti (2009), "Valutare il successo delle politiche pubbliche", Il
Mulino [Capitoli: 1; 6; 7; 8; 9; 11; 12]
Articles
- Caragliu, A., Del Bo, C.F., & Nijkamp, P. (2011) "Smart cities in Europe", Journal of Urban
Technology, 18 (2): 65-82.
- Del Bo, C.F. & A. Caragliu, "Smart innovative cities: The impact of Smart City policies on
urban innovation", Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 142: 373-383
- Del Bo, C.F. & A. Caragliu, "The Economics of Smart City Policies", Scienze Regionali, 1:
81:104
- Del Bo, C.F. & A. Caragliu, "Much ado about something: an appraisal of European Smart
policies", Tijdschrift voor economische en sociale geografie, 109(1): 129-143
- McCann, P., & Ortega-Argilés, R. (2015). "Smart Specialization, Regional Growth and
Applications to European Union Cohesion Policy", Regional Studies, 49 (8): 1291-1302.
Assessment methods and Criteria
For attending students, the assessment is carried out on the basis of a test on the theoretical foundations of the regional economy and on the methods of assessment and on a individual/group paper and presentation on a case study of a truly implemented regional policy (to be agreed with the teacher ), to be interpreted critically in the light of the theories on regional development and of the evaluation methodologies seen during the course.
For non attending students the exam will be on all the material indicated in the program.
Additional and updated details on the course's Ariel page.
SECS-P/03 - PUBLIC ECONOMICS - University credits: 6
Lessons: 40 hours
Shifts: