Unit ECONOMICS

Course
Philosophy and ethics of relationships
Study-unit Code
GP005047
Curriculum
World religions and philosophy
Teacher
Simona Bigerna
Teachers
  • Simona Bigerna
Hours
  • 63 ore - Simona Bigerna
CFU
6
Course Regulation
Coorte 2021
Offered
2022/23
Learning activities
Caratterizzante
Area
Discipline classiche, storiche, antropologiche e politico-sociali
Academic discipline
SECS-P/01
Type of study-unit
Opzionale (Optional)
Type of learning activities
Attività formativa monodisciplinare
Language of instruction
Lessons are in Italian. International and Erasmus students can attend the course. Teaching materials are available in English. Written and/or oral examinations can be made in English. Please, send a mail to the Lecturer to book an appointment.
Contents
The program focuses on the real, money and financial markets. It also deals with the links between these markets. The goal is to provide the knowledge and skills to understand the complexity of macroeconomic relationships such as the understanding of the tools that the institutions can use to stabilize the economy. Initially the course addresses the problems of measurement of economic processes and describes the main institutional actors. In the second part of the program we focus on long and short run model, with particular attention to the role of public intervention in the economy. The economic analysis takes its cue from the most historically relevant cases beginning with the recent great recession.
Reference texts
P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus, Economics.
A book of your choice:
P. Krugman, Il ritorno dell'economia della depressione e la crisi del 2008, Garzanti, Milano, 2009.
R. Rajan, Terremoti finanziari. Come le fratture nascoste minacciano ancora l'economia globale. Einaudi, Torino, 2012.
A.A.V.V. Manifesto degli economisti sgomenti, Minimun Fax, Roma, 2012.
N. Roubini, S. Mhim, La crisi non è finita, Feltrineli, Milano, 2012.
Films
Inside Jobs (2010) di Charles Ferguson
To Big to Faill (2011) di Curtis Hanson
Margin call(2011) di J.C. Chandor
Educational objectives
The course represents the first teaching of economy for the students. The goal is to provide the basic theoretical knowledge. The main skills that students will acquire: a) the basic knowledge of the analytical tools (short and long run model); b) the knowledge of contemporary, national and international, socio-economic system; c) the knowledge of the operation of the economic system: the role of markets; d) the knowledge of the operation of the economic system: the role of institutions. The main skills that allow you to apply the knowledge gained will be: a) the identification of characteristics that are the basis of the relationship between markets and between market and institutions; b) the recognition of the main problems that characterize the modern and globalized macroeconomic systems
Prerequisites
Topics covered in the course of Economics do not require advanced knowledge of math. The topics are treated only using graphical tools and linear equations. Good knowledge of these elementary tools is required. Topics are treated mainly from an institutional and historical perspective. This perspective requires a good knowledge of the economic and historical processes that have invested Italy, Europe and the USA.
Teaching methods
The course is organized as follows:
a) lectures that will cover all the topics of the program;
b) exercises on national accounts and on short and long run model;
c) films and reports related to the topics of the course;
d) TV debates on economic issues;
e) organization of seminars.
Other information
More info will be provided in class and made available on the platform moodle : https://www.unistudium.unipg.it/unistudium/
Learning verification modality
There are written tests and an oral examination.
The exam schedule is as follows
1st test: homework (Open Book -Take home exams-). Used to test the student's ability in research, develop, integrate and apply the information and concepts introduced in the lectures. It takes place at the end of the second week of classes. It is a written examination to be carried out at home and return the next day assignment. (Worth up to a maximum of 2/30 points)
2nd test: first written exam (Middle term exam). It takes place just after the break teaching. It is a written examination in three parts. First part: computable exercise. It serves to test the ability to apply information and concepts introduced in the lectures in terms of problem solving. Second part: three open questions to be chosen out of 5. It serves to test the student's ability to develop, connect and integrate the concepts introduced in class. Third part: 6 multiple-choice questions. It serves to check the preparation of the student on all topics covered in class. Free time 1h 30 '. Worth up to a maximum of 30/30 points comprises: 6 points for the exercise + 18 points (6 points for each open question) + 6 points (1 point for each multiple choice question).
3rd test: final written examination (Final exam term). It takes place at the end of the course. It is a written examination in three parts. First part: computable exercise. It serves to test the ability to apply information and concepts introduced in the lectures in terms of problem solving. Second part: three open questions to be chosen out of 5. It serves to test the student's ability to develop, connect and integrate the concepts introduced in class. Third part: 6 multiple-choice questions. It serves to check the preparation of the student on all topics covered in class. Free time 1h 30 '. Worth up to a maximum of 30/30 points comprises: 6 points for the exercise + 18 points (6 points for each open question) + 6 points (1 point for each multiple choice question).
The final grade is the arithmetic average of the tests II and III if both sufficient. (The tests must be repeated until the achievement of sufficiency), the homework grade is added to the average score obtained.
If the passing grade achieved is not satisfactory for the student, it can ask to perform the oral examination on the whole program.
Extended program
Economics in age of crisis. The instability of capitalism (Keynes vs. Minsky).
The measurement of the economy : a) The national accounts and the main indexes ; b) The aggregate demand: b1) consumption , b2) investment , b3) public expenditure ; b4) net exports. c) Unemployment. d) Inflation.
Demand and money supply: a) the Central Bank ; b) Financial Intermediaries; insurance companies, investment banks and sovereign wealth funds; c) Monetary markets; d) Financial markets; e) Stock markets.
Part II
The long run models: a) The aggregate demand and supply; b) The Phillips curve.
The short run models in closed economy: a) Income and Expenditure; b) IS- LM
The foreign sector: a) balance of payments; b) exchange rates and purchasing power parity; c) monetary regimes.
The short run models in open economy: IS- LM in an open economy
Monetary, fiscal policies and welfare state.
The program is the same for students attending and not attending.
Condividi su