Unit EUROPEAN ECONOMIC POLICY
- Course
- Political sciences and international relations
- Study-unit Code
- X9793
- Curriculum
- Studi politici ed europei
- Teacher
- Sara Balestri
- Teachers
-
- Sara Balestri
- Hours
- 60 ore - Sara Balestri
- CFU
- 8
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2025
- Offered
- 2026/27
- Learning activities
- Caratterizzante
- Area
- Formazione economica e statistica
- Sector
- SECS-P/02
- Type of study-unit
- Obbligatorio (Required)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- The course aims to provide students with the fundamental analytical tools needed to understand the role of public intervention in modern economies and the main theoretical frameworks of economic policy. Particular attention will be devoted to the objectives, instruments, and constraints of macroeconomic and structural policies, as well as to the interactions between fiscal policy, monetary policy, labour markets, economic growth, and social and environmental sustainability.
The course focuses primarily on the European dimension of economic policy and on the analysis of policies implemented within the framework of the European Union and the Economic and Monetary Union. In this context, a significant part of the programme is devoted to examining the transformations of the global economy and their implications for European economies. Topics include economic and financial globalization, market integration, global value chains, changes in international trade, and the new geopolitical dynamics shaping policy choices. Particular attention will be paid to the interdependencies between national economies, European institutions, and international organizations, highlighting how global shocks, trade tensions, financial crises, geopolitical conflicts, the energy transition, and climate change influence the design of economic policies at both the European and national levels.
Through the analysis of case studies and recent policy experiences, the course examines the responses adopted by the European Union and Italy to major contemporary economic challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis, and the green transition, as well as broader issues such as inflation, competitiveness, and the resilience of productive systems in the context of the global economy. - Reference texts
- MARELLI E. and SIGNORELLI M. (2025), POLITICA ECONOMICA – Le politiche in tempi di grandi shock e instabilità geopolitiche, IV ed., Giappichelli Editore, Torino.
Additional course materials, if any, will be made available through the Unistudium platform. - Educational objectives
- The course aims to provide students with a solid understanding of the main theoretical models of economic policy and of the instruments used by public policymakers to pursue objectives such as stability, growth, employment, equity, and sustainability in contemporary economies.
By the end of the course, students will have acquired the ability to understand and interpret the main issues of economic policy at the European, national, and international levels, with particular emphasis on the interactions between the European dimension and the global context.
Students will be able to apply the theoretical and analytical tools acquired during the course to the analysis of real-world cases, assessing the costs, benefits, and potential effects of alternative economic policy options on the basis of available empirical evidence.
The course also aims to develop students’ independent judgement by fostering their ability to critically discuss economic policies adopted by national and European institutions and to formulate well-reasoned assessments of the major economic challenges facing contemporary societies.
Through analytical and discussion-based activities, students will further develop the ability to use the specialized terminology of the discipline appropriately and to communicate effectively concepts, data, and arguments related to economic policy. - Prerequisites
- A good knowledge of Microeconomics and Macroeconomics (covered in the prerequisite course in Economics) is assumed.
- Teaching methods
- Lectures, case-study analysis, and guided classroom discussions.
- Other information
- Further information, updates, and supplementary course materials will be made available on the Unistudium platform in the section dedicated to this course.
- Learning verification modality
- The final assessment will be based primarily on a written examination (80%) and will also take into account the presentation and discussion of case studies carried out during the course (20%). The written examination is intended to assess students' knowledge of the topics covered and their ability to apply the analytical tools of economic policy. Presentations will be evaluated on the basis of critical analysis, the use of empirical evidence, clarity of exposition, and participation in the discussion.
- Extended program
- The course introduces the main macroeconomic models and the theoretical foundations of economic policy, examining the objectives of public intervention, the instruments available to policymakers, and the main economic justifications for government action. Different theoretical approaches to economic policy and the empirical evidence on the effectiveness of public policies will also be discussed.
Particular attention will be devoted to macroeconomic stabilization policies and to the relationships between employment, unemployment, inflation, and economic growth, with a focus on the debate among the major schools of economic thought. The course will also examine fiscal and monetary policy instruments, the role of central banks, public debt sustainability, and the challenges associated with the management of open economies.
The course then explores the transformations of the global economy, including processes of economic and financial globalization, market integration, global value chains, international trade, and emerging geopolitical dynamics. In this context, issues related to economic growth, development, and economic, social, and environmental sustainability will be addressed.
A substantial part of the programme is devoted to European economic integration, including the functioning of the Single Market and the Economic and Monetary Union, the role of European institutions, and the coordination of economic policies within the European Union.
Finally, through the analysis of case studies and recent policy experiences, the course examines the major economic challenges facing Europe and Italy, including the global financial crisis, the sovereign debt crisis in the euro area, the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis, the green transition, and issues related to competitiveness and the resilience of productive systems in the context of the global economy. - Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile
- The course is aligned with SDGs 1 (No Poverty), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 10 (Reduced Inequalities).