Learning objectives

Acquisition of a key historical interpretation of economic phenomena, which allows to grasp their complexity, as well as the interrelation between economic facts and those of an institutional and political nature, beyond purely theoretical interpretations.

Prerequisites and basic notions

This module provides students with (1) an adequate knowledge of the main factors and processes that transformed the European and world economy from the early modern through the contemporary age, and (2) the tools for understanding, analyzing, and critically interpreting such transformations.
At the end of the course students will be able to:
- remember the main concepts useful to analyse an economic system;
- outline the major historical manifestations of growth/development and crisis;
- explain their causes and consequences, especially detecting the relationships between economic, technological and institutional aspects;
- apply the acquired knowledge and skills to a case study;
- communicate effectively in oral and written form, and discuss an economic-history topic.

Program

The course will deal with the main phases in the evolution of the European and the world economy in relation to the technological progress and the role of institutions; special attention will be devoted to the issue of labour and its transformation in the long run.
1. What is Economics? What is Economic History? Some basic concepts.
2. Before development: structural features and dynamic forces in the European preindustrial economies.
3. The start of global divergencies: Europe, Asia and the Great Divergence.
4. Intra-European divergencies: the Little Divergence.
5. Modern economic development starts: the First industrial revolution and Britain's leadership.
6. The spread of industrialization within and outside of Europe: the Second industrial revolution and the substitute factors.
7. The international dimension of economic relations: the First globalization.
8. The collapse of the world economy: the Great Depression of the 1930s.
9. The Golden Age of the European economy (1950-1973).
10. Instability, crisis and global dynamics in the last half century.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

The first part of the course will consist of lectures with an active involvement of the class and discussion of brief articles.
In the final part of the course (last two lectures), students will present and discuss a report on a specific topic concerning labour and its transformation from the early modern to the contemporary age.
For non-attending students, specific actions will be activated to improve learning.

Learning assessment procedures

Written exam (60%) consisting of two open questions, to be chosen from a list of three (90 minutes), aimed at testing the knowledge of the course content and the argumentative capacity;
Presentation of a report on a specific topic (40%) aimed at evaluating both the ability to analyse critically and the formal aspects.
Optional oral exam (+/- 10% of the grade).
Non-attending students: written exam according to the above-mentioned criteria(100%), and mandatory oral exam on an extended program.

Evaluation criteria

Written exam (60%), aimed at testing the knowledge of the course content and the argumentative capacity;
Presentation of a report on a specific topic (40%), aimed at evaluating both the ability to analyse critically and the formal aspects.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

Attendees: 60% written exam, 40% paper on agreed topic, +/-10% oral exam.
Non-attenders: 100% written exam and compulsory oral exam (+/-10% of the written exam grade).

Exam language

Italiano