Teaching code

4S002937

Teacher

Paola Savi

Coordinator

Paola Savi

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

M-GGR/02 - ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY

Period

Semester 1  dal Oct 2, 2017 al Jan 20, 2018.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning outcomes

The aim of the course is to provide the conceptual and methodological tools to understand the issue of international trade, in the economic, political and technological scenario of the globalization and its relationship with geographical spaces. The focus will be on the factors and processes that explain the quantitative and qualitative evolution of international trade on a global scale, with particular reference to the new international division of labor, the role of transport and communications, the liberalization of trade. The contribution of local/regional systems to international trade and its capacity to shape the geographical spaces will also be analyzed.
At the end of the course students will be able to use the statistical information about international trade, to analyze and to critically read globalization, the role of the global economic players and the new geography of production and international trade.

Program

The main concepts, items and methods of Economic Geography
The dimensions of globalization: a geographical view
International trade in the global economy: the flows and networks of international trade and of Foreign Direct Investments
Transport and communication
ICT and e-commerce
Multinational corporations and the new spatial division of labor
The new industrial spaces: China and emerging economies
Local production systems: industrial districts and high-tech clusters
The liberalization of international trade: multilateralism and regionalism
The global economic players: the role of World Trade Organization
The new geography of production: offshoring end reshoring
The effect of human action on natural environment
Case studies analysis

Teaching methods: lectures to introduce the main theoretical concepts and the methodological skills to analyze international trade; discussion of case studies. The slides of the lessons and further material will be available on the Moodle platform before each lesson.
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Reference books

For students attending lessons

Vanolo A., Geografia economica del sistema-mondo. Territori e reti nello scenario globale, Utet, Torino, 2010 (capitoli 4-5-6-7-8).
Dematteis G., Lanza C., Nano F., Vanolo A., Geografia dell’economia mondiale, Utet, Torino, 2010 (capitoli 2-3-8)
Slides and other didactic material downloadable from the Moodle platform.

For students not attending lessons

Vanolo A., Geografia economica del sistema-mondo. Territori e reti nello scenario globale, Utet, Torino, 2010 (capitoli 4-5-6-7-8).
Dematteis G., Lanza C., Nano F., Vanolo A., Geografia dell’economia mondiale, Utet, Torino, 2010 (capitoli 2-3-8)
Parenti A., Il WTO, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2011

Examination Methods

Written examination with six open questions on the topics of the course, formulated so that the student can provide brief and effective responses. Examples of questions will be proposed at the end of the course. The evaluation of the exam is expressed in thirties. Available time to complete the exam: one hour.
For the students that regularly follow the lessons, the questions regard the handbook, the topics and the case studies discussed during the lessons.
For the students that don’t attend the lessons, the questions regard the handbook and the book on WTO in the program. The latter will substitute the case studies.
For both of them, the exam will evaluate the knowledge of the course topics and the competencies of the methods and scientific language of Economic Geography.