Teaching code

4S00509

Teacher

Emanuele Bracco

Coordinator

Emanuele Bracco

Credits

9

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

SECS-P/01 - ECONOMICS

Period

primo semestre (lauree) dal Sep 20, 2021 al Jan 14, 2022.

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning outcomes

The main purpose of the module in Industrial Economics is the economic analysis of firms behaviour and decisions, and in particular their interaction with competitors, suppliers, customers, consumers, the regulator, as it might be inspired by case studies. The main objective is to train students for a critical reading of these economic phenomena and of the relevant economic sectoral policies. In particular, the module will analyze in details topics such as price discrimination, product differentiation and innovation, strategic interaction with suppliers and distributors, the use of online platforms, focusing on how these may affect the competitive environment and firms’ business models of choice. At the end of the module, students will be able to understand and critically analyze industrial plans derived from business models developed according to different competitive environments. The module may also rely on group work activities, so to develop students’ soft skills. All classes and tutorials will be in Italian.

Program

The module starts with a revision of basic microeconomic concepts and oligopoly models. We then move on more specific topics such as firm behaviour in competitive environments such as: - foundations of microeconomics; market structure and market power; technology and cost - monopoly power: theory and evidence; price discrimination, linear and non-linear pricing; variety and quality in a monopoly - oligopoly and strategic interaction: static games and Cournot competition; price competition a' la Bertrand; sequential games, first and second mover. - anti-competitive strategies: limit pricing, entry deterrence, predatory behaviour, price fixing and repeated games, collusion (how to detect it and fight it) - contracts between firms: horizontal integration, vertical integration and price restrictions - non-price competition: advertising, market power, information and competition, R&D and patents - network ---module structure--- - Lectures on theoretical models, empirical evidence and case studies - Tutorials, to apply the theoretical concepts During the teaching semester there may be a tutoring service held by graduate students, to solve problems and support learning of exercises similar to the one on which you’ll be examined. During the academic year there will be the lecturer’s office hours. The textbook, slides and problem sets are coherent with the syllabus. Further teaching material will be available on the Moodle page of the module.

Bibliography

Examination Methods

Syllabus, teaching material and exam format are the same for attending and non-attending students. Coherently with what taught, the Industrial Economics assessment is a WRITTEN EXAM in which the student is asked to:
a) solve problems analytitcally
b) comment critically current affair cases linked with the taught topics
c) answer theory questions
All of these concur to for the final mark. More details will follow during teaching and in the online course material.

--- Half-Term Test
The half-term test is not compulsory.
The first partial test will cover topics taught in the first part of the module, the second partial test will cover the remaining topics.
Each partial test is considered “passed” if and only if the grade is at least 15/30. Who passes the first test can sit the second test in the first date of the Winter exam session (primo appello). Who does not pass either of the two partial tests will have to sit the full exam. The final grade will be the simple average of the two tests grades (as long as both grades are at least 15).
Alternatively, students may take the full exam, which will be based on the whole syllabus.