Learning outcomes

Contemporary economy displays aspects of both innovation and continuity. Understanding innovation and continuity requires the knowledge of what has occurred in the long run in order to establish and assess, autonomously and critically, the immutable elements and changes in global economy The aim of the course is, therefore, to provide students with the fundamental tools necessary to reach a good knowledge and awareness of the events they are currently witnessing and of those they may experience in the future. In addition to this, the course will help students to understand the great importance of economic history to the analysis of the systemic trend of past economic crises whose results, contrary to what most economists maintain, make it possible to perceive a new crisis approaching; thus, such crises as the one we are experiencing are foreseable.
In the contemporary capitalistic system, despite the various specificities, crises are the rule and it should be advisable not to forget it. Obviously, crises may vary according to their importance and duration and the main goal of economic history is to establish their constituents, development and evolution, while awaiting the next one.
The course is divided into two parts: the first one aims to define the fundamental features of economies in the contemporary and modern Age, from a non-Eurocentric point of view, in order to gather the information necessary for a better understanding of the second part. The latter deals with contemporary finance in its relation with the economic and cultural factors which may explain how wrong theoretical notions have given birth to an inappropriate political line.

Examination Methods

The exam will consist in an interview aiming to assess the knowledge of the topics discussed during the course, the overall maturity of the candidate and his capability of personal reworking using a correct terminology.