Teaching code

4S003747

Teacher

Francesco Andreoli

Coordinator

Francesco Andreoli

Credits

9

Language

English

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

SECS-P/02 - ECONOMIC POLICY

Period

Primo semestre LM dal Sep 30, 2024 al Dec 23, 2024.

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

Classes will cover the central topics of development economics: the determinants of economic growth, technological progress and its implications for productivity, the distributive consequences of growth and human capital accumulation, inequality, and the effect of increasing openness to trade, regional integration and global imbalances, on these dimensions. Stylized economic models will be used to understand the functioning of the relevant markets (such as the labor market and the markets of goods and commodities) and to assess the role of public intervention on them (focusing on the role of education and health policies, redistribution and trade policies). Furthermore, the course will be strongly characterized by an “evidence-based” approach: data and public reports focusing on development issues (from the World Bank, IMF, OECD, for instance) will be critically assessed upon available scientific evidence. The main goal of the classes is to develop a scientific approach to the critical analysis of data and policies for development, which can be carried forward to analyzing and critically assessing the choices of single firms operating in developed and developing countries. Students seeking positions in firms and public institutes which are active on international markets will also: i) acquire competences that are needed to value the opportunities offered by countries and markets with which Italian firms are broadly interacting; ii) master the tools needed to analyze and critically assess the financial and economic scenario characterizing countries with different degrees of development; iii) be able to evaluate risks and opportunities offered by international markets in a global context. The classes will benefit from the active participation of international lecturers and experts from international organizations.

Prerequisites and basic notions

None

Program

INTRODUCTION TO DEVELOPMENT ECONOMICS
1. An overview of economic development in different countries.
2. Understanding and measuring drivers of development: An introduction to causal inference methods.
3. Economic growth and economic development.
4. Beyond GDP: Human capital, education and public health.
5. Human capital, endogenous growth, history, expectation and istitutions.
6. Inequality (global and local), poverty and development.
7. Migration: the dual model of development and the labor market.
8. Urban agglomerations and the "New Economic Geography".
9. Credit market, inequality and development.
10. Development and public policy I.
INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT
11. International trade and development: facts and myths.
12. International trade, globalization, labor market and inequality.
13. Development and public policy II: Trade policies.
Additional material (reports, research articles), as well as a detailed list of the chapters of the book treated in the classroom, will be provided by the teacher during the semester.

Bibliography

Didactic methods

In-person lectures and assignments

Learning assessment procedures

The exam is written and compulsory for all students. The exam lasts 90 minutes and consists of approximately 10 open questions covering the entire course program. The score of the questions varies according to their difficulty. In all cases, the student must demonstrate that they know how to use the tools learned during the course to motivate the answers given.
On a voluntary basis, students can also obtain an “assignment grade” which integrates the exam grade (without replacing it). This possibility will be offered only for the 2024 winter exam session (two sessions).
La modalità di verifica delle compentenze è la stessa anche per gli studenti che seguono il corso come "Corso singolo".

Evaluation criteria

The exam grade captures the student’s ability in using the concepts and knowledge developed during the course as instruments to support and validate their answers. Answers to the exam question take the form of a short essay.
The “assignment grade” depends on the commitment that the student demonstrates during the semester in completing the assignments given to her.

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The exam grade is based on a 31/30 scale. Each exam question receives a score that varies according to the level of difficulty of the question and the completeness, clarity and correctness of the answer provided. The exam grade is the sum of the scores obtained on all questions.
The assignment grade, obtained on a voluntary basis, adds to the exam grade. The assignement grade is individual and based on a scale 1-to-3 points, depending on the quantity and quality of the asignments completed by the student.

Exam language

Inglese

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