Teaching code

4S009794

Teacher

Luca Zarri

Coordinator

Luca Zarri

Credits

6

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

SECS-P/02 - ECONOMIC POLICY

Period

Secondo semestre LM dal Feb 17, 2025 al May 23, 2025.

Courses Single

Authorized

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

The major goal of this course is to provide students with a better and more rigorous understanding of the key role that social innovation can play within contemporary economic systems (i.e. within post-industrial economies), within a sustainable development framework. In order to shed light on the effects of social innovation on the pursuit of sustainable development goals, the course will focus on key interplays between nonprofits, for-profit firms and public organizations. These complex phenomena can be fruitfully analyzed through the lens of some of the major theoretical constructs and empirical findings obtained in the last years within the framework of nonprofit sector economics (first part of the course). The second part of the course will mainly deal with recent empirical evidence on the relationships between various forms of successful social innovation and pursuit of sustainable development goals.

Prerequisites and basic notions

Familiarity with basic microeconomic notions is required, with special regard to the logic of consumer choice and to game theory. In this regard, the chapters focusing on consumer theory and game theory in H. Varian's “Microeconomics” handbook are recommended.

Program

1. Introduction. What is "social innovation"? What is "sustainable development"? Why is it important to jointly address these issues within the same course? UN Sustainable Development Goals and other well-being and quality of life indicators.
2. Part One. The role of non profit organizations and socially responsible firms in fostering social innovation and sustainable development. The relationships between Government, market and nonprofit sector: Welfare State vs. Welfare Mix.
3. Part Two. Social innovation and sustainable development: the role of "ethical consumption". Asymmetric information and market failures: the role of trust, social capital and civic capital accumulation. Fair trade and market economy: are they compatible? The key economic effects of fair trade on market dynamics. “Choice architecture”, “libertarian paternalism” and “green nudging”.

Didactic methods

The course is based on a series of frontal teaching activities. During the course, the specific teaching materials will be made available before each lecture on the E-Learning platform.
Further teaching materials will be provided online (e.g. op-eds from the website lavoce.info), through the E-learning service, within the specific webpage prepared for this course.
Classroom attendance, though not compulsory, is highly recommended.

Learning assessment procedures

Written exam based on three open-ended questions aimed at testing students' familiarity with the key theoretical constructs and empirical analyses illustrated throughout the course.

Evaluation criteria

The exam consists of three open-ended questions. Each question assigns a maximum of 10 points out of 30.

Exam language

Italiano