The course aims at introducing the student to the main fundamentals of microeconomic analysis, analyzing the aspects of demand, supply, market structure and public intervention. It will also highlight the methodological differences that distinguish microeconomic and macroeconomic approaches. The course aims at learning the main economic concepts and mechanisms and developing the ability to interpret the functioning of markets and the interactions of the main macroeconomic macroeconomic issues.

The first part of the course is dedicated to the introduction of the fundamental notions of microeconomics analysis, understanding consumer and firms behavior and the different types of market structures.

The second part of the course, concerning the study of macroeconomics, is dedicated to the analysis of the functioning of the economic system and economic aggregates such as output, consumption and investment expenditure, employment and inflation.

Introduction: demand, supply and equilibrium

Consumer theory: consumer constraints and choices, consumer and market demand

Production technologies and firm costs

Market structures: perfect and imperfect competition

Markets and public intervention

Introduction to macroeconomics and national accounting

Unemployment, inflation, consumption and investment

Financial system and markets

The model of the multiplier

The model AS-AD

The model IS-LM

Growth and economic development

Knowledge and understanding: by the end of the course, the student will acquire knowledge and skills enabling her/him to understand basic economic concepts, economic behaviours of demand and supply, the functioning of markets and macroeconomic relations.

Applying knowledge and understanding: the student will be able to understand the basic concepts of the discipline and learn how to use the main tools to understand economic dynamics and interpretate economic phenomena.

Making judgements: the student will develop the critical ability to assess economic situations, to relate them to concrete problems and evaluate the solutions proposed with regard to economic policy issues.

Communication skills: the student will develop the ability to discuss with sound terminology and arguments aspects of microeconomics and macroeconomics, and learn how to debate economic policy problems using appropriate analytical tools and evidence.

Learning skills: the student will develop a range of skills enabling her/him to understand economic concepts and use those concepts to analyze specific questions. Students should be more autonomous and able to identify and evaluate economic aspects of some social problems.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Supplementary material available on the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Frontal lectures, seminars.

Attendance

Highly recommended. 

Course books

P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus, C.A. Bollino, ECONOMIA, McGraw-Hill, 21^ Edizione, Capitoli 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30.

Supplementary material available on the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Assessment

Written test (1 hour) with five open-ended questions. The student will have to answer in an articulate and in-depth manner, in order to demonstrate that he/she has acquired full knowledge and understanding of the topics, that he/she is able to analyse them critically and to present them in a rigorous manner in a limited time. Once the written test has been passed, the student will have access to an additional oral examination.

A minimum mark of 18/30 is required to pass the exam. A mark of between 18 and 20 indicates a sufficient level of competence, where the candidate demonstrates knowledge and understanding. A mark of between 21 and 23 indicates full proficiency, where knowledge and understanding are fully demonstrated. A mark between 24 and 26 indicates a good level of competence, in which the candidate also demonstrates some independent judgement. Between 27 and 29 the candidate also demonstrates some communication skills, while a mark between 30 and 30 with distinction indicates an excellent level of competence, where in addition to the above skills, the candidate also demonstrates the ability to learn.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Teaching

Same as the attending students. It is advisable to contact the lecturer during reception hours for any clarifications regarding the topics under study.

Attendance

Same as the attending students.

Course books

Same as the attending students.

Assessment

Same as the attending students.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Erasmus students can request to sit the final exam in English with an alternative bibliography to be defined with the professor.