The course aims to introduce students to the analysis of economic theories. In particular, the objective is to provide students with an overview of the most important methodological tools and concepts that have been adopted to understand the functioning of an advanced capitalist economy. An effort will be made to illustrate the evolution of economic theories from a historical perspective, so as to show how these theories can be traced back to different and often conflicting schools of economic thought. In doing so, the course aims to provide students with the basis for orientation within the past and present economic debates.

The evolution of economic theories will be illustrated from a historical perspective. Thereafter, the focus will be on the theories and methods proposed by contemporary (dominant) economic theory.

Part 1. Birth and development of economic thought: from the Classical economists to more recent approaches.

Part 2. Introduction to (neoclassical) microeconomics: analysis of the behaviour of economic agents and the main market structures.

Part 3. Introduction to macroeconomics: basic concepts; national accounting; IS-LM model.

Knowledge and understanding: students will acquire the necessary knowledge to distinguish and place historically the economic theories addressed during the course, as well as the methodological approach and the concepts underlying these theories.

Applying knowledge and understanding: students will be able to use the economic theories learned in order to interpret the functioning of the economic system and to orient themselves within past and present economic debates.  

Autonomy of judgement (making judgements): the historical exposition of the theories and methods adopted by the different schools of economic thought, and the comparison between the theories attributable to them, will allow the student to formulate his/her own autonomous vision with respect to the main debates concerning the discipline and its subject.

Communication skills: by learning the methodological tools and economic theories addressed during the course, students will improve their expository and communication skills, and acquire the ability to use a language that also makes use of formal models and syntactic graphs.

Learning skills: the economic theories and methodological tools that will be illustrated during the course will represent a knowledge base that the student will be able to use to deepen his understanding of the economic discipline and the mechanisms that regulate the functioning of the economic system.

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

The recommended texts are supplemented by slides, which will be made available by the lecturer - together with other readings and support activities - in the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures, tutorials and seminars.

Innovative teaching methods

Classroom debates in order to stimulate discussion and reasoning on current economic issues in light of the theoretical and methodological tools learned during the course.

Exercise sessions aimed at a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the models addressed during the course.

Attendance

Class attendance is not compulsory, but highly recommended.

Course books

P. A. Samuelson, W. D. Nordhaus, ECONOMICS. McGraw-Hill, 19th edition, 2010. [*] (selected chapters only)

Additional readings and materials will be provided by the lecturer during class and made available in the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Details on the chapters to be (not) studied will be provided in class and on the course page in the moodle platform. Students taking the 6 CFU exam will be exempt from studying selected chapters of the textbook.

[*] Students may use any edition of the texts indicated, as long as it is consistent with the programme covered by the lecturer in class. Students may also use other economics textbooks, but always provided they cover the programme covered by the lecturer in class.

Assessment

Knowledge and understanding and communication skills will be assessed by means of a written test comprising open-ended questions, which may also require the use of graphs in the explanation of the required topics, and possibly closed-ended multiple-choice questions.

Further details on the final written test will be provided by the lecturer in class.

The student will have to answer in an articulate and thorough manner, in such a way as to demonstrate that he/she has acquired full knowledge and understanding of the topics on the syllabus, is able to analyse them critically and present them in a rigorous manner in a limited time, identifying the essential elements for the exposition.

Sufficiency is achieved with a minimum mark of 18/30. A mark between 18 and 20 indicates a sufficient level of competence, where the candidate demonstrates knowledge and understanding. A mark between 21 and 23 indicates full sufficiency, where applied knowledge and comprehension skills are fully demonstrated. A mark between 24 and 26 indicates a good level of competence, where the candidate also demonstrates some independent judgement. Between 27 and 29, the candidate also demonstrates some communicative ability, while a mark between 30 and 30 cum laude indicates an excellent level of competence, such that, in addition to the previous 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

Non-attending students should refer to the same teaching material indicated for attending students.

Course books

Same as for attending students.

Assessment

Same as for 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.