ECONOMICS M - Z

Knowledge and under standing

The course aims to illustrate the basic operating rules of modern economic systems. In particular, it shows the role of the market as a set of rules and institutions designed to govern the process of resource allocation. In this framework will be studied the behavior of the elementary units such as households and firms (microeconomics), but also the behavior of aggregates of households and enterprises (macroeconomics). The results achieved by the economic object of study will be subjected to a judgment in order to ascertain whether the particular allocation of resources is achieved in the given circumstances, the best possible (welfare economics).

Applying knowledge and understanding

The knowledge acquired by the learner will enable them to understand the fundamental models for study both microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis. The student must also be able to evaluate and compare the different models in the light of the ability of these to interpret the contingent situation.

Lectures with wide use of graphical representations and analytical formalization. Case studies and empirical evidence

Introduction. Economics and the economic systems. The tools of economic analysis. Demand, supply and the market. Positive microeconomcs. Demand and supply elasticity. The theory of consumption and the theory of choice. The theory of demand. The theory of supply. Perfect competition and monopoly. Imperfect competition: natural monopoly and monopolistic competition. Oligopoly. The factor market: labour market, capital market and natural resources. Information and risk. Normative economics. Welfare economics. Public sector economics. Macroeconomics. National income and expenditure. Fiscal policy and foreign trade. Money and monetary policy. General equilibrium: aggregate supply, prices and shocks. Inflation and expectations. Unemployment. Exchange rate and the balance of payments. Growth and cycles. European economics.

D. BEGG, G. VERNASCA, S. FISCHER, R. DORNBUSCH, Economia (V edizione), McGraw-Hill, Milano, 2014.
Cap. 1 (pp. 1-14); Cap. 2 (pp. 17-30); Cap. 3 (pp. 31-47); Cap. 4 (pp. 49-64); Cap. 5 (pp. 67-84); Cap. 6 (pp. 87-105); Cap. 7 (pp. 107-127); Cap. 8 (pp. 129-151); Cap. 9 (pp. 153-160); Cap. 10 (pp. 167-183); Cap. 11 (pp. 185-212); Cap. 12 (pp. 215-230); Cap. 14 (pp. 233-256); Cap. 15 (disponibile sul sito www.ateneonline.it); Cap. 16 (pp. 259-273); Cap. 17 (pp. 275-292); Cap. 18 (pp. 295-310); Cap. 19 (pp. 311-327); Cap. 20 (pp. 329-354); Cap. 21 (pp. 355-366); Cap. 22 (pp. 367-381 + Appendice 22A); Cap. 23 (pp. 383-400); Cap. 24 (pp. 403-422); Cap. 25 (pp. 423-441); Cap. 26 (pp. 443-460); Cap. 27 (pp. 461-481); Cap. 29 (pp. 483-507); Cap. 31 (509-522).