INGLESE

Questo è un corso di introduzione all'economia, trattando delle principali tematiche in micro e macroeconomia.

Il corso utilizza due testi.
Un primo testo è il seguente: Schneider, Geoffrey (2022), Economic Principles and Problems. A Pluralistic Introduction. Editore Routledge (London).
Il secondo testo à un manuale online di economia, accessibile gratuitamente al sito www.core-econ.org

Lo scopo principale del corso è di fornire agli studenti una buona comprensione di base delle teorie e i metodi dell'economia, da una prospettiva pluralistica. In particolare il corso si propone di: (a) fornire agli studenti una solida base conoscitiva dei principali concetti e strumenti dell'economia; (b) preparare gli studenti ad utilizzare questi concetti e questi strumenti a problemi economici reali; (c) permettere agli studenti di pensare in modo critico all'economia e il modo in cui viene analizzata.

Non ci sono prequisiti formali per questo corso.

Lezioni frontali.

Esame scritto.

Nessuna

Introduction, part 1: What is economics? What is capitalism?
Introduction, part 2: How can we understand the economic foundations of our world;
Foundations of neoclassical microeconomics: the market, part 1. Benefits from trade;
Foundations of neoclassical microeconomics: the market, part 2. Supply and demand;
Foundations of neoclassical microeconomics: the market, part 3. Elasticity and efficiency;
Foundations of economic behavior. From homo economicus to homo sapiens;
Consumer behavior: preferences and budget constraint;
Theory of the firm: from neoclassical economics to heterodox economics;
Inputs and costs in the neoclassical production function;
“Imperfect” market structures: monopoly vs. Competition, oligopoly and imperfect competition;
Market failures and government intervention;
Basic macroeconomic concepts: GDP and growth; Inflation, unemployment and the labour market;
Long-term economic growth & Short-term economic fluctuations;
Aggregate demand and supply;
Fiscal policy, unemployment and growth;
Money and financial markets;
Monetary policy.

English

This is an introductory course in economics, covering key topics and themes in both micro and macroeconomics.

This course will use two texts: The first one is a written textbook, Schneider, Geoffrey (2022), Economic Principles and Problems. A Pluralistic Introduction. Routledge (London). The second one is an online (free) textbook: www.core-econ.org

The main goal of this course is to provide students with a good basic understanding of economic theories and methods from a pluralistic perspective. In particular, this course aims to:
(a) Provide students with a solid knowledge of the basic concepts and tools of economics, both as they are developed by economic theory and as they are used to understand real-world problems;
(b) Enable students to apply those concepts and tools to real-world problems;
(c) Enable students to think critically about both the economy and the way economics analyzes it.

There are no formal prerequisites for this course.

Lectures.

Written final exam.

None.

Introduction, part 1: What is economics? What is capitalism?
Introduction, part 2: How can we understand the economic foundations of our world;
Foundations of neoclassical microeconomics: the market, part 1. Benefits from trade;
Foundations of neoclassical microeconomics: the market, part 2. Supply and demand;
Foundations of neoclassical microeconomics: the market, part 3. Elasticity and efficiency;
Foundations of economic behavior. From homo economicus to homo sapiens;
Consumer behavior: preferences and budget constraint;
Theory of the firm: from neoclassical economics to heterodox economics;
Inputs and costs in the neoclassical production function;
“Imperfect” market structures: monopoly vs. Competition, oligopoly and imperfect competition;
Market failures and government intervention;
Basic macroeconomic concepts: GDP and growth; Inflation, unemployment and the labour market;
Long-term economic growth & Short-term economic fluctuations;
Aggregate demand and supply;
Fiscal policy, unemployment and growth;
Money and financial markets;
Monetary policy.