Learning objectives
The course provides the theoretical and empirical instruments to understand the European context within which our country and its enterprises must operate. In particular it analyses the process of European economic integration and the main stages of this integration, both from a micro- and macroeconomic point of view. The aspects of real economy (foreign investments, commercial flows, union customs, single market) and monetary aspects (monetary union and the euro). At the end of the course the students will have acquired the capacity to understand the economic structure of the European Union and its economic weight in the world. This allows them to evaluate the economic evolution of the geographic area concerned with greater precision.
Prerequisites
<p>Basic courses in micro- and macroeconomics.</p>
Course unit content
Detailed programme: 1) Europe in the world economy: analyses of relative data: GDP, work, commercial flows, foreign investments, multinationals. Various materials treated by the major national and international databanks (Bank of Italy, the Institute for Foreign Trade, the European Union, OCSE, World Bank, FMI, WTO, UNCTAD). 2) The community balance (BW ch. 2; SN ch. 11; EU documents). 3) The theory of economic integration and customs union (BW ch. 4; SN chs. 1, 4, 5; various materials). 4) the economy of the Single Market (BW chs. 6, 7; SN ch. 6; various material). 5) The regional spread of the European Union (BW ch. 10). 6) The theory of optimal currency areas (DG ch. 2). 7) The costs of a common currency (euro) (DG ch. 1; various materials). 8) The benefits of a common currency (euro) (DG ch. 3; various materials). 9) The costs and benefits of a common currency by comparison (DG ch. 4). 10) The Central European Bank (DG ch. 8; various materials).
Full programme
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Bibliography
The letters in parentheses in the programme refer to the latest editions in English of the textbooks: Baldwin, R., Wyplosz, C., (BW), The Economics of European Integration, McGraw-Hill, 2006
De Grauwe, P., (DG), Economics of Monetary Union, Oxford University Press, 8th edition, 2009
Senior Nello, S., (SN), The European Union, McGraw-Hill, 2nd edition, 2009.
Teaching methods
The final exam will be written. The examination programme for those attending will be based on the lessons and class discussions. The references to the textbooks serve to study the arguments discussed in depth. For those who will sit the exam for non attendees, the exam programme will concern material supplied during the course, which will be indicated on the website, and on the following chapters of the Italian editions of the texts: Baldwin, Wiplosz, L’Economia dell’Unione Europea, Hoepli, 2005, chs. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7, 9 (with the exceptions of 9.5 and 9.6), 16 and 17.
De Grauwe, Economia dell’unione monetaria, il mulino, 2009, chs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8.
Assessment methods and criteria
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Other information
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