EUROPEAN ECONOMY
cod. 1005604

Academic year 2014/15
2° year of course - Second semester
Professor
Academic discipline
Economia applicata (SECS-P/06)
Field
Economico
Type of training activity
Characterising
48 hours
of face-to-face activities
8 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
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Learning objectives

Knowledge and the Capacity to Understand (Dublin Descriptor I) involve the economic aspects of the history of European integration, founded upon the creation of the "Single market" (the four freedoms of circulation of people, goods, services, and capital). Attendance at lessons and study of the lecture materials will therefore give students the following Competence (Dublin Descriptor II): becoming proficient with the necessary methodological tools for analyzing the European Single Market as the natural reference point for business strategies, which by definition must look beyond national borders. In consideration of Descriptors III, IV, and V, the course has the explicit goal of giving students the independence to form their own opinions (understanding how there is still room for both quality industrial production and for a well-thought-out role for public policy in supporting this industry through a "new" supranational Industrial Policy), to develop their communication skills (learning how to communicate with political movers and shakers and with the business community), and lastly, to hone their learning skills (learning how to conduct rigorous empirical analyses about manufacturing in European nations from a comparative perspective: EU, USA, China, and emerging nations).

Prerequisites

A solid background in Microeconomics and in the history of European economic integration.

Course unit content

This course will examine the European economy primarily through the lens of its significant global manufacturing potential. The "manufacturing renaissance" that has been the object of such discussion for a few years now both in Europe and in the United States will be the focal point of the first part of the course, which hopes to answer this simple question: "Why does manufacturing matter?". From this starting point, the second part of the course will move its focus to Industrial Policy. We will spend particular time on what I have called the "Jacquemin-Rodrik Synthesis" - from the names of two distinguished economists, Alexis Jacquemin and Dani Rodrik, who at different moments (the former was advisor to Jacques Delors at the European Commission in Brussels) addressed the economic bases for Industrial Policy. A public policy - we shall argue - that should not be seen merely as a possible remedy to the classic "market failures", so much as a policy that can contribute largely to structural transformations of the economy. Particular emphasis will be given to the approach known as "Integrated Industrial Policy" that has been promoted and consolidated within the EU since 2002.

Full programme

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Bibliography

F. MOSCONI, Le nuove politiche industriali nell’Europa allargata, Monte Università Parma editore, Parma, II^ ed. 2005 (a new edition is currently being published).

F. MOSCONI, The New Industrial Policy in Europe a Decade After (2002-2012), in M. YÜLEK (Ed.), “Economic Planning and Industrial Policy in the Globalizing Economy. Concepts, Experience and Prospects”, Springer 2014 (forthcoming).

A set of “Didactic Materials” (papers, articles, and PPT presentations) will be made available for further study of some of the main topics covered during the lectures.

Teaching methods

The lectures of this course will present the contents both of the teacher's book and of his chapter in the book edited by Prof. Yülek (see the "Testi di riferimento" section above). Both works are dedicated to European Industrial Policy. In addition, during the lectures I will present the structure of the European economy through various papers and articles, focusing in particular on European manufacturing. The lectures will be complemented by a series of seminars featuring renowned guest speakers, a series designed to deepen students’ knowledge of the real situation of European industry, starting from a case-study of Italy (which remains, after Germany, the second-largest manufacturing nation in the EU).

Assessment methods and criteria

Written exam.
Capabilities to develop and capabilities to apply knowledge will be evaluated through 2 essay questions (on precise topics that are clearly covered in the teacher's book and chapter), for a maximum of 10 points each.
Communication skills using appropriate technical language, independence of opinion and learning skills will be evaluated through a presentation and discussion of a paper on one of the main topics of the course, for a maximum of 10 points. At the beginning of the course, I will present a list of the topics from which students can choose; I will also explain in greater detail the format for the presentation.

Other information

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