30056 - EUROPEAN ECONOMIC POLICY

The course aims at analysing the economic issues related to the process of European integration through a theoretical and a policy perspective.
Through the study of economic integration theories and the main EU policies, students are able to acquire a critical perspective of the basic issues leading to the development of the European Institutions and the different historical phases of the European Union, ultimately giving birth to the Economic and Monetary Union.

The course is composed of three parts.

• The first part of the course is devoted to the study of the different theories of economic integration, considering the market of goods (customs unions, free trade areas), of factors of production (common markets) and the co-ordination of economic policies (economic union). A link is made between the theoretical instruments and the actual evolution of the European integration process.
• The second part explores the main European policies, their common objectives, instruments and financial means, and their evolution over time.
• The third part of the course is centred on the effects of the Economic and Monetary Union for the common economic policies and the European system of governance. 
  

Written general final exam or two partial written exams. Each partial exam is worth 50% of the final mark. The first partial exam covers the theoretical models of Part I (one open question, worth 21 pts.) and the policies of Part II (10 multiple choice questions, 1 pt. each). The second partial exam covers all the remaining topics of the course (two open questions, worth 15 pts. each). You have to pass both partial exams with at least 18/30 to obtain your grade. Intermediate exams have to be taken within the same academic year.

Additional notes/readings are provided in order to update specific topics covered in the program through the Learning Space of the course.