Course 2019-2020 a.y.

The course is divided in three modules:

1. A first module provides a critical discussion of long-run economic scenarios focussing on three main contemporary issues: economic growth models (with an application to the case of China), regional divergence with Europe (and the policies to contrast it), and labour markets.
2. A second module analyses in details the economics of the business cycle in the current context of globalisation, with a particular attention to the process of European integration and the financial crisis.
3. A third module develops the historical features of the Institutions governing these processes.

• Understand the drivers of countries' growth in the long run.
• Understand the dynamics of the labor market.
• Use basic macroeconomic models to forecast the possible evolution of the business cycle across countries.
• Recognize the impact on the business cycle of economic (fiscal and monetary) policies.
• Assess the implications of the financial crisis on countries, with a particular focus on the European Union.
• Assess the role of historical events and institutions in driving the current evolution of global markets.

• Apply the theoretical, empirical and historical tools developed in the course in order to grasp the essential features and evolution of global markets.

• Face-to-face lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Exercises (exercises, database, software etc.)

Guest speakers from international institutions provide their experience in the analysis of the problems studied during the course. Specific exercises help students gain a better working knowledge of the main economic models used throughout the course.

The two partial exams (1h15') are structured as follows:

• 3 open questions (worth 9 points each) + 4 MC for the first partial.
• 2 open questions (worth 14 points each) + 3 MC for the second partial.

The first partial has a 60% weight (vs the second, 40%). The General exam (2h) is comprised of 5 open questions (worth 5 points each) + 6 MC. Each MC question is worth one point, the sum of questions is worth 31 points. The MC questions are aimed at assessing students’ understanding of the drivers of countries’ growth and the impact on the business cycle of economic (fiscal and monetary) policies. Open questions test students’ ability in applying the theoretical, empirical and historical tools developed in the course in order to grasp the essential features and evolution of global markets.

The two partial exams (1h15') are structured as follows:

• 3 open questions (worth 9 points each) + 4 MC for the first partial.
• 2 open questions (worth 14 points each) + 3 MC for the second partial.

The first partial has a 60% weight (vs the second, 40%). The General exam (2h) is comprised of 5 open questions (worth 5 points each) + 6 MC. Each MC question is worth one point, the sum of questions is worth 31 points. The MC questions are aimed at assessing students’ understanding of the drivers of countries’ growth and the impact on the business cycle of economic (fiscal and monetary) policies. Open questions test students’ ability in applying the theoretical, empirical and historical tools developed in the course in order to grasp the essential features and evolution of global markets.

• C.J. JONES, Macroeconomics, Norton, 2013, 3rd Ed.
• M. AMATO, L. FANTACCI, End of Finance, Polity press, 2012.