Course 2012-2013 a.y.

20281 - COMPARATIVE BUSINESS HISTORY: COMPETITION AND GLOBALIZATION


CLMG - M - IM - MM - AFC - CLAPI - CLEFIN-FINANCE - CLELI - ACME - DES-ESS - EMIT

Department of Social and Political Sciences

Course taught in English

Go to class group/s: 31
CLMG (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/12) - M (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/12) - IM (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/12) - MM (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/12) - AFC (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/12) - CLAPI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/12) - CLEFIN-FINANCE (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/12) - CLELI (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/12) - ACME (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/12) - DES-ESS (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/12) - EMIT (6 credits - I sem. - OP  |  SECS-P/12)
Course Director:
FRANCO AMATORI

Classes: 31 (I sem.)
Instructors:
Class 31: FRANCO AMATORI


Course Objectives

The course has as its unit of analysis the modern industrial corporation considered in the global competitive scenario of the past 20 years.
The framework is found in the enormous political change brought about by the fall of the Berlin Wall and by the full advent of ICT technology, especially the Web. Three macro-areas are considered: the US, Europe, and Eastern Asia.
At the beginning the focus is on the distinction between various models of capitalism (Anglo-Saxon vs. the Japanese-German). In this context, the course examines the rapid recovery of the US vs. the slow growth of Europe and Japan. Following this the course examines the rise of the giant new economies such as China and India. Competition between different areas and models is always emphasized.


Course Content Summary

  • An overview of the international scenario at the end of the Eighties.
  • The unexpected recovery of the US.
  • Re-engineering and a return to core competencies.
  • The crisis of Japan.
  • Remodeled Japan.
  • The European Hybrid.
  • Varieties of Capitalism in the Old Continent.
  • Convergences and Divergences: Asian Tigers and South American countries.
  • India between poverty and high-tech.
  • China: a difficult model to capture.

Detailed Description of Assessment Methods

Student evaluation is the result of a final oral general exam. Attending students are also required to write a paper that can be written individually or in small groups (max 4 students).

Textbooks

Non attending students:
  • F. AMATORI, A. COLLI, Business History. Complexities and Comparisons, Routledge, 2011
  • D. YERGIN, J. STANISLAW, The commanding heights : the battle between government and the marketplace that is remaking the modern world, New York, Simon & Schuster, 1998
  • A.D. CHANDLER, F. AMATORI, T. HIKINO (eds.), Big business and the wealth of nations, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1997 (parts 1 - 2)  
Attending students:
  • F. AMATORI, A. COLLI, Business History. Complexities and Comparisons. Routledge 2011
  • D. YERGIN, J. STANISLAW, The commanding heights: the battle between government and the marketplace that is remaking the modern world, New York, Simon & Schuster, 1998
Exam textbooks & Online Articles (check availability at the Library)
Last change 12/06/2012 09:23