00256 - Introductory Economics

Academic Year 2021/2022

  • Docente: Tito Pietra
  • Credits: 9
  • SSD: SECS-P/01
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Languages, Markets and Cultures of Asia and Mediterranean Africa (cod. 9264)

    Also valid for First cycle degree programme (L) in Asian Languages, Markets and Cultures (cod. 0980)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has a basic knowledge of the principles, methods and analytical tools of economics. The student also knows the fundamentals of microeconomics (consumer theory, theory of the firm, demand and supply, market structures) and of macroeconomics (production/income/national accouns, inputs markets, money and financial markets). These analytical methods and principles are then applied to the study of some of the most relevant phenomena characterizing East Asian economies, and, specifically, the economy of the People Republic of China

Course contents

INTRODUCTORY ECONOMICS:

A. Microeconomics

  1. Basic concepts (ch. 1-3)
  2. Competition and efficiency (ch. 4-8)
  3. Market failures (ch. 9-14)
  4. International trade (ch. 15-16)

B. Macroeconomics

  1. Basic concepts and data (ch. 17-20)
  2. The economy in the long run (ch. 21-22)
  3. International economics (ch. 31-32)

C. Economic miracles in East Asia: The case of the People Republic of China

This last C section of the program will be covered if we will have a sufficient number of lectures available

Detailed versions of the program for the final test will be made available at the end of the classes

Readings/Bibliography

Readings/Bibliography

Robert H. Frank, R.H., Bernanke, B.S., McDowell, M., Thom, R., e Pastine, I., Principi di economia 4/ed, McGraw Hill, 2013 is the textbook for section A and B of the program.

For part C, you may look at the class slides. A good reading is A.R. Kroeber, China's Economy. What everyone needs to know, Oxford University Press, 2016

Teaching methods

Class lectures (in class or online, according to the evolving COVID 19. situation)

Assessment methods

The test will be oral or written according to the evolving COVID 19 situation.

If you want to refuse the final grade (you can do it at most once), you must send a written notice, with a copy of a legal i.d, before a day to be specified

Teaching tools

Slides. They will be available on the web site https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Office hours

See the website of Tito Pietra