08325 - Principle of Economics

Learning outcomes

The course is aimed at introducing students to the basic tools of economic theory. The study of the principles governing the functioning of markets and agents' behaviour, together with the analysis of real-world cases, will enable students to formulate explanations and judgements about the current economic issues. At the end of the course, students are expected to have a good knowledge of the basic principles of economic analysis and to be able to understand and interpret the economic facts which are at the center of the policy debate.

Course contents

A detailed program and reading list will be available on prof. Argentesi's website.

Microeconomics (instructor: Elena Argentesi):

• introduction (chapters 1,2)
• demand and supply (chapters 4, 5, 6);
• marktes and welfare (chapter 7);
• international trade (chapters 3 and 9)
• market structures (chapters 13, 14, 15, 16);
• labor markets (chapter 18);
• market failures (chapters 10, 11).

Macroeconomics (instructor: Riccardo Rovelli):

• national accounting (chapters 23, 24);
• short period (chapters 33, 34, 35);
• long period (chapters 25, 26, 28, 29, 30);
• open economies (chapters 31, 32).

Readings/Bibliography

N. Gregory Mankiw, Principi di Economia, Zanichelli, quarta edizione. (in Italian)

Teaching methods

Each topic will be covered at a theoretical level, but a discussion of practical cases and examples will follow. Students will have the possibility to continuously check their understanding by solving the exercises that will be made available on the course website. A teaching assistant will regularly meet the students and focus mainly on solving exercises and numerical applications.

Assessment methods

• There will be three written mid-term exams during the course and an optional oral exam during the official exam session (January-February).
• The final grade is an average of the three mid-terms and of the optional oral exam.
• Students who will not pass the mid-terms (or who choose not to take them at all) can take the full written exam in the January-February exam session.
• Following the Faculty's rules, first-year students who will have not passed the exam by the January-February session cannot re-take the exam before September.
• The three mid-terms consist of both multiple choice questions and open questions on the whole program covered in class (lectures and exercise classes).

 

Teaching tools

Prof. Argentesi's webpage contains a detailed course syllabus, slides of lectures, reading material, exercises and solutions, exams results and messages to students.  

Office hours

See the website of Elena Argentesi

See the website of Riccardo Rovelli