98814 - INTRODUCTION TO ECONOMICS OF THE EU

Learning outcomes

The course is an introduction to the economics and political economy of the European Union. Special emphasis will be given to the economic, political and institutional prerequisites of EU integration and enlargement – and to the consequences that integration and enlargement have on member states. Hence, students will become familiar with concepts and models of economics and political economy that are especially useful for understanding and evaluating these processes and the policies that accompany them. The final part of the course is dedicated to the institutional and policies innovations adopted since 2008, during the Great Recession.

Course contents

This course includes lectures on the following topics:

• Human development and welfare.
• Economic growth.
• Population, labour markets and inequality.
• Production structure and intersectoral linkages.
• Industrial specialisation and the external sector.
• Economic integration.
• Competition and trade.
• Monetary and fiscal policies.
• Common Agricultural Policy and regional policies.
• Sustainability, environment and the EU.

Readings/Bibliography

Slides (pdf), exercises (spreadsheets) and additional materials are made available on Toledo.

Statistical sources and additional documents: students should use the Eurostat database as a starting point to discuss the topics analysed during the course. Statistics Explained (Eurostat) provides valuable support, particularly the “Statistics 4 beginners” section.

Teaching methods

This course consists of:

• Lectures taught in a blended mode. [Module 1]
• On-campus seminars/practical classes, in which students work in (smaller) groups and practically engage with the teaching materials from the lectures. [Module 2]

Assessment methods

This course includes the following evaluation:

1. Final written exam during the examination period consisting of multiple choice questions (50% of the total score)

The final exam is organized as a digital (bring-your-own-device or in a PC classroom) exam. Students must be present on campus to take the exam. During the exam, students may use a simple, non-graphical calculator. The duration of the exam is 60 minutes.

2. Continuous assessment (50% of the total score) consisting of:

• 4 online multiple choice tests (20%) organized every 2-3 lessons. The final mark for the online tests will be the simple average of the best three scores. Any missed test will be graded as zero. The dates for these tests will be announced at the beginning of the course. Under no circumstances will it be possible to take the test at a different time. [Module 1]
• 5 seminars/practical classes (30%) during which student will work in groups on exercises covering the content of the lectures. Students must be physically present in the classroom to be allowed to submit the exercises. The final grade for the practical classes will be calculated as the average of the 5 submissions. Any assignment not submitted will receive a score of zero. [Module 2]

Determination of the final result

The evaluation is graded by the lecturer(s), as communicated via Toledo and the exam schedule. The result is calculated and expressed on a scale of 20.

In the final exam and continuous assessment that uses multiple choice questions, correction for guessing is applied. This means that negative points are deducted for incorrect answers.

The final mark will be the weighted average of the online tests, group assignments and the final exam, with the previously specified weights. No thresholds are applied to each part for the final grade. In other words, it is not necessary to have a minimum grade in any of these parts to pass the course.

Grades will then be converted on a scale of 30 and can be interpreted qualitatively as follows:

• <18: fail
• 18–23: satisfactory
• 24–27: good
• 28–30: very good
• 30 with honors: excellent

The student will always receive a final numerical grade if any of the following conditions are met:

• they have taken at least three of the online partial tests,
• they have handed in at least two of the group assignments,
• they have taken the final exam.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Rosso

See the website of Claudia Garcia Garcia