03568 - Economic Policy

Learning outcomes

The course would make the students be able to analyse the economic policies and their effects on the economic and social development.

The student knows the structural economic problems of Italian economy (local development, public debt, Southern-Northern differences, employments).

The student could be understand and analyse the principal economic documents. 

To reach these objectives the students will be able to use the most important national and international data bases to study the economical policies (Regio- Data Base Eurostat, Istat-Data Base).

Course contents

-Introduction to political economy (1 hour);

Italian policy economy (15 hours  and 4 laboratory hours)

- The development and the Italian economic trends in the latter postwar;

- The Italian endogenous models and local systems, the industrial districts and the globalization;

- Measure of Territorial Capital

- Territorial development policies. From the Cassa per il Mezzogiorno to EU regional policies. Similarities and differences.

- The indicators of Fair and Sustainable Well-being (BES): the theory of Amartya Sen as a background and the targets for the Italian economic policy. BES indicators included in the Economic and Financial Document (DEF)

Some Italian structural problems (4 hours and 2 laboratory hours):

- Poverty in Italy

- the South and the end of the extraordinary intervention, employment and unemployment.

- The public debt in Italy

 

Theoretical introduction and measurement of institutional quality (4 theoretical hours and 2 laboratory hours): EQI and IQI indicators.

The main EU policies  (10 hours and 2 laboratory hours)

The role of the Italian economic policy in the European contest;

-EU Cohesion Policy: History, Principles and Characteristics

-Implementation in Italy: opportunities and problems

  - The single market, the Maastricht agreements, the economic and monetary union;

Seminar by the lecturer on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)

SNAI strategy Internal Areas as policy Multilevel governance (2 hours)

UE budget 2021-2027. Cohesion Policy 2021-2017 and RRP plan for Italy (2 hours)

-The future EU policies after the Covid-19 mergency

Given the issues addressed in this Economic Policy course, it contributes to greater awareness and, therefore, to the achievement of the objectives, 5, 8, 10 and 16, of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Readings/Bibliography

Documents about European and Italian Economic Policy that can be downloaded from the web-site https://iol.unibo.it/ (IOL- Insegnamenti On Line _ Teaching On Line), slides and some chapters/paragraphs indicated in the last slide related to the topic:

Politica Economica – Valli, 2005 Cap.1 e Cap. 4

Politica Economica Volume I – Valli, 1998 Cap.13 e paragrafi 14.1, 14.2, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5 e 15.5

Politica Economica – Valli, 2005

Mezzogiorno a tradimento – Viesti – Cap.3

Le cause del divario Nord-Sud in Italia e gli effetti delle politiche pubbliche sulla società nel Mezzogiorno, tesi SVIC di Alessandra Buonaiuto

Politica Economica – Valli, 2005 - Par. 5.8

Lo sviluppo locale – Ciapetti, 2010

Il distretto industriale Marshalliano come concetto socio-economico - G. Becattini, 1991

LA GOVERNANCE NEI DISTRETTI INDUSTRIALI DEL TERZO MILLENNIO Il caso della Regione Marche e l’area di crisi industriale complessa del Fermano Maceratese, tesi di laurea Svic di M. G. Paccapelo a.a. 2019/2020 SVIC

Le nuove politiche regionali dell'Unione Europea – Viesti, Prota – Cap.1 e 2

Politica Regionale – Commissione Europea [http://www2.stat.unibo.it/brasili/polec_2017/regional_policy_it.pdf]

I fondi strutturali europei: otto lezioni dall'esperienza italiana – Viesti, Luongo 2014

Le nuove politiche regionali dell'Unione Europea – Viesti, Prota – Cap.7

Le nuove politiche regionali dell'Unione Europea – Viesti, Prota – Cap.8

Investire nelle regioni: la riforma della Politica di coesione dell’UE 2014-2020

Sintesi dell’accordo di partenariato per l’Italia, 2014-2020, European Commission 2014

Accordo di partenariato 2014-2020 Italia allegato 1 risultati attesi - azioni

Politica Economica Europea - Valli, 1999 par.2.2 e 2.3

Politica Economica e Macroeconomia Vittorio Valli e altri, paragrafi 7.6, 7.7, 7.8 (2010), Ed. Carocci

Padoa-Schioppa Tommaso, L’Euro in prospettiva storica, il Mulino, n.399, 1/2002

  Supplementary readings:

BES Report, various editions

Istat, I distretti industriali 2011

L’“effetto distretto”: motivazioni e risultati di un progetto di ricerca – L. Federico Signorini, 2000

I distretti industriali del Terzo Millennio – F. Guelpa, S. Micelli, 2007 Cap.1

I distretti industriali del Terzo Millennio – F. Guelpa, S. Micelli, 2007 Cap.7

Italia e Germania: due vie per l’uscita dalla crisi – A. Brasili C.Brasili, 2011

Lo sviluppo è libertà – Sen, 2000

La povertà in Italia - Sintesi Rapporto Istat 2024

Città e sviluppo locale – Bertini, Brasili, 2014

I “nuovi” distretti agroalimentari tra i “nuovi” distretti industriali- C. Brasili, R. Fanfani

Nel DEF 2017 per la prima volta gli indicatori BeS

Il Quadro Strategico Nazionale 2007-2013

Mantovani A., Mattarin L, Economia dell’integrazione europea, Il Mulino, Bologna 2008 (cap 5 pp. 163-200)

Bordignon, Turati DEBITO PUBBLICO come ci siamo arrivati e come sopravvivergli, PICCOLA BIBLIOTECA PER UN PAESE NORMALE - VITA E PENSIERO

Roberto Basile, Luisa Giallonardo, Marcella Mulino of the text Economic policy, third edition Ed. Wolters Kluwer Italy (CEDAM)

I numeri della corruzione – C. Brasili (2012)

La finanza pubblica e il debito pubblico Dott.ssa Arianna Moschetti Da pag 10 a pag 13 E da pag 21 a pag 45

Rapporto sul Sistema agroalimentare dell'Emilia- Romagna - Capitolo 2. Le politiche comunitarie e nazionali

 

Teaching methods

The approach followed in this course is to introduce students to Economic Policy by presenting them different topics, discussing the theory (during the lectures) and pursuing empirical research through statistical data analysis (during the lectures in the  laboratory lectures).

Assessment methods

Students' achievement of the intended learning outcomes will be assessed through either a written or an oral examination.

During the December, January, and February examination sessions (3 sittings), students will take a 90-minute written examination under the following conditions:

• Students will choose one question (out of two). Each question is divided into five sub-questions, all of which must be answered.
• Each sub-question is worth a maximum of 7/35 marks. A penalty of 2 marks will be deducted for each unanswered sub-question.
• The final mark is obtained by summing the scores awarded for the five sub-questions. If the total exceeds 30/30, the student will be awarded 30 cum laude (30L).
• Questions relating to laboratory sessions require consultation of the accompanying data tables and graphs.
• A maximum word limit is specified for each sub-question.

The June, July, and September examination sessions will consist of an oral examination, with questions structured in the same way as those used in the written examination.

The oral examination will be assessed according to the following criteria:

• 18–22: Adequate preparation and analytical skills, demonstrated through formally correct language.
• 23–26: Technically adequate preparation and satisfactory analytical skills, although not particularly well developed, expressed using appropriate language.
• 27–29: Thorough knowledge of the course topics, good analytical and critical skills, and appropriate use of subject-specific terminology.
• 30–30 cum laude: Excellent and comprehensive knowledge of the course topics, outstanding critical analysis and ability to make connections across topics, with full command of subject-specific terminology.

In particular, the examination is intended to assess the achievement of the following learning outcomes:

• knowledge of the European Union's economic policies and their links with Italian and international economic policies;
• appropriate use of the methodological tools presented during lectures;
• ability to discuss and interpret the results obtained in light of the relevant literature and current economic policy strategies.

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or Temporary/Permanent Disabilities

Students are strongly encouraged to contact the University's dedicated support office well in advance (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it ). The office will propose any appropriate accommodations, which must be submitted to the course instructor at least 15 days before the examination for approval. The instructor will assess their suitability in relation to the intended learning outcomes of the course.

Examination in a Controlled Environment – AI Use Prohibited

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools during the examination is strictly prohibited in any form, including chatbots, text generators, advanced translation tools, content summarizers, and AI features integrated into electronic devices.

Any use of AI constitutes a violation of the University's principles of academic honesty and integrity as set out in the relevant Policy and may result in the examination being declared invalid by the instructor, who remains responsible for verifying the validity of the assessment.

This examination format is designed to assess individual competencies that cannot be delegated to AI, including:

• critical understanding;
• logical reasoning and argumentation;
• independent problem-solving;
• application of fundamental concepts;
• personal reconstruction of procedures, methodological steps, and conceptual frameworks.
  

If a student is found using AI or any other unauthorized material during the examination, they will be required to stop the examination immediately and leave the examination room.

Teaching tools

Reading materials can be found at:

Unibo Virtuale - Università di Bologna https://virtuale.unibo.it

Lessons will not be recorded.

 

Office hours

See the website of Cristina Brasili