87168 - Regional Economic Policies

Learning outcomes

The course intends to provide an in-depth knowledge of the main economic policies of regional and, more generally, territorial, Italian and European development. At the end of the course, the student is able to: a) use methodological and analytical tools that allow him to evaluate and support regional economic policy decisions; b) choose and analyse indicators useful for the interpretation of local social and economic contexts.

Course contents

European Union Cohesion Policy (8 hours of lectures and 4 hours of practical workshops)

• Objectives and principles of EU Cohesion Policy
• The Structural Funds and the National Strategic Framework in the 2007–2013 programming period; the main features of the 2014–2020 Cohesion Policy programming period
• Implementation of Cohesion Policy in selected European regions
• In-depth analysis of the challenges in implementing Cohesion Policy in selected Italian regions

The EU Budget 2021–2027. The 2021–2027 Cohesion Policy Framework, Italy's National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), and the Future of Cohesion Policy (4 hours)

• The Development Policies Database (DPS, ISTAT): service objectives, key context indicators, and targets

Local Development Theory (4 hours of lectures and 2 hours of practical workshops)

• Italian Industrial Districts: evolution, characteristics, and governance
• The National Strategy for Inner Areas

Indicators for Measuring Territorial Capital and Well-being (4 hours of lectures)

• Territorial capital in Italian regions and cities
• The BES Project: Equitable and Sustainable Well-being Indicators

The Regional Development Trap in Europe (2 hours)

Economic Growth Theory and the Determinants of Growth (8 hours of lectures and 2 hours of practical workshops)

• Economic growth
• Productivity in Italy
• The role of institutional quality
• Indicators of institutional quality at different territorial levels: Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI), European Quality of Government Index (EQI), and Municipal Administrative Quality Index (MAQI)

EU Common Agricultural Policy: EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement (2 hours of lectures)

Readings/Bibliography

• Growth Factors

La crescita delle nazioni, fatti e teorie di Vittorio Daniele, Rubbettino Editore, 2008, Capitoli Primo e Secondo, pp.9-64

• Local Development and Territorial Capital

Lo sviluppo locale– Ciapetti, 2010

Gianfranco Viesti (2021) Centri e periferie, Europa, Italia e Mezzogiorno dal XX al XXI secolo, capitoli 7, 15 e 16 4-5, Editori Laterza;

RegiosS - Gli indicatori per la misura del capitale territoriale, 2012

• UE Cohesion Policy

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

• Institutional Quality

Charron Rothstein - Quality of Government in EU regions

• SNAI Strategy
  

Barca F., Casavola P., Lucatelli S. (2014) “Strategia nazionale per le Aree interne: definizione, obiettivi, strumenti e governance” in Materiali Uval, n. 31, Roma Italia Carlucci C., Guerrizio A.

Further readings:

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

   Città e sviluppo locale – Bertini, Brasili, 2014;

2. "What Is Quality of Government? A Theory of Impartial Government Institutions", Rothstein, Teorell, 2008;

3. Rothstein B., Stolle D., 2008: The state and social capital: An institutional theory of generalized trust, Comparative Politics, 40 (4): 441-459; -Social Capital and Governmental Institutions, 2012, Breuskin;
   

4. Un bilancio moderno al servizio di un'Unione che protegge, che dà forza, che difende;-Quadro finanziario pluriennale 2021-2027; -Politica di coesione e la crisi generata dalla pandemia da COVID-19; -Una nuova agenda strategica 2019-2024;-Consiglio Europeo, Comunicazione della Commissione: “Il momento dell'Europa: riparare i danni e preparare il futuro per la prossima generazione”;-Comunicazione della Commissione: “Il bilancio dell'UE come motore del piano per la ripresa europea”.
   
   
5. La nuova politica di coesione 2021-2027, Rapporto camera dei deputati del 5 Giugno 2019( con aggiornamenti); -Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri “La programmazione per la Politica di Coesione, documento preparatorio per il confronto.

6. European Commission, Ninth Cohesion Report, March 2024

7. The Regional Development Trap in Europe

   Andreas Diemer, Simona Iammarino, Andrés Rodríguez-Pose & Michael Storper (2022): The Regional Development Trap in Europe, Economic Geography, DOI: 10.1080/00130095.2022.2080655
   
   

Additional material provided by the teacher during the course

Teaching methods

The teaching method followed is to theoretically address a problem of economic policy (through frontal lessons) and then to show the empirical analysis approach through the use and discussion of data related to the problem in the lessons in the laboratory.

Some topics will be explored in depth by the students, and the assignments will be agreed upon with the students themselves during the course.

Assessment methods

Verification of the degree of learning of the topics covered will be conducted in two ways: a) an oral exam that focuses on the entire program of the course and b) at the student's choice the preparation of a paper agreed during the course that will be delivered one week before the appeal and presented during the exam.

The evaluation in the case of mode a) will be given according to the following criterion:

-Analytical ability that emerges only with the help of the teacher, expression in overall correct language → 18-19;
-Ability of autonomous analysis, expression in correct language → 20-24;
-Ability to carry out critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology → 25-29;
-Ability to carry out critical and connecting analysis, full mastery of specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflect → 30-30 L

The evaluation in the case of modality b) will be given according:

1)The topics not covered in the paper will be briefly discussed during one of the subsequent exam sessions. The maximum number of points obtainable from this test is 16.

OR 2) For attending students, the assignments required during the course will be evaluated (for a total of 16 points) 

Topic and index of the paper must be agreed in advance with one of the teachers
The paper must answer a short research question, must have a maximum length of 10-15 pages, must be sent by email to Professor Brasili and / or Professor Moscariello one week before the date of presentation, the maximum score for the paper is 16 points
The exam grade will be given by the sum of the scores obtained from the presentation of the paper and the oral exam (assessed according to the criteria of method a).
Scores 31 and 32 correspond to 30 cum lode.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Examination Assessments

For assessment type (b), the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is permitted provided that it is explicitly declared and used only as a support tool. AI may not replace the student's original intellectual contribution.

The following uses are permitted: summarization, paraphrasing, brainstorming, linguistic clarification, and stylistic or syntactic suggestions.

AI must not be used to generate original analyses, interpretations, or substantial portions of the submitted work.

The proper and transparent use of AI does not, in itself, constitute a positive assessment criterion. Any use of AI will be evaluated in relation to the quality and originality of the student's own contribution.

Students are required to declare whether they have used AI in the preparation of their work. Where applicable, they must specify the AI tools used, the purposes for which they were used, and clearly indicate which parts of the work were AI-assisted.

A standard declaration template is available on the University webpage dedicated to the University Policy on the ethical and responsible use of Generative Artificial Intelligence.

In particular, we intend to verify the achievement of the following educational objectives:
- knowledge of the economic policies of the European Union and its links with Italian and international ones;
- appropriate use of the methodological tools illustrated during the lectures;
- ability to ask Research Questions concerning the use of these tools to analyze the effects of policies;
- ability to discuss the results obtained in order to interpret the phenomenon under study, in the light of the literature on the subject and current economic policy strategies.

REFUSAL OF THE MARK: The student who passes the exam (in both ways) can refuse the mark only once. This principle complies with what is specified in the University Teaching Regulations, art. 16, co. 5, modified by the resolution of the Academic Senate approved by the Board of Directors in February 2018: "in the event of a positive outcome, the student can ask to refuse the grade. The refusal must be granted by the teacher at least once on the single course". After a refusal, any positive outcome will be recorded.

Students with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) or temporary/permanent disabilities are strongly advised to contact the University Office in charge in advance
(https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti ).
The office will be responsible for proposing any necessary accommodations to the interested students. These accommodations must be submitted to the course instructor for approval at least 15 days in advance. The instructor will assess their suitability in relation to the learning objectives of the course.

Teaching tools

Reading materials can be found at:

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

Lessons will not be recorded.

The main sources of regional economic, national and international data will be illustrated.

Office hours

See the website of Cristina Brasili