B5089 - ECONOMIC HISTORY AND SUSTAINABILITY

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will develop a comprehensive understanding of the historical evolution of the tourism sector, as well as that of the urban economies. They will be able to recognize prevalent consumption patterns in different historical phases, particularly in the context of tourist services. Students will also gain insights into the diverse models of business and their evolution within the tourism sector over the 19th and 20th centuries. Additionally, they will acquire the analytical skills to comprehend urbanization processes and transformations in urban landscapes throughout recent history, enabling them to assess the profound socio-economic implications of these changes. The course will provide a specific interpretative framework to understand how the concept of sustainability has developed and evolved over time, particularly applied to these two specific contexts.

Course contents

The course aims at providing students with an up-to-date understanding of the main aspects and trends of the world economy during the 20th and early 21st centuries, with a specific focus on the urbanization processes and the tourist patterns

The course is organized in two parts, the first taught by Elena Korchmina and the second by Patrizia Battilani.

PART I Foundations of World Economic History (17th–21st Centuries)

The first half of the course establishes the analytical foundations for understanding global economic development across four centuries. Students will explore:

• Geographic Foundations: How spatial factors, resources, and trade networks have shaped economic development
• The Industrial Revolutions: Origins, global spread, and transformative consequences
• State and Expansion: Political institutions, European overseas expansion, and colonial legacies
• Growth Patterns: Distinct phases of economic development and their structural drivers
• Innovation and Change: The role of technological and organizational innovation in economic transformation
• Development Pathways: Why some societies achieved sustained growth while others stagnated, and the role of institutions, policy, and external constraints

Throughout, the course emphasizes interconnections between geography, technology, institutions, and human agency in shaping economic outcomes.

PART II- TOURISM HISTORY

1. Elitist tourism: products, hotels and travel agencies
2. Mass tourism: products, hotels and travel agencies
3. Post modern tourism: products, hotels and travel agencies
4. Tourism in Africa
5. Tourism in Asia
6. Tourism in the Mediterranean region
7. Tourism in Italy
8. Models of tourism planning in historical perspective
9. Tourism sustainability in historical perspective

Readings/Bibliography

For the first part of the course:

Allen, R. C. (2011). Global economic history: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press.

Clark, G. (2008). A farewell to alms: A brief economic history of the world. Princeton University Press.

Amatori, F., & Colli, A. (2019). The Global Economy: A Concise History. Giappichelli-Routledge

For the second part of the course:

References will be made available at the beginning of the course, by posting them on the School e-learning platform:

https://virtuale.unibo.it/

 

 

Teaching methods

The course will be a mix of traditional lectures with slides and audiovisual material and teamwork on specific issues.

Further details will be provided directly during the course

Assessment methods

The final exam is based on multiple choice and essay format questions.

Checking books and notes is not allowed during the exam period. Grades are awarded in the following fashion:

<18 failed
18-23 sufficient
24-27 good
28-30 very good
30 e lode excellent

During the lectures, group work will be assigned which will allow you to earn from 1 to 3 extra points

Teaching tools

PC, projector.

Slides and additional recommended readings available on the School "Virtuale" platform

Office hours

See the website of Patrizia Battilani

See the website of Elena Korchmina