- Docente: Jonathan Neil Chapman
- Credits: 6
- SSD: ECON-01/A
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in European Studies (cod. 6653)
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from Oct 01, 2026 to Dec 17, 2026
Learning outcomes
The course is an introduction to the study of macroeconomics and microeconomics. It covers the main issues, methods, data, concepts and models. Students will be able and motivated to follow and understand the current debates on macroeconomic and microeconomic issues, as they are reported by the qualified press and media. A special focus will be on understanding and debating the appropriateness of the policies adopted in the Great Recession, and the roles of fiscal and monetary policies for the EU members that have adopted the euro. Students will also be prepared to follow more advanced courses on macroeconomic and microeconomics analysis and policies, should they want to do so in their graduate studies.
Course contents
This course is part of the BAES program (UnaEuropa) and is not open to Erasmus (or other) students.
The course will cover the following topics:
- Economic Growth in the Long Run
- Geography and Economic Development
- Institutions and Economic Development
- Standards of Living and the Malthusian Trap
- Innovation and the Industrial Revolution
- The Neoclassical growth model and Convergence
- Consumer and Firm Decision Making
- The Market Economy
- Markets and Inequality
- Government and the Economy
- Macroeconomic Policy
- World Economy
- Individual Decision-Making
- Social interactions and introductory game theory
Readings/Bibliography
The class will use the free text books available from CORE at https://www.core-econ.org/.
Teaching methods
The course will be based predominantly on frontal lectures. Students are expected to attend all lectures.
In addition to lectures, there will be sessions dedicated to applying theoretical concepts from the lectures. These will involve analyzing assigned readings, solving exercises in preparation for the exam, and experimental games.
Assessment methods
Final grades in the course will be determined by a take-home midterm exam, and an in-person final exam. The mid-term exam will be carried out online. The final exam will be carried out on paper. Students may bring printed or handwritten notes and handheld calculators to the final exam. Devices capable of connecting to the internet are prohibited.
Both exams will be written, and will contain a mixture of multiple choice and short open questions. Multiple choice questions will include a penalty for incorrect answers. Open questions will be graded based on accuracy and concision. Incorrect or vague statements will be penalized.
AI tools may be used in responding to the midterm exam, as long as students implement supervision and critical thinking. The use of AI is strictly prohbited in the final exam. All exams will focus on content covered in the course, and so students should be particularly careful in answering using materials produced by generative AI (or other sources outside the course).
The midterm will account for 25% of the grade, and the final exam will account for the remaining 75%.
Teaching tools
Class materials, including lecture slides, will be shared through Virtuale.
Office hours
See the website of Jonathan Neil Chapman