Management Engineering

Knowledge and understanding The course deals with the nature and functioning of those entities which coordinate the production and exchange of goods, such as firms, markets and hierarchies. Students are expected to learn and understand: - the main theoretical views of the firm and the definition of the horizontal and vertical boundaries of the firm; - the structure of firms and their internal organization; - the functioning of markets, with a focus on imperfect competition (monopoly and oligopoly); - the rationale and the scope for government intervention. Applying knowledge and understanding Students will be able to use methods and models of intermediate microeconomics and industrial organization to understand how firms organize and interact, how markets allocate resources and how governments can affect the provision and prices of goods and services. Specifically, students will be able to understand the internal organization of firms and analyze the relationships between industry structure, firms’ conduct and market performance. Making judgements Lectures, practical exercises and problem-solving sessions will provide students with the ability to assess the main strengths and weaknesses of theoretical models when used to explain empirical evidence and case studies in the field of industrial organization. Communication By the end of the course, students are able to discuss information, ideas, problems and solutions in the modern theory of industrial organization both with a specialized and a non-specialized audience. These capabilities are tested and evaluated in the final written exam and possibly in the oral exam. Lifelong learning skills Students are expected to develop those learning skills necessary to undertake additional studies on relevant topics in industrial organization with a high degree of autonomy. During the course, students are encouraged to investigate further any topics of major interest, by consulting supplementary academic publications, specialized books, and internet sites. These capabilities are tested and evaluated in the final written exam and possibly in the oral exam, where students may have to discuss and solve some new problems based on the topics and material covered in class.