Economics and policies for global sustainability

Educational objectives

The objective of the course is to intuitively provide the basic analytical tools for the study of the microeconomic behavior of economic agents (consumers and businesses) and their interactions in imperfectly competitive markets, with particular attention to environmental sustainability. In the first part of the course, lasting four weeks, the methodological framework and the main basic conceptual categories with which microeconomics studies the phenomena of consumer choice will be presented.
In the second part, lasting eight weeks, students will be introduced to modern Game Theory methods for analyzing the strategic choices of economic subjects, be they consumers or businesses. In particular, in this part of the course the main economic applications concern oligopolistic markets and the strategic choices of large companies, as well as rational agents interacting with complete or incomplete information. The learning method of the course will be active and students will be asked to interact by carrying out exercises and making short presentations in class.
The knowledge acquired in the course is essential for orienting oneself in the problems of modern economies and in the problems of choice present in the analysis of socio-economic phenomena.

Educational objectives

The formative objectives of the course include understanding the general principles for designing and implementing sample surveys on finite populations. In this regard, both probabilistic and non-probabilistic techniques will be discussed, emphasizing their advantages and disadvantages, and the definition of estimates of the most important population parameters and the evaluation of the sampling error of estimators will be carried out. In addition, the course aims to provide students with some basic knowledge about nonsampling errors, the different types and their effect on the validity of survey results. Such knowledge will enable students to interpret sampling results in relation to sustainability by identifying possible intervention strategies.

Educational objectives

he course is structured in two parts of 6 credits each.
In the first part the course aims to provide the basic elements for the design and implementation of a sample survey. The sampling techniques that are most commonly used in applications will therefore be critically presented. During the course, some application insights will also be proposed through the R software.
In the second part the course aims to provide students with adequate knowledge and understanding of the main statistical methods used for the analysis of economic data. Particular attention will be paid to the application of statistical techniques to real data, using the R software. At the end of the course, students will be able to independently conduct their own statistical analyzes by critically interpreting the results.

Educational objectives

The course is designed to provide students with a solid understanding of key statistical methods used in the analysis of economic data. After an introduction to the fundamental concepts of random variable theory, the methodological aspects of the linear regression model and some of its extensions are explored in depth. The final part of the course focuses on logistic regression, which is particularly useful for modeling discrete dependent variables. Special emphasis is placed on applying these techniques to real-world data using the RStudio software. By the end of the course, students will be able to independently apply the statistical models, and critically evaluate and interpret the results in practical contexts.

Educational objectives

Production and consumption generate pollution and exploitation of natural resources.
In this course, divided into a first economic module and a second business module, the most relevant topics in the field of environmental economics will be discussed.

In particular, in the economic module, students will learn about the microeconomic elements necessary to formalize the analysis of a market in which pollution is produced (through consumption or production). They will understand the implications deriving from particular consumption and/or production choices and will be able to apply what they have learned to the evaluation of environmental economics problems, through the study of models.

In the business module, we will discuss the implications of consumption and production choices in advanced and developing countries, taking into account that products can be distinguished based on the level of emissions associated with them.
Short and long-term policies aimed at containing and/or reducing emissions will also be evaluated.

Students will therefore know the constituent elements of the debate on limiting emissions and will understand its main implications. They will also be able to apply what they have learned to reading documents developed in the relevant international offices.

Educational objectives

Provide the theoretical foundations and essential tools of data science and exploratory statistical analysis.
In particular:

Knowledge and understanding
Data science and exploratory statistical analysis; Data matrix and data pre-processing; Proximity matrix; Covariance matrix and correlation matrix; Cluster Analysis; Principal Components Analysis.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Ability to choose and apply the statistical methodologies learned in the business and economic fields.

Autonomy of judgement
Independent ability to collect and process data and interpret results

Communication skills
Ability to clearly present the results of the statistical analyzes carried out

Learning ability
Ability to learn new statistical techniques independently

Educational objectives

The objective is to present an advanced overview of the main theories of institutional economics, both foundational and contemporary, including theories of the firm, the state, property rights and on extractive and productive institutions. For political and public institutions, the objective is closely linked to fiscal sustainability.
The course is of particular value to those intending to enter civil service and a variety of other professions.
The lectures contribute to supplying graduate students with a high level of general and specific knowledge, enabling them to work professionally in a variety of private and public contexts.

Among the more specific learning outcomes we have:
a) Illustration of the main economic analyses of institutions.
b) Knowledge of the methodological aspects of institutional analysis.
c) Application of the economic theories to study institutional questions
d) Development of individual judgement and critical ability to understand social phenomena tied to institutions.
e) Development of a technical language, adequate to express the economic concepts.
f) Acquisition of learning skills necessary to deepen and update the relevant issues, also using different references, and to undertake subsequent studies.

Educational objectives

The objective is to present an advanced overview of the main theories of institutional economics, both foundational and contemporary, including theories of the firm, the state, property rights and on extractive and productive institutions. For political and public institutions, the objective is closely linked to fiscal sustainability.
The course is of particular value to those intending to enter civil service and a variety of other professions.
The lectures contribute to supplying graduate students with a high level of general and specific knowledge, enabling them to work professionally in a variety of private and public contexts.

Among the more specific learning outcomes we have:
a) Illustration of the main economic analyses of institutions.
b) Knowledge of the methodological aspects of institutional analysis.
c) Application of the economic theories to study institutional questions

Educational objectives

The objective is to present an advanced overview of the main theories of institutional economics, both foundational and contemporary, including theories of the firm, the state, property rights and on extractive and productive institutions. For political and public institutions, the objective is closely linked to fiscal sustainability.
The course is of particular value to those intending to enter civil service and a variety of other professions.
The lectures contribute to supplying graduate students with a high level of general and specific knowledge, enabling them to work professionally in a variety of private and public contexts.

Among the more specific learning outcomes we have:

d) Development of individual judgement and critical ability to understand social phenomena tied to institutions.
e) Development of a technical language, adequate to express the economic concepts.
f) Acquisition of learning skills necessary to deepen and update the relevant issues, also using different references, and to undertake subsequent studies.

Educational objectives

The objective of the course is to study the current evolution of the role of finance in supporting sustainability and to understand the role of the various actors in the financial system, companies, financial intermediaries and supervisory authorities, in promoting the consideration of ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) factors ) in the choices of financial investment and financing of productive activities within a new paradigm of production and consumption. To this end, the course analyzes the empirical results on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and corporate value creation to investigate the impact of considering ESG factors on corporate performance, on the price of financial assets and on the cost of capital for companies . Furthermore, the course illustrates the methodologies through which to integrate environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors into the investment decisions of both institutional investors and credit institutions. This is followed by the analysis of the development of sustainable and responsible investments, SRI, such as green and social bonds traded on the Italian Stock Exchange markets. The active and passive management techniques of securities portfolios are examined in depth, also taking into consideration ESG factors and performance analysis. This is followed by the study of traditional financial risks which must be integrated by the consideration of new climate and environmental risks linked above all to the transition to a green economy. The course also analyzes the role of financial regulatory and supervisory authorities in promoting an adequate culture of new risks linked above all to transition policies to deal with climate and environmental changes by inserting them into the framework of the three pillars of Basel (International Agreement on Banking Capital) .
In particular, the specific objectives of the course are:
1) in-depth knowledge of the analytical and graphical tools used in the fundamental analysis of securities and in general equilibrium models of the capital market, as well as the empirical checks conducted on these models;
2) the ability to understand financial data and fundamental statistics developed by financial analysts regarding the risk, return and performance of securities portfolios;
3) the application of the financial methodologies learned to the evaluation of securities, investment choices and portfolio management;
3) the application of the financial methodologies learned to the evaluation of securities, investment choices and portfolio management;
4) the ability to communicate what has been learned through the use of technical-specialist financial language and full mastery in reading and interpreting financial graphs.
5) the critical and judgmental capacity regarding the policy choices made by the regulatory authorities regarding global financial stability;
6) the ability to independently continue the study, in-depth analysis and updating of the financial topics covered in the course both through reading and understanding specialist financial reports of an institutional and consultancy nature, and through the study of international scientific articles .

Educational objectives

The course aims to introduce students to the fundamental features of European social law and the most significant stages of the process of "communitarianization" of national labor rights. Thanks to the specific attention dedicated to the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice and the dialogue established with it by the national courts, students will also have the opportunity to verify the concrete impact of the European Union sources on the Member States and on the evolution of European labor law .
At the end of the course the student will have to demonstrate:
to know the effectiveness and contents of the various European Union sources on labor matters;
to have correctly understood the mechanisms of interaction between sources and between courts of the current multilevel system;
to master the technical legal language of the subject and to be able to search for the sources of discipline of the subject in the codes and institutional sites;
to have acquired the ability to communicate what has been learned through interventions in seminars or group work in which documents, sentences and practical cases will be critically discussed;
to be able to proceed autonomously with the updating of the constantly evolving subject, thanks to the mastery of research tools and self-learning methods.

Educational objectives

activity chosen by the student (12 credits)
The student is obliged to fulfill the 12 credits relating to the "Activities chosen by the student" through the following options:
● 1 exam (out of thirty) and 1 seminar activity organized by the Degree Course Council (with eligibility) totaling 12 credits
● 1 or 2 exams (in thirtieths) totaling 12 credits

The choice of courses must be communicated through the wording of the "Training path" on the student's personal Infostud page.
The dates by which the aforementioned path must be completed by the student will be communicated on the website of the Department of Social and Economic Sciences.
The student will be able to fulfill the 12 credits starting from the first year of enrolment.

Educational objectives

Knowledge and understanding:
Students at the end of the Course are expected to understand cyclical fluctuations, the role of economic policy for economic and financial sustainability, the modus operandi of Central Banks.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
Students will be able to rapply theoretical models to formulate rigorous reasoning on different macroeconomic issues.
Making judgments:
Students are expected to be able to evaluate the role of the key economic actors and the effects of policy actions in different economic scenarios.
Communication Skills:
Students are expected to be able to analytically discuss economic and financial problems, and connect them with the main academic literature.

Educational objectives

Knowledge and understanding:
By the end of the course, students will understand the determinants of economic growth and innovation, as well as their relationship with income distribution and environmental sustainability. They will also master policy instruments to promote social and environmental sustainability.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
Students will be able to apply theoretical models to analyze long-run macroeconomic issues rigorously. Making judgments: Students will develop the ability to assess alternative policies for sustainable economic growth.
Communication skills: Students will be able to effectively present and discuss issues related to economic and environmental sustainability.

Educational objectives

Knowledge and understanding:
Students at the end of the Course are expected to understand cyclical fluctuations, the role of economic policy for economic and financial sustainability, the modus operandi of Central Banks.
Applying knowledge and understanding:
Students will be able to rapply theoretical models to formulate rigorous reasoning on different macroeconomic issues.
Making judgments:
Students are expected to be able to evaluate the role of the key economic actors and the effects of policy actions in different economic scenarios.
Communication Skills:
Students are expected to be able to analytically discuss economic and financial problems, and connect them with the main academic literature.

Educational objectives

The course provides an introduction to the main methods and basic tools of the quantitative evaluation of economic policies, in particular regional, industrial and labor market policies. The main objectives of the course are:
a) knowledge of the main basic-level methods for evaluating policies in the counterfactual context
b) provide the econometric bases to broaden the knowledge of counterfactual methods of policy evaluation
c) development of interpretation and critical evaluation skills of policy evaluation analyses, also through the study of specific evaluation studies
d) enable the student to independently produce and process evaluation studies, also through teaching laboratories for the STATA and R statistical programs
e) develop evaluation communication skills also with presentation of work in the classroom

The final objective is to provide the student with guidance on how the evaluation of a policy is carried out and what the problems may arise in the analysis of a problem of quantitative evaluation of policy instruments.

Educational objectives

The final objective is to provide the student with guidance on how to carry out an evaluation of the effect of public policies and which methodology is best to use depending on the data available and the research objectives.
Another objective is to familiarise students with the use of statistical software (in particular R) in order to obtain empirical estimates.

Educational objectives

The course introduces the main basic methods and tools for the quantitative assessment of economic policies, in particular regional, industrial and labor market policies. The main objectives of the course are:
a) knowledge of the main counterfactual methods at the basic level for policy evaluation
b) provide the econometric basis for expanding the knowledge of counterfactual methods of policy evaluation
c) development of the skills related to the critical evaluation of policy evaluation analysis, also through the study of specific evaluation studies
d) enable the student to independently produce and process evaluation case studies, also through laboratories for the statistical programs STATA and R
e) develop the communication skills of the evaluation also with presentation of papers in the classroom

The final objective is to provide the student with guidance on how to evaluate a policy and what the problems that arise in the analysis of a quantitative assessment problem of policy tools may be.

Educational objectives

The course aims to deepen and increase knowledge, also in formal terms, on the main theories of international trade, on international movements of production factors, on international financial imbalances. By carrying out homework assignments, the student applies advanced methodologies currently in use in economic literature and improves their critical skills. The ability to communicate what has been learned occurs through the presentation of homework solutions in class.
The course deals with the definition and detection of international migration and remittance flows. The student acquires data analysis skills with the main aim of connecting the phenomenon of migration with the socio-economic development of a country. Part of the homework involves the use of statistical tools that may be useful in other courses and in possible future uses.

Educational objectives

The final test consists in the preparation of a thesis on a specific topic related to the majors of the course. The paper is prepared with the help of a supervisor. The thesis is debated with a committee that also includes the supervisor according to the university rules. The main objective is to develop the communication abilities, personal elaboration and critical skills.