Portale di Ateneo - En.Unibs.it

The course deals with extensions of the classical topics of International Economics. In particular, the focus is linked to the economy of European integration, analyzing through instruments of international economics, economic development in the Eurozone, the impact of the financial crisis, major changes in policies and European legislation and the potential impact of the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP), as well as the effect of enlargement of the European Union. The theoretical part is accompanied by examples and empirical evidence which highlights the recent developments in economic theory at the European level such as market integration, growth, labor market and migration, agricultural policy, the effects of localization, regional policies, competition among States and state aid policy, EU trade policy and monetary integration. Finally, an additional focus will be dedicated to the international economy and the recent subprime mortgage crisis of 2007-2008, the sovereign debt crisis, up to the recent crisis in Greece.

Program:

Part 1: History, Facts and Institutions
1. History
2. Facts, Law, Institutions and Budget
3. Decision Making

Part II: The Microeconomics of Economic Integration
4. Essential Microeconomics Tools
5. The Essential Economics of Preferential Liberalization
6. Market Size and Scale Effects
7. Growth Effects and Factor Market Integration
8. Economic Integrations, Labour Markets and Migration

Part III: EU Micro Policies
9. The Common Agricultural Policy
10. Location Effects, Economic Geography and Regional Policy
11. EU Competition and State Aid Policy
12. EU Trade Policy

Part IV: The Macroeconomics of Monetary Integration
13. Essential Macroeconomic Tools
14. Essential Facts of Monetary Integration
15. Optimum Currency Areas

Part V: EU Monetary and Fiscal Policies
16. The European Monetary Union
17. Fiscal Policy and the Stability Pact
18. The Financial Markets and the Euro
19. The Eurozone in crisis

The exam includes a written test with theoretical questions and the analysis of charts and empirical relationships. For attending students, 1/4 of the final mark will depend on a presentation (with power point slides) of current issues (from 1999 onwards, preferably since 2007) analyzed with the economic tools explained in class.