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The course of Economics aims to provide students with the basic understanding of the most fundamental issues of micro- and macroeconomic theory. The course is divided into two main broad topics. The first one describes microeconomic models. In details, we analyse consumer theory, theory of the firm, perfect competition, monopoly, and oligopoly market structures. The second one is dedicated to macroeconomics. We focuses on aggregate level economic variables and models, namely inflation, unemploymnet, monetary issues , aggregate demand and offer,IS-LM model. |
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- No formal prerequisites. However a refresh of the basic mathematical tools is reccommended. |
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At the end of the course, students should be able to use the main economic models and theories in order to understand the economic phenomena and to policy makers' goals when defining alternative measures.
In details, students should be able to:
- Understand the concepts used in economic theory to describe individual, firm, and government behaviours;
- Understand what determines equilibrium in different market structures, and the effects in terms of social welfare;
- Illustrate when firms decide to enter a market;
- Predict policy makers choices in case of monopoly or oligopoly and the other market failures;
- Understand the basic problems linked to unemployment, and inflation;
- Understand the basic economic variables linked to economic growth. |
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- The topics explained by the course of Economics are divided in to 34 video lessons recorded by Prof. Bollino from the University of Perugia (Italy). These video lessons are divided into 10 conceptual areas as indicated below:
1) Introduction to economics
Video lesson: 1
P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus (2009), chapters 1, 2
2) Consumer Theory
Video lessons: 2, 3, 4
P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus (2009), chapters 3, 4, 5
3) Theory of firm
Video lessons: 5, 6, 7
P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus (2009), chapters 6, 7
4) Market structures
Video lessons: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13
P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus (2009), chapters 8, 9, 10
5) Welfare economics and general economic equilibrium
Video lessons: 14, 15, 16
P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus (2009), chapter 11
6) The main macroeconomics variables
Video lessons: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus (2009), chapters 29, 30, 31
7) Real Economy
Video lessons: 22, 23, 24, 25
P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus (2009), chapters 19, 20, 21, 22
8) Monetary economics and policy
Video lessons: 26, 27
P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus (2009), chapters 23, 24
9) Macroeconomic equilibrium in close and open economies
Video lessons: 28, 29, 30, 31, 32
P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus (2009), chapters 25, 26, 27, 28
10) Public budget and European Monetary Union
Video lessons: 33, 34
P.A. Samuelson, W.D. Nordhaus (2009), chapters 16, 17, 18 |
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- Samuelson P.A., Nordhaus W.D. (2009), Economics, Mc Graw-Hill, 19/ed. |
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- The students find 2 types of homeworks linked to every video lecture:
1. Open questions and/or multiple choices;
2. Exercises.
The return of these materials is not mandatory; however, students are encouraged to perform every question and exercise in order to test their knowldege of the course, and perform well the final exam. |