30056 - EUROPEAN ECONOMIC POLICY
Department of Social and Political Sciences
Course taught in English
CLEAM (6 credits - II sem. - OP | SECS-P/02) - CLEF (6 credits - II sem. - OP | SECS-P/02) - BESS-CLES (6 credits - II sem. - OP | SECS-P/02) - WBB (6 credits - II sem. - OB | SECS-P/02) - BIEF (6 credits - II sem. - OP | SECS-P/02) - BIEM (6 credits - II sem. - OB | SECS-P/02) - BEMACS (6 credits - II sem. - OP | SECS-P/02)
Course Director:
CARLO ALTOMONTE
CARLO ALTOMONTE
Classes: 15 (II sem.) - 16 (II sem.) - 17 (II sem.) - 18 (II sem.) - 24 (II sem.) - 26 (II sem.) - 31 (II sem.)
Instructors:
Class 15: MARCO MERELLI, Class 16: TOMMASO SONNO, Class 17: STEFANO RIELA, Class 18: ITALO COLANTONE, Class 24: STEFANO RIELA, Class 26: ITALO COLANTONE, Class 31: ITALO COLANTONE
Class 15: MARCO MERELLI, Class 16: TOMMASO SONNO, Class 17: STEFANO RIELA, Class 18: ITALO COLANTONE, Class 24: STEFANO RIELA, Class 26: ITALO COLANTONE, Class 31: ITALO COLANTONE
Suggested background knowledge
Students should be familiar with the basics of macroeconomics.
Mission & Content Summary
MISSION
With 20 per cent of the world GDP, a unified market of around 500 million inhabitants, and the second most diffused currency in the world, the euro, the European Union is a key player in international markets. Understanding the origin, rationale and evolution of its policies is thus of paramount importance in order to design optimal corporate strategies for those firms operating in, or dealing with, the EU markets, as well as to assess the evolution of its Member States.
CONTENT SUMMARY
- The first part of the course explores the economic and policy aspects of the process of European integration, analysing the economic consequences of trade liberalization (customs unions, free trade areas), the liberalization of capital flows (Single market), and the co-ordination of economic policies (economic union). The policy elements behind this evolution (trade policy, competition policy) are analysed in parallel.
- The course then moves on in studying the main expenditure policies currently undertaken by the European Union (agriculture, cohesion), as developed via the EU budget.
- The final part of the course is devoted to the analysis of the Economic and Monetary Union, from its setup and working as enshrined in the Maastricht Treaty, to its latest developments.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILO)
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Understand how the international trading systems works, and the role the EU plays v.s. other countries (US, China,...).
- Have a thorough knowledge of the working of the main policies shaping the EU markets (agriculture, competition, cohesion).
- Understand the evolution of monetary and fiscal policies across the euro area.
- Understand the response of the EU to the Covid-19 shock, and its implications for the future of the EU integration process.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
At the end of the course student will be able to...
- Assess the main drivers of the business environment in which firms operate when dealing with the European markets.
- Design appropriate company strategies in order to successfully operate in the EU market.
- Compare policies across EU member states.
- Understand how the EU is evolving in light of the Covid-19 shock
Teaching methods
- Face-to-face lectures
- Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
- Group assignments
DETAILS
Face-to-face lectures are integrated by specific contributions of guest speakers.
A group assignment (max 4 students), worth 30% of final marks, in the form of a short essay allows you to explore in detail one of the relevant policy issues currently discussed across the EU, and its implications for civic society. The group assignment will be carried out during the second part of the course.
Assessment methods
| Continuous assessment | Partial exams | General exam | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
x | x | |
|
x |
ATTENDING STUDENTS
|
Intermediate exams & assignment The first intermediate written exam is worth 40% of the final mark. It covers the theoretical models on economic integration developed in the first part of the course, as well as the other topics covered until the date of the first intermediate, for a total of 15 MC questions. Each MC question is worth 2 points. An additional true/false question adds one point. It takes place on March 17th, at 2:00 pm. A group assignment (max 4 students), worth 30% of final marks, in the form of a short essay allows you to explore in detail one of the relevant policy issues currently discussed across the EU, and its implications for civic society. The group assignment will be carried out during the second part of the course. The second intermediate written exam is worth 30% of final marks. It covers the remaining topics of the course (not covered in the first partial and in the assignment), with 12 MC questions. Each MC question is worth 2.5 points. An additional true/false question adds one point. You can take it either on May 19th, at 2:00 pm, or on June 12nd, at 2:00 pm. You have to pass both intermediate exams and the group assignment with at least 18/30 to obtain your final grade. General Exam The general exam covers the entirety of the course programme, with 20 MC questions. Each MC question is worth 1.5 points. An additional true/false question adds one point. You can take it on May 19th, at 2:00 pm, on June 12nd, at 2:00 pm, or on September 4th, at 2 pm. |
NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
|
Intermediate exams & assignment The first intermediate written exam is worth 40% of the final mark. It covers the theoretical models on economic integration developed in the first part of the course, as well as the other topics covered until the date of the first intermediate, for a total of 15 MC questions. Each MC question is worth 2 points. An additional true/false question adds one point. It takes place on March 17th, at 2:00 pm. A group assignment (max 4 students), worth 30% of final marks, in the form of a short essay allows you to explore in detail one of the relevant policy issues currently discussed across the EU, and its implications for civic society. The group assignment will be carried out during the second part of the course. The second intermediate written exam is worth 30% of final marks. It covers the remaining topics of the course (not covered in the first partial and in the assignment), with 12 MC questions. Each MC question is worth 2.5 points. An additional true/false question adds one point. You can take it either on May 19th, at 2:00 pm, or on June 12nd, at 2:00 pm. You have to pass both intermediate exams and the group assignment with at least 18/30 to obtain your final grade. General Exam The general exam covers the entirety of the course programme, with 20 MC questions. Each MC question is worth 1.5 points. An additional true/false question adds one point. You can take it on May 19th, at 2:00 pm, on June 12nd, at 2:00 pm, or on September 4th, at 2 pm. |
Teaching materials
ATTENDING AND NOT ATTENDING STUDENTS
- In order to provide updated materials for a fast evolving subject as the process of European integration, the main materials of the course are provided via lecture notes (slides) uploaded on the course webpage.
- Companion materials can be found in a special book titled 'European Economic Policy' and created specifically for this course by McGraw Hill, by integrating materials of other existing textbooks. The textbook can be purchased in hard copy from the EGEA bookshop.
Last change 02/02/2023 17:19