Teaching plan for the course unit

 

 
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General information

 

Course unit name: European and International Economic Environment

Course unit code: 364568

Academic year: 2025-2026

Coordinator: Federico Tadei

Department: Department of Economic History, Institutions and Policy and World Economy

Credits: 6

Single program: S

 

 

Estimated learning time

Total number of hours 150

 

Face-to-face and/or online activities

60
 

-  Lecture with practical component

Face-to-face

  

60

Supervised project

40

Independent learning

50

 

 

Competences / Learning outcomes to be gained during study

 

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CB3 - Ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within the field of study) to inform judgements that include reflection on relevant social, scientific or ethical issues.
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CG9 - Capacity to interpret the evolution of the business environment and adaptations to change.
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CG5 - Ability to work in a team (capacity to collaborate with others and contribute to a common project, capacity to work in cross-disciplinary and multicultural teams).
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CG8 - Capacity to communicate in English and/or other foreign languages orally and in writing, comprehension skills, and mastery of specialized language.
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CG1 - Commitment to ethical practice (critical and self-critical skills and attitudes that comply with ethical and deontological principles).
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CB5 - Learning skills that are necessary to undertake further study with a high degree of autonomy.
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CG3 - Capacity for learning and responsibility (capacity for analysis, synthesis, to adopt global perspectove and to apply knowledge in practice).
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CE11 - Understanding of the culture and business practices of different countries, as the basis for adapting to an interacting effectively with other geopolitical contexts.
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CE10 - Ability to take planning and organizational decisions in an international busniess context.
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CE3 - Understanding of the structure and operation of international markets, to detect the potential implications of increasing internationalization and the new global framework.
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CE2 - Comprehensive understanding of the international economic, legal and socio-political framework, and ability to use this knowledge to oversee international business decisions.
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CE4 - Knowledge of international economic institutions and understanding of their role in the context of international economic relations.

Learning objectives

 

Referring to knowledge

The objective of the course is to equip students with the knowledge and methodological tools necessary to analyse and interpret the contemporary global economic context. Specifically, students:

  1. Examine the factors that account for long-run economic growth and explore the reasons for the marked income disparities observed today between the rich and poor.
  2. Analyse the historical origins of the present economic environment across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

 

Referring to abilities, skills

— Develop critical and self-reflective thinking skills.

— Develop the capacity for analysis, adopt global perspectives and apply the knowledge acquired.

— Develop the capacity to identify, evaluate and incorporate new sources of knowledge and approaches.

— Develop the capacity to adopt integrated and systemic approaches.

— Develop the capacity to acquire and use information.

 

 

Teaching blocks

 

1. The fundamental determinants of economic growth

1.1. Proximate causes of economic growth

1.2. Geography

1.3. Institutions

1.4. Culture

2. Brief world history

2.1. Stagflation

2.2. Globalisation

2.3. Economic crises

2.4. The developing world: Latin America and Africa

2.5. The 2010s-2020s

 

 

Teaching methods and general organization

 

The teaching methodology uses a combination of lectures and group exercises.

The lecturer is available for consultation during office hours by appointment.

A bibliography is provided for each topic.

 

 

Official assessment of learning outcomes

 

Students may choose between a continuous or single mode of assessment. The deadline to withdraw from continuous assessment is the last day of teaching.

Under continuous assessment, the grade is based on:

Two exercises, worth 30% of the final grade.

  1. Exercise 1: Fundamental determinants of economic growth
  2. Exercise 2: Brief world history.


Final examination. This covers the entire course content and accounts for 60% of the final grade. It consists of four questions, of which students are required to answer three. To pass the subject, a minimum mark of 4 out of 10 on the final exam is required.

Participation. This accounts for 10% of the final grade. To obtain the maximum grade here, students must be attentive in class and participate actively in discussions and activities.

 

Examination-based assessment

Under single assessment (and repeat assessment), the grade is based on:

Final examination. This has the same format as the final exam for continuous assessment students, but it accounts for 100% of the final grade and students are required to answer all four questions.

 

 

Reading list

 

Part 1

On proximate causes of economic growth:

  • Clark, Gregory. A Farewell to Alms. Chapter 10.


On geography:
  • Gallup, John Luke; Sachs, Jeffrey D.; Mellinger, Andrew D. Geography and Economic Development. NBER Working Paper No. 6849, 1998. In particular, pages 1-16.


On institutions:


On culture:


 

Part 2

On stagflation:
  • Eichengreen, Barry. The European Economy Since 1945: Coordinated Capitalism and Beyond. 2008. Chapters: 7, 8, 9.


On globalisation:
  • Bordo, Michael D.; Taylor, Alan M.; Williamson, Jeffrey G. Development in historical perspective. Chicago & London: Chicago University Press, 2003. Chapters.


On the economic crisis:
  • Krugman, Paul. The Return of Depression Economics and the Crisis of 2008. Norton & Company, 2009. Skim through it.


On Latin America:
  • Bertola, Luis; Ocampo, José Antonio. The Economic Development of Latin America since Independence. Oxford University Press, 2012. Chapter 1.


On Africa:
  • Jerven, Morten. “The Quest for the African Dummy”, Journal of International Development. 2011.
  • Acemoglu, Daron; Robinson, James A. Why is Africa Poor, Economic History of Developing Regions. 2010.


On the 2010-20s:
  • Copelovitch, Mark, Jeffry Frieden, and Stefanie Walter. 2016. “The Political Economy of the Euro Crisis.” Comparative Political Studies 49 (7) (March 14): 811–840.