Course Topics
The foundations of economic policy; Empirical tools for the analysis and evaluation of public policies; Budgetary institutions and policies; Monetary and exchange rate institutions and policies;

Propaedeutic courses
The frequency of the courses Macroeconomica and Microeconomics is warmly suggested in order to properly follow these lectures

Teaching format
Front-of-class teaching, exercises, projects

Educational objectives
Knowledge and understanding By the end of the training course, students will have acquired the following knowledge and understanding: - analysis of the demand and supply of goods and services; - ability to understand the price mechanism in market economies; - ability to apply the concepts of game theory to the economic behaviour of public and private actors; - ability to understand the role of governments in market economies; - ability to analyse the behaviour of economic variables in the short, medium and long run; - ability to historically contextualise economic thinking and to assess the role of technology and social change on the evolution of economic thinking; - ability to understand complex economic texts in the three languages of instruction; - ability to analyse human behaviour in the field of economics; - ability to analyse human behaviour in organisations - ability to understand organisational decision-making theories; - ability to understand how political choices are formulated and how these decisions affect the economy; - recognising and understanding the conditions that are necessary for sustainable economic development taking into consideration the environment and natural resources; - understanding of the reasons for economic growth and development of countries; - understanding of the basic principles of functioning of labour markets; - estimation and interpretation of econometric models for the empirical analysis of the above problems. Applying knowledge and understanding: - ability to assess the adequacy of monetary and fiscal policies in relation to macroeconomic variables; - ability to interact fluently and spontaneously with native speakers on economic topics; - ability to understand the role of the state in relation to different political and economic issues and to weigh up possible political and economic solutions; - ability to apply economic models to real problems that require or result from government intervention (political/market failure). Autonomy of judgement Acquisition of the capacity for judgement and methodological tools useful for the critical analysis of data, sources, assumptions and implications of scientific practice, and of the political, ethical and legal context within which economic phenomena are embedded and with which they interact Communication skills Fluency (oral and written) in Italian, German and English, including translation between these languages. Intercultural competence. Conceptual awareness, ability to summarise and express oneself in writing, particularly with regard to the drafting of scientific or science-based documents Learning skills Promotion of critical thinking and analytical skills to focus on complex problems in their long-term dynamics and in the variety of their implications, including ethical ones

Assessment
70% written exam, 30% project report. The project is compulsory for attending students. Non attending students will be evaluated 100% on the written exam. For attending students only, there will be an optional mid-term exam.

Evaluation criteria
Evaluation criteria relevant for both assessments: clarity of answers, mastery of specific terminology, ability to summarize, evaluate, and establish relationships between topics, ability to apply concepts to real-world examples.