ID:
GIU0693
Duration (hours):
63
CFU:
9
SSD:
ECONOMIA POLITICA
Located in:
Varese - Università degli Studi dell'Insubria
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Secondo Semestre (24/02/2026 - 25/05/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The aim of the course is twofold:
a)To provide a basic knowledge of micro and macroeconomic models, in
order to allow the students to understand the main economic dynamics
and their discussion both in the scientific and professional literature.
In particular, the theory of consumer choice and utility and the theory of
production will be examined; in this second case, the main market
configurations (competition, monopoly, oligopoly) will be studied and
compared in terms of social welfare implications.
The market failures and public intervention in regulating the markets and
the economic activity will be also considered.
The study of macroeconomic fundamentals (dynamics of macroeconomic
aggregates, definition and composition of GDP, output gap) will be
oriented to show the role of the economic policies - both fiscal an
monetary – in determining the market equilibria and adjusting short-run
disequilibria.
b)The second aim is to make the students familiar with the concepts and
logic of economic rationality, providing the basic instruments of
methodologic approach to be integrated and compared to the legal logic
and methodology, which characterizes the courses of law and the
professional practice.
In this sense, in the study of non-competitive markets, some basic
elements of game theory will be provided, in order to develop the
attitude to the analysis of problems and contexts where the strategic
interactions among agents play a crucial role.
a)To provide a basic knowledge of micro and macroeconomic models, in
order to allow the students to understand the main economic dynamics
and their discussion both in the scientific and professional literature.
In particular, the theory of consumer choice and utility and the theory of
production will be examined; in this second case, the main market
configurations (competition, monopoly, oligopoly) will be studied and
compared in terms of social welfare implications.
The market failures and public intervention in regulating the markets and
the economic activity will be also considered.
The study of macroeconomic fundamentals (dynamics of macroeconomic
aggregates, definition and composition of GDP, output gap) will be
oriented to show the role of the economic policies - both fiscal an
monetary – in determining the market equilibria and adjusting short-run
disequilibria.
b)The second aim is to make the students familiar with the concepts and
logic of economic rationality, providing the basic instruments of
methodologic approach to be integrated and compared to the legal logic
and methodology, which characterizes the courses of law and the
professional practice.
In this sense, in the study of non-competitive markets, some basic
elements of game theory will be provided, in order to develop the
attitude to the analysis of problems and contexts where the strategic
interactions among agents play a crucial role.
Course Prerequisites
Preliminary knowledge in economics is not required. The only
prerequisite is constituted by the basic concepts in mathematics and
geometry commonly taught in the upper secondary school. In particular,
basic elements of graphical analysis (slope and translation of a linear
function) and solution of two-linear-equations systems.
prerequisite is constituted by the basic concepts in mathematics and
geometry commonly taught in the upper secondary school. In particular,
basic elements of graphical analysis (slope and translation of a linear
function) and solution of two-linear-equations systems.
Teaching Methods
The course provides 55 hours of lectures. They are divided into:
-mainly theoretical lectures, whose aim is to provide the knowledge about
instruments, methods and models of macroeconomics and
microeconomics;
-mainly applied lectures, where simple quantitative or graphic exercises
will be solved, aimed at developing a problem-solving attitude and
assuming familiarity with the mechanisms and procedures of the
economic approach.
-mainly theoretical lectures, whose aim is to provide the knowledge about
instruments, methods and models of macroeconomics and
microeconomics;
-mainly applied lectures, where simple quantitative or graphic exercises
will be solved, aimed at developing a problem-solving attitude and
assuming familiarity with the mechanisms and procedures of the
economic approach.
Assessment Methods
The learning assessment will be based on a written examination.
The written exam consists of a set of questions: some of them are
quantitative exercises, some are open-ended questions. Exercises aim at
assessing the familiarity of the candidate with the formal models and
his/her proficiency in using them to solve simple problems. Open-ended
questions aim at verifying the ability of correctly identifying the problem
indicated by the question and to give a synthetic and effective answer.
The written exam consists of a set of questions: some of them are
quantitative exercises, some are open-ended questions. Exercises aim at
assessing the familiarity of the candidate with the formal models and
his/her proficiency in using them to solve simple problems. Open-ended
questions aim at verifying the ability of correctly identifying the problem
indicated by the question and to give a synthetic and effective answer.
Contents
After a short introduction to the contents of the course and the
instruments (both analytic and graphic) required, the course is composed
by two parts:
A. Microeconomics (35 hours)
1. Theory of consumer choice. Preferences and indifference curves.
Optimal choice of the consumer. Single-agent and market demand
Consumer’s surplus. Price and income elasticity. Demand elasticity and
total revenues.
2. Production theory. Short-run and long-run costs. Revenues. Optimal
choice of the firm. Market configurations: perfect competition; monopoly;
imperfect competition; monopolistic competition; oligopoly.
3. Market failures. Social efficiency, externalities, public goods. Public
intervention: taxes and subsidies; market regulation.
Macroeconomics (20 hours)
1. The circular flow of income and main macroeconomic aggregates.
National income (definition and equilibrium level). Consumption function
and Keynesian multiplier. The role of taxation in the multiplier.
2. Money demand and supply: equilibrium on the financial markets.
3. The IS-LM model. The goods market and the IS curve. The money
market and the LM curve. The equilibrium and the role of economic
policies: fiscal and monetary policies.
instruments (both analytic and graphic) required, the course is composed
by two parts:
A. Microeconomics (35 hours)
1. Theory of consumer choice. Preferences and indifference curves.
Optimal choice of the consumer. Single-agent and market demand
Consumer’s surplus. Price and income elasticity. Demand elasticity and
total revenues.
2. Production theory. Short-run and long-run costs. Revenues. Optimal
choice of the firm. Market configurations: perfect competition; monopoly;
imperfect competition; monopolistic competition; oligopoly.
3. Market failures. Social efficiency, externalities, public goods. Public
intervention: taxes and subsidies; market regulation.
Macroeconomics (20 hours)
1. The circular flow of income and main macroeconomic aggregates.
National income (definition and equilibrium level). Consumption function
and Keynesian multiplier. The role of taxation in the multiplier.
2. Money demand and supply: equilibrium on the financial markets.
3. The IS-LM model. The goods market and the IS curve. The money
market and the LM curve. The equilibrium and the role of economic
policies: fiscal and monetary policies.
Course Language
Italian
More information
The main moments devoted to consultation of the teacher about the
lectures’ topic are before and after the lecture themselves.
Further moments of consultation can be established by e-mail
appointment (cristinaelisa.orso@uninsubria.it)
lectures’ topic are before and after the lecture themselves.
Further moments of consultation can be established by e-mail
appointment (cristinaelisa.orso@uninsubria.it)
Degrees
Degrees
LAW
Single-cycle Master’s Degree
5 years
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People
People (2)
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