Student guide Facoltà di Economia A.A. 2010/11

The course intends to provide a global, inter-disciplinary, cross-cultural, historical, comparative and critical understanding of different economic realities of humanity.

1.1.      New geo-economics: an overview of the global economy, key-patterns

1.2.      The economic system: terms, concept and attributes

1.3.      Possibilities and limits of comparative approach to economic systems

1.4.      Comparative method: system/context survey - issue scanning – response/performance assessment - scenario elaboration

2.1       Tribal economy: nomadic herders of the extreme lands (Mongolia), Native American-Indians of Oregon (USA), farmers of Bombali-Northern Province (Sierra Leone)

2.2.      Rural economy: farming communities of Alpine and sub-Alpine Piedmont (Italy), central Himalayas (Nepal) and Otatitlan Veracruz (Mexico)

2.3.             Metropolitan economy: the city of Milan and the peri-urban hinterland (Italy)

2.4.             Trans-national economic basins: the regions of Trentino Alto Adige-Tyrol (Italy-Austria) and Insubria (Italy-Switzerland)

2.5.             Country-systems: India and China

2.6.             International economic blocks (EU, NAFTA, MERCOSUR)

3.1.      Economic-financial sustainability

3.2       Human security and social sustainability

3.3.      Environmental sustainability

3.4.      A tentative ‘Comparative Management’

4.1.             Scenario planning method

4.2.             Scenarios (alternative images of future) of the Italian Economy and Business.

The evaluation and final mark (score) of the students depends upon:

·         Quality of participation in the classroom (regular attendance, interaction)

·         Small group project (team-work) and reporting (class-room presentation)

·         Individual written paper (home assignment)

·         Final comprehensive oral exam.

Suggested reading list, web (internet)-based resources, articles and hand-outs will be provided in the beginning of the course and in the class-room.