Student guide Faculty of Economics A.Y. 2010/11

Comparative economics
Lesson timetable, Notice board, Additional material
Lecturers
PANT DIPAK RAJ
Aim of the course
The course intends to provide a global, inter-disciplinary, cross-cultural, historical, comparative and critical understanding of different economic realities of humanity.
Syllabus
1.         Introduction to Comparative Economics
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.         Selected systems survey (example, case studies, issues analysis)
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.         Global thematic comparison: selected performance survey
3.1.      Economic-financial sustainability
3.2       Human security and social sustainability
3.3.      Environmental sustainability
3.4.      A tentative ‘Comparative Management’
4.         Next economy: strategic foresight exercise
4.1.     Scenario planning method
4.2.     Scenarios (alternative images of future) of the Italian Economy and Business.
Examinations
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.
Reading list
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.