Student guide Facoltą di Economia A.A. 2011/12

Comparative Economics
Lecturers
PANT DIPAK RAJ
Aim of the course
The course intends to provide a global, inter-disciplinary and cross-cultural understanding of different economic realities.

Syllabus
1.         Introduction to Comparative Economics
1.1.      New geo-economics: an overview of the global economy
1.2.      The economic systems: terms, concept and attributes
1.3.      Possibilities and limits of comparative approach to economic systems
1.4.      Comparative method: system survey and issue scanning
2.         Selected systems survey (case studies, examples)
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 Le Langhe-Piedmont (Italy), central Himalayas (Nepal) and Otatitlan (Mexico)
2.3.            Metropolitan economy: the city of Milan and the peri-urban hinterland (Italy)
2.4.            Trans-national economic basins: the regions of 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 sustainability
3.2       Social sustainability
3.3.      Environmental sustainability
4.                  Next economy: strategic foresight exercise
4.1.            Scenario planning method
4.2.            Economic future of Italy
 
Examinations
The evaluation and final marks (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.