Economics and Finance

The course seeks to answer the following questions: how can we read the processes of economic and social development through the spatial, environmental and territorial dimensions? How does the concept of development change and through which innovative tools can we promote it, if we integrate the concepts of space, environment, ecosystem, territory into the study? How can the choice between different theories and analysis tools change our point of view on development and guide concrete policy choices? Can we build a future of more equitable well-being, of livable policies and places, of a new relationship between society and nature? The Economic Geography course therefore aims to let students experiment with the concepts and tools of economic geography in understanding economic organization and development processes. A first part of the course will be dedicated to the theme of development and inequalities in the world, reconstructing the evolutionary paradigms of the Western economy and the organization to which they gave rise (18 hours). A second part will deal with globalization and the new international division of labor, with particular attention to global value chains, showing the different interpretative categories and critical aspects (18 hours). A third module will explore the role of cities in promoting economic growth and as a place for experimenting with policies for environmental, social and cultural sustainability (8 hours). A fourth module will cover development theories, regional and spatial development, human development, sustainable development, spatial and environmental justice. This last category will be applied to delve deeper into the themes of agriculture and resources on a global scale.

No requisites

For attending students, the program consists of notes and material made available. Non attending students may choose one of these book: - Dini F., Randelli F., Romei P., Geografia Economica, Mondadori Università, 2020; - Conti S., Dematteis G., Nano F., Vanolo A., Geografia dell'economia mondiale, QUINTA EDIZIONE, Utet Università, 2022

Except for the pandemic provisions, the course is proposed in a traditional way. Students are required to actively participate, through small presentations on selected topics. At the beginning of the course will be required to do a small homework to verify the knowledge of some fundamental concepts (such as space and development).

To be considered attending students, participation in at least 75% of the lectures is required. Attendance is mandatory during the 15 hours of the COIL project, which will take place every Tuesday and Wednesday from October 28 to November 26. Students will be asked to register for the course and to join the COIL project at the beginning of the course. Attendance is strongly recommended, as in-class dialogue is the most effective way to learn. Signatures will be required during the COIL project sessions, while for the rest of the course the lecturer will verify attendance through active participation.

Assessment methods differ for attending and non-attending students. ATTENDING students will have an ongoing assessment connected with the COIL project (Collaborative Online International Learning), promoted within the CIVIS alliance (Europe's Civic University Alliance), in which Sapienza participates. As part of the regular course schedule, attending students will participate in 10 hours of joint lectures with students from the University of Bucharest and the Autonomous University of Madrid, completing a Moodle questionnaire at the end of each lecture. In addition, 5 hours of lectures will be devoted to a collective assignment, carried out together with the lecturer and the international students. At the end of these 15 hours of work, attending students will receive a score ranging from 0 to 10, which will contribute to the final grade (it will be averaged). The final exam, which will not cover the topics addressed during the COIL project, will be held in written form during the January and February exam sessions. It will consist of three open-ended questions, each graded from 0 to 10/30. The January and February sessions, for attending students, will therefore be written. The written exam consists of three open-ended questions, each graded up to 10/30 (very similar to the in-term test). For NON-ATTENDING students, the exam will be oral. Non-attending students will be asked three questions to be answered orally, each graded up to 10/30. Starting from the summer session, all exams will take the form of oral examinations, and all students will be required to prepare the non-attending syllabus (slides and lecture notes will no longer be accepted).

For further readings please contact the teacher

Except for the pandemic provisions, the course is proposed in a traditional way. At the beginning of the course will be required to do a small homework to verify the knowledge of some fundamental concepts (such as space and development).