PERIODO: FEBBRAIO - MARZO 2017

Il corso è rivolto anche ai non esperti ed è pensato per offrire le basi del pensiero economico e della sua evoluzione nel tempo. Verrà approfondito il rapporto tra Economia e Ambiente, quale esempio di sistema Complesso, con un focus sulla gestione delle risorse idriche.
La prima parte del corso si propone di fornire i fondamenti di teoria economica mettendo a confronto le principali correnti di pensiero, quali: la scuola Neo-Classica, la teoria Keynesiana e l'Economia Ecologica ispirata a Georgescu-Roegen.
Nella seconda parte verranno presentate due metodologie di investigazione ed analisi dei sistemi complessi, quali: il metodo Input-Output e la Teoria delle Reti. Infine, verrà presentato un esempio di applicazione nello studio del rapporto tra il commercio internazionale e la gestione delle risorse naturali, in particolare le risorse idriche e la cosiddetta "acqua virtuale".

The course is devoted to expert and non, and it aims to offer the basis of the Economic Thinking and its evolution over time. It will be analysed in depth the complex ties between Economic activities and Environmental resources, with a focus on water resource management.
The first part introduces the main economic concepts and the main theoretical approaches, such as: the Neo-Classical school, the Keynesian theory and the Ecological Economics of Georgescu-Roegen.
The second part explains two key methodologies of investigation and analysis of Complex systems, such as: Input-Output method and Network theory. Finally, it will be showed an empirical study about the implications of international trade and resource management, with a particular attention on water resources and on the concept of "Virtual Water".

1. Introduzione al pensiero Economico

2. Il mainstream: la Scuola Neoclassica. Principi di Micro e Macro Economia

3. Stato e Mercato: la Rivoluzione Keynesiana

4. Economia, Clima ed Ambiente: il lavoro pioneristico di Georgescu-Roegen

5. Come studiare i Sistemi Complessi: Input-Output e Teoria delle Reti

6. Globalizzazione e risorse idriche: il concetto di "Acqua Virtuale"




1. An Introduction to the Economic thinking

2. The mainstream approach: the Neo-Classical school. Principles of Micro and Macro Economics

3. Market failure and the State: the Keynesian revolution

4. Economics, Climate Change and Environment: the pioneering study of Georgescu-Roegen

5. How to deal with Complex Systems: Input-Output and Network Theory

6. Globalisation and Virtual Water


Number of hours: 15* Hour: 10.00 – 13.00 Room: Bibolini (DIATI 3)
Days: 14th Feb - 17th Feb - 24th Feb - 28th Feb - 3rd March
Topic
The course aims at providing the basis of the Economic Thinking and its evolution over time. It will be analysed the complex ties between Economic activities and Environmental resources, with a focus on water resource management. The course is composed by five lessons, of three hours each, that will cover several issues.
The socio-economic context and the philosophical background of main ideas from the origins of Political Economy will be exposed, from the pioneering studies of Adam Smith to modern theories. From the microeconomic point of view, they will be presented the "mainstream" models about the consumer and firm’s behaviour (micro). From the macroeconomic point of view, it is presented the modern Theory of Growth (the Solow model). The discussion of Market failures will be integrated with the General Theory of J.M. Keynes and with the studies of Georgescu-Roegen about the link between Thermodynamics and the Economic process. Two key methodologies of investigation and analysis of Complex systems will be presented, such as: Input-Output method (Leontief, 1941) and Network theory. To conclude, they will be showed some recent empirical studies about the implications of international trade, climate change, and resource management, with a focus on water resources and on the concept of "Virtual Water Footprint".