Ateneo - UPO

This course proposes the main economic theories on the market, production organization and firms’ development, discussing with particular attention the main implications in terms of corporate strategies and industrial policies.
The course begins with an introductory overview of the market structures (perfect competition, monopoly, cartel, oligopoly, and monopolistic competition), emphasizing the contribution of applied economics in supporting the policy maker to improve market competitiveness (i). Afterwards, the course proposes a focus on corporate strategies (internationalization and innovation), as well as the adopted industrial policies in such areas.
The topics are supported by case studies and practical applications, leading students into the topics and supporting their learning.

Modern Industrial Organization - 3/ed Dennis W. Carlton e Jeffrey M. Perloff, Mcgraw-hill

The course has the following mission: improving students’ knowledge and understanding skills of economic analysis of the market (i); enhancing students’ ability to apply the acquired knowledge to interpret market dynamics, identifying which might be the strategies adopted by corporations (ii); improving students’ abilities in selecting which might be the most appropriate technique to implement applied studies and how to interpret the collect evidence (iii); increasing students’ communication skills, empowering their ability in identifying practical implications and in fostering key messages to all stakeholders (iv); improving students’ learning skills, proposing relevant literature on the topics under investigation and case studies that reflect the current situation of the Italian market (v).

The course does not require any particular background or specific knowledge.

The course proposes lectures on the core issues of the program, and seminar sessions during which students must contribute to the learning process by presenting articles/case studies on relevant topics for the Law and Economics, actively taking part in their discussion. Moreover, the course proposes specific seminar with international scholars.

None

Oral presentation of an article/case study (during the course) and written exam (at the end of the course).

First part: firms and cost analysis (i); perfect competition (ii); monopoly (iii); cartel (iv); oligopoly (v); monopolistic competition (vi).
Second part: patents and technological innovation (i), internationalization (ii), industrial policies (iii).
Third part: case studies and applications.

At the end of the course, students will be able to apply microeconomic theory in the analysis of the market and corporate strategies (i); how to apply economic concepts and models in the analysis of the market (ii), and which might be the main interventions by policy makers to support market competitiveness (iii).