Ateneo - UPO

This integrated course is structured into three thematic sections, each addressing a distinct area of study at the intersection of law, economics, and computational modeling: 1. Economic Analysis of Law: Property Rights This section introduces students to the fundamentals of law and economics, focusing on the economic rationale behind property rights. It explores how intellectual property rights influence pharmaceutical innovation and public health, especially in the context of global health crises. Case studies are used to critically assess real-world applications. 2. International Trade and Trade Policy The second part examines the mechanisms of international trade and trade policy. Students will analyze the causes and consequences of trade policy decisions, including tariff wars and international cooperation. Through case studies, they will learn how countries respond to trade shocks and navigate complex global economic dynamics. 3. Dynamic Computational Modeling for the Analysis of Disasters and Crises The final section introduces agent-based modeling as a tool for simulating individual and collective behavior in crisis scenarios. Students will learn how to build, calibrate, and analyze models to evaluate policy interventions in response to disasters—both natural and health-related. Practical exercises using platforms like NetLogo will provide hands-on experience.

Cooter, R., Ulen, T., & Ulen, T. (2011). Law and economics. Pearson Series, 6th Edition. Krugman, Paul R., Obstfeld, Maurice, Melitz Marc (2022). International Trade: Theory and Policy. Global Edition, 12th Edition, Miller, J.H. and S. E. Page (2007), Complex Adaptive Systems: An Introduction to Computational Models of Social Life, Princeton University Press. Wilensky, U. and W. Rand (2015), “An Introduction to Agent-Based Modelling: Modelling Natural Social, and Engineered Complex Systems with NetLogo”, MIT Press. Dawid, H. and Delli Gatti, D. (2018), “Agent-based Macroeconomics, in Hommes C, LeBaron B (Eds.): Handbook of Computational Economics, Vol. 4 - Heterogeneous Agent Models, Amsterdam: Elsevier, p. 63-156. Plus several scientific article on the treated topics.

The mission of the course is structured around the following objectives: (i) to understand the role of intellectual property rights in promoting pharmaceutical innovation and mitigating the impact of health disasters (e.g., pandemic events); (ii) to understand the workings of international trade and trade policy, particularly how to respond to trade policy shocks (e.g., tariff wars); (iii) to understand how agent-based models can support policymakers in disaster scenarios by modeling appropriate interventions and policies (e.g., health and natural disasters).

The course does not require any particular background or specific prior knowledge. However, basic understanding of Law, Economics, Mathematics and Computer Science is recommended.

The course includes face-to-face lectures and online modules, combining direct interaction with the instructor and self-paced learning through digital content. In detail, the course is structured around three main teaching methods: (i) lectures on the core issues of the program, in which students are actively involved in the discussion; (ii) seminar sessions where students contribute to the learning process by presenting articles and case studies; (iii) programming applications through which students apply and validate the knowledge acquired.

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://uniupo.it/it/servizi/servizi-studenti-disabili-e-dsa . Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam is written and in-person, and consists of a quiz with multiple-choice questions. The final grade is expressed in thirtieths, and to pass the exam, a student must achieve at least 18/30. To pass the exam, students must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of at least the fundamental concepts of the subject. To achieve a passing grade, students must be familiar with the context and be able to demonstrate acquisition of the relevant basic notions discussed during lectures. To achieve a high grade, students must demonstrate complete mastery of the topics covered.

The course is divided into three main sections, each focusing on a specific thematic area: Part One – Economic Analysis of Law: (i) Introduction to the economic analysis of law (ii) Economic analysis of property rights (iii) Intellectual property rights and pharmaceutical innovation (iv) Discussion of case studies. Part Two – International Trade and Trade Policy: (i) Explanations of trade (ii) Trade policy (iii) International cooperation (iv) Trade policy shocks (v) Discussion of case studies. Part Three – Agent-Based Modeling and Simulations: (i) Introduction to agent-based modeling (ii) Approaches for modeling individual behavior in agent-based models (iii) Calibration and statistical analysis of agent-based models (iv) Examples of agent-based models in economics and social sciences, with a short introduction to NetLogo (v) Applications.

The course has the following intended learning objectives: (i) to understand the role of intellectual property rights and the trade-off between access to health treatments for the current generation and innovation for future generations; (ii) to understand the reasons and effects of international trade, the available policy options, the extent of international cooperation, and how to respond to trade shocks; (iii) to learn how to use agent-based models as a tool to study mechanisms and dynamics related to emerging catastrophes and crises, to evaluate (policy) measures for preparedness and response, and to gain initial hands-on experience with this instrument.