87585 - STORIA DELL'INDUSTRIA E DELLA FINANZA

Learning outcomes

The course aims at analysing the long run development of the world economy since the birth of the modern economy, showing the varieties of approaches and solutions to innovation and crises. The main topics are the following: 1) interrelations among technologies, institutions and culture; 2) forms of enterprise and their advantages and disadvantages; 3) financial systems and the relation bank-enterprise; 4) the role of governments; 5) the major world crises that have retarded progress but also offer opportunities of improvement. At the end of the course students have acquired a long run vision of economic development and are in a better position to understand the transformations that are necessary today to maintain a dynamic but sustainable economic path for the future.

Course contents

The course is divided into two parts.

The first is dedicated to the strategies that different forms of business have adopted during the 20th and 21st centuries to face the threats and opportunities of globalization:

1. Forms of business in a globalized world: large American corporations
2. Forms of business in a globalized world: large Japanese and European business groups
3. Forms of business in a globalized world: cooperatives
4. Forms of business in a globalized world: small and medium-sized businesses

The second will bring attention to the strategies through which enterprises have tried to deal with the great challenges of the present:

1. Businesses and the challenges of the present: environmental sustainability
2. Businesses and the challenges of the present: the gender issue
3. Businesses and the challenges of the present: corporate welfare
4. Businesses and the challenges of the present: tax avoidance strategy

Readings/Bibliography

There is no single textbook and a reading list will be provided during the lectures.

Teaching methods

Traditional lectures with the support of power point presentations and audiovisual material

Assessment methods

The exam will be based on a project work through which students could implement the skills and the critical abilities developed during the course.

Precise instruction will be provided at the beginning of the course

Office hours

See the website of Patrizia Battilani