ECONOMICS OF INNOVATION AND DEVELOPMENT-1

The course intend to form knowledge on development and innovation. First, development is analyzed and linked to innovation, as a basic tool to achieve long run development. Than innovation is introduced, in its basic aspects.

1) Knowledge and understanding
Acquire the basic concepts of the development economy and innovation.
Know the main models of analysis of the development and innovation economy.
Understand and critically consider the main economic policies on technological innovation and innovation development.
Know and know how to use data related to innovation.
2) Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
Use the concepts learned to interpret the evolution of economic systems, public policies, business strategies and market regulation with regard to the innovation economy.
3) Ability to judge
Knowing how to formulate and argue interpretative hypotheses on the development of technologies and the consequent effects on economic agents
4) Communication skills: the student must be able to synthesize the acquired knowledge in an efficient and coherent way.

Micro and macroeconomics.

Development Economics
This section will discuss the field of Development Economics, linking development to growth and innovation.
We will try to give answers to the following questions:
• What made the difference between rich and poor countries?
• What are the forces that drive catching-up of the poor countries with the rich and forces that drive “divergence”?
We also connect the debate over development with a forward perspective, looking at macro-economic forecasts, at country level, in the long-run.
You should also acquire knowledge and expertise in economic data available for the different countries, on income and development indicators.

1. Helpman, E. (2009). The mystery of economic growth. Harvard University Press.
2. UNDP, Human Development Report 2020, available at http://hdr.undp.org/en/2020-report
3. Grossman, G. M., & Helpman, E. (2015) “Globalization and growth” The American Economic Review, 105(5), 100-104.
4. Forecast on World Economy for 2050 by Economist https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/world-2050/assets/pwc-the-world-in-2050-full-report-feb-2017.pdf
5. World Bank International Comparison Program (ICP), at http://siteresources.worldbank.org/ICPEXT/Resources/ICP_2011.html
6. World Bank World Development Indicators at https://data.worldbank.org/data-catalog/world-development-indicators
7. Undp Human Development Indicators, at http://hdr.undp.org/en/data
8. Chen, S. and M.Ravallion, ‘The developing world is poorer than we thought, but no less successful in the fight against poverty’, Quarterly Journal of Economics 125(4) 2010, pp.1577–625.
9. Deaton, A., ‘Understanding the mechanisms of economic development’, Journal of Economic Perspectives, 24(3) 2010, pp.3–16.
10. Ravallion, M., ‘The mystery of the vanishing benefits: an introduction to impact evaluation’, World Bank Economic Review, 15(1)2001, pp.115–40.
11.Tribe, Michael and Andrew Sumner. "Development economics at a crossroads? Introduction to a policy arena." Journal of International Development, 18.7(2006): 957-966.

Attending students are required to:
1. Actively participate to class
2. Present a group work, according to instructions given along the course
3. Take a written examination, covering the material of the present syllabus (excluded the reference in italic), consisting of three multiple-choice questions (with a short description of the choice) and two open questions.
The final grade will be an average of the three points above.

b) Non attending student
Non attending student are required to take a written examination on the material indicated in the present syllabus.
The exam will consist of three multiple-choice questions (with a short description of the choice) and two open questions.

In class teaching
Seminars
Group works

English

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development